After suffering a fracture in his right foot, Ben Simmons is expected to miss a considerable amount of time on the court. Some reports have indicated that the 2016 No. 1 overall pick could be out for around three months. However, there has also been talk that he could miss his entire rookie campaign.
During a Monday appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic, Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reported that Simmons' agent Rich Paul will reportedly not let the power forward play this upcoming season. "I just got off the phone with somebody who I really trust in the NBA, and he’s like there’s no way his agent is going to let him play this year," Cooney said. "That’s an injury that you don’t mess around with, and he thinks he’s going to keep him off his feet all year."
Since news of the foot injury surfaced, much has been made about Simmons gaining 33 pounds since leaving LSU. Some believe the weight gain played a part in his foot problems. The Sixers have since shot down those rumors, indicating that Simmons suffered an "acute injury," or something that occurred suddenly. Still, history has shown that the 76ers have reason to be cautious with their 20-year-old cornerstone player.
When Kevin Durant suffered a Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal, he encountered one setback after another, and needed three surgeries in six months in order to address the issue. Given the importance of Simmons in the Sixers' plan for the future, the team should play it incredibly safe. If that means missing the entire season, then so be it.
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