Ben Simmons will improve Brooklyn’s below-average defense
There are still big questions about how consistent Ben Simmons can be on the offensive end, but one thing that has never been questioned has been his defensive prowess. I don’t think it’s outlandish to say that he could go down as one of the best defenders in league history.
Because of his size, length, and athleticism, Simmons can guard nearly every position on the floor and do it effectively. Simmons has been named to the NBA’s Defensive First-Team in each of the last two seasons and nearly won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Simmons has always been considered one of the best two-way players in the league and his size gives him the edge on nearly every other defender in the league. At the very least, Simmons will improve Brooklyn’s struggling defense.
Plus, on a team that has Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Simmons will be able to focus on defense on most nights. That’s not something he had the luxury of doing during his time with the Sixers.