NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding 76ers, LeBron James, Ben Simmons and More
The NBA rumor mill is continually pumping out information, and the news only gets busier as more teams are eliminated from the playoffs.
Mere hours after the Toronto Raptors eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers, point guard Ben Simmons joined the headlines. The Sixers' All-Star is suddenly being connected to trade rumors, something that already caught LeBron James within the last few days.
Wait, what?
If LeBron can land in these discussions, it's safe to say nobody in the NBA is incapable of gracing the rumor mill this offseason.
Brett Brown to Return in Philly
Despite overseeing a 50-win team for the second straight year―a mark the franchise hadn't reached since 2000-01 prior to last season―Brett Brown's job security was a question.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Brown will be back in 2019-20. Surely it didn't hurt to have such immense support from the players.
Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voice shared the passionate defenses of Brown from Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick.
"I heard about all these rumors and stuff and I just thought it was bulls--t," Embiid said. "He's done a fantastic job. He's been there through everything and this year I think he grew even more as a coach. He learned; we all learned."
Butler praised Brown for having a huge heart and working incredibly hard; Redick added the coach's success should speak for itself.
It was loud enough for another year.
Ben Simmons Headed to the Block?
Although the 76ers don't have a Ben Simmons problem, they have a Ben Simmons discussion. The first-time All-Star was frustratingly mediocre during the playoffs, mustering just 11.6 points and 4.9 assists per game against the Raptors.
Tom Haberstoh of NBC Sports Philadelphia notes some executives around the NBA consider Simmons' lack of improvement in his shooting as a sign he's not serious about his development: "Fair or not, Simmons failing to add some semblance of a jump shot in year two of his career is seen as a reason that Philadelphia has to put him on the trade block."
The smart guess is he returns to Philly next season. However, it's at least a conversation worth entertaining.
Simmons needs to either develop an 18-footer or have Joel Embiid become a more efficient long-range weapon. Otherwise, the Sixers' spacing will again be a nightmare in the playoffs.
And we'll be approaching this same topic next year.
Lakers Making LeBron James Available?
We'll give you a moment to stop laughing.
Less than 12 months removed from LeBron heading out to Los Angeles, fans are disgruntled and some people have apparently suggested exploring a trade to Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss.
Haberstroh said a Western Conference executive believes the Sixers may explore a trade involving Simmons and LeBron. However, that's simply a third party suggesting Philly could approach the subject―not a report of a previous conversation.
James doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so a deal technically is possible. He's not going anywhere, though. The Lakers finally have a star again; why would they willingly lose him?
This topic has floated around the headlines―longer than anticipated, even―but it shouldn't be taken seriously.
Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
