Ben Simmons posted several pairs of LeBron James signature shoes on his Instagram last night

The Ben Simmons campaign has entered a new phase, and this one’s my favorite yet. On Wednesday, Simmons raised every eyebrow in Philadelphia by posting several pairs of LeBron James’ signature sneakers to his Instagram Story, specifically from the LeBron XXIII “Old Glory” line.

Subtle? Not even a little, but I don’t want subtle. I want Ben Simmons practically begging his way back to Philadelphia, and that’s exactly what this is.

The timing is what makes it delicious. LeBron just signed with the Sixers, Simmons’ old team, and even before LeBron made his decision, Simmons was already openly longing for a reunion with the franchise he played for from 2016 to 2022.

Now he’s out here posting the new guy’s shoes like a kid dropping hints before his birthday. He wants this. He wants to play with LeBron. He wants to come home. And I am completely, unabashedly on board.

Ben Simmons with the LeBron James Shoes

It’s time @BenSimmons25

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) August 6, 2026

If Ben Simmons is Pitching Himself, and I’m Buying

Ben Simmons is campaigning. He’s using his platform to send a very loud, very obvious message to LeBron and the Sixers front office that he’s ready and willing and I love it, because I’ve been beating this drum for weeks.

The fit at backup center is perfect. He’s big enough to handle the minutes behind Embiid, he’s an elite defender, he’s a phenomenal facilitator, and he loves to push the pace exactly like LeBron and Maxey. Rich Paul already laid out the vision of Simmons reinventing himself as a rolling, playmaking big, and it makes all the sense in the world on a roster this loaded.

Ben Simmons says he’s back and rumors are swirling that he could be joining the Philadelphia 76ers >>

The Sixers could genuinely use another ball-handler and defender after adding LeBron and Simmons is standing there on Instagram waving his arms. The stars are aligning, and I need them to finish aligning.

The One Hurdle: The Cap

Now for the reality check, because there’s a real obstacle here. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Sixers can’t currently sign Simmons to a minimum deal because they’re only $1.8 million below their first-apron hard cap. A veteran’s minimum for Simmons, who has nine years of service, would run roughly $3.5 million, which means Philadelphia would need to clear some space first. And Siegel reports there’s currently “no talk” of the Sixers getting rid of anyone on the roster.

That’s the snag. But it’s a solvable one. I’ve said it before, the Sixers can create the room if they want to, whether that’s waiving a minimally-guaranteed player or some other minor reshuffling. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and if LeBron wants Simmons and the front office sees the fit, they’ll figure out the math. The cap is a hurdle, not a wall.

The Numbers Don’t Scare Me

I know what the skeptics will say. Simmons went unsigned all of last season and averaged just 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in his last stint in 2024-25. Those aren’t star numbers, and nobody’s pretending they are but that’s not the role he’d be playing here.

On a team with LeBron, Embiid, Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe, Simmons isn’t being asked to be a top option. He’s being asked to defend, rebound, run the floor, and make the simple play as a low-usage backup big. That’s a role where his weaknesses barely matter and his genuine strengths, the defense and the passing, shine. On a minimum deal, it’s a zero-risk swing.

Ben Simmons Will Complete the Process

Here’s the bottom line, and if you’ve read The Liberty Line over the years you already know exactly where I stand. Bringing Ben Simmons back isn’t just smart basketball. It’s the perfect full-circle ending to the entire Process era.

He was there for the tanking, the suffering, the heartbreak, and yes, the passed-up dunk. Bringing him back to chase a ring on a LeBron-Embiid contender would close the book on all of it the right way and restore order to Sixers basketball once and for all.

Make it impossible for the front office to ignore. The fit is there, the desire is obviously there, and the only thing standing in the way is $1.8 million in cap space that a motivated organization can absolutely find.

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