Sources: 76ers' Ben Simmons leaving NBA bubble for knee surgery
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star forward Ben Simmons will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is likely to miss the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN.
Simmons will have a loose body removed from his left knee in the coming days, and only a deep Sixers playoff could keep a fleeting hope of his return alive this season, sources said. Even then, his return from the procedure -- expected to take place outside of the Disney campus in the coming days -- is largely expected to come next season.
The Sixers are preparing now for a postseason run that will come without Simmons, one of the league's most talented and versatile weapons.
The loose body was a result of a left patella subluxation suffered in Wednesday's victory over the Washington Wizards. A subluxation of the patella means that the kneecap popped out of place but returned on its own.
The Sixers had moved Simmons to the power forward spot, and now the team's offensive focus turns fully to All-Star center Joel Embiid. The Sixers will suffer significantly on the defensive end without Simmons, and offensively they'll count upon a lineup of shooting surrounding Embiid that could give him more room to operate around the basket.
Nevertheless, the Sixers must search for answers in an Eastern Conference playoff chase that's promising itself to be an unforgiving gauntlet.
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