​May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesA familiar face could be making his way back to Philadelphia — at least if one of LeBron James’ friends has his way. X user Cuffs The Legend floated an unexpected idea on social media: bring three-time All-Star Ben Simmons back home.LeBron James’ Friend Believes Ben Simmons Is the Right Fit for Philadelphia 76ersCuffs The Legend shared his thoughts on X, posting:“Now bring Ben Simmons back HOME to Philly to play backup Point Center. I see the vision.”Back in 2016, the 76ers selected Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. On paper, he looked like a game-changer. At 6-foot-10, with elite court vision and blazing transition speed, he was the perfect blend of point guard and power forward.Over his career, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. He earned three All-Star selections and was also a Defensive Player of the Year finalist during his time in Philadelphia.But things got messy quickly. Simmons forced his way out of Philadelphia after a months-long holdout following the team’s disappointing second-round playoff exit in 2021.The Sixers eventually traded him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the deal that brought James Harden to Philadelphia. From there, Simmons also had a short and unproductive stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.DON’T MISS:‘I Don’t Wanna Be the Smartest Person in the Room’ — Jayson Tatum Takes Subtle Dig at Ex-Celtics Teammate Jaylen BrownSo, the idea of Simmons returning to Philadelphia may seem surprising, but from a basketball standpoint, it has some logic.The 76ers are looking for reliable depth behind Joel Embiid after veteran center Andre Drummond left in free agency. Philadelphia responded by signing Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million contract.The problem is that Hukporti isn’t a sure thing yet. He averaged just 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in about 9.2 minutes per game across 54 appearances last season with the New York Knicks, mostly playing behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. That’s a small sample size for a player expected to back up an injury-prone superstar like Embiid.That has fueled speculation that the Sixers could use another experienced frontcourt player, and Simmons has emerged as a name worth discussing.MORE:‘Had to Cry A Lil Bit’ – Bam Adebayo Recalls Emotional Moment When He Asked A’ja Wilson’s Father Permission Before ProposingA backup point-center role would allow Simmons to use his size and passing ability without asking his surgically repaired back to handle a heavy scoring load. His ability to grab a defensive rebound and immediately push the ball up the floor creates fast-break opportunities that few players his size