BEN SIMMONS' SEASON CYCLE

I saw this GIF of Ben Simmons where he basically runs on a cycle of “scamming” people into thinking he’s improved, only to show otherwise. It started in Philadelphia, stayed the same in Brooklyn, and while he wasn’t as bad with the Los Angeles Clippers, he still fell short of what people initially thought he would be. It’s crazy how the comparisons went from Magic Johnson and LeBron James to Kwame Brown and Zion Williamson.

Then again, at least when Zion plays, he dominates.

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Ben Simmons now has an entire YouTube database dedicated to missed layups, airball jumpers, and head-scratching decisions.

And now there are rumors that the New York Knicks are interested in him.

I get it. If the Knicks are tired of the "LeBron to New York" chatter, then signing Simmons might be the perfect repellent. Jokes aside, he could still be a useful tool for the Knicks if they focus on using him in very specific scenarios.

The thing is, though, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby already play his brand of basketball, but with better offense and without the drama. I’m not saying Simmons should be forced out of the NBA, but his time as a headline act feels like it’s over. He’s only 28, but right now, he reminds me of past failed lottery picks like Darko Miličić, Derrick Williams, Michael Beasley, Jahlil Okafor, and Jabari Parker. Even Anthony Bennett, often called the worst No. 1 pick ever, never became a full-on symbol of mediocrity the way Simmons has.

But maybe that’s the difference. No one expected greatness from those guys. Simmons, on the other hand, was supposed to be the centerpiece of "The Process" next to Joel Embiid. The expectations were sky-high. Hopefully, he finds a better second act in his career, but not at the level the NBA media still tries to put him on. And if he wants to go viral again, maybe skip the practice videos and just let his game do the talking when it actually matters.