The Philadelphia 76ers believed that trusting the process will finally pay off this year. Led by the new coach Doc Rivers, they managed to finish the regular season as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Sixers easily got over the Washington Wizards in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs and it seemed like they will have an even easier job against the Atlanta Hawks. Surprisingly for many, the team that does not have an All-Star player managed to shock the Sixers in seven games.

It was the fourth straight game 7 loss for Rivers who got a reputation of a “chocker”. Still, the Sixers fans and NBA analysts do not point at him as the reason for the Sixers’ collapse.

Ben Simmons and his lack of confidence in his shooting abilities are what caused the Sixers the early Playoff exit. Simmons shot only 34% (25-73) from the free-throw line during the Playoffs, missing 27 of those in the seven games series against the Hawks.

What makes Simmons’ game even more disappointing is that in five of those seven games against the Hawks he didn’t take a single shot in the fourth quarter including the last four games of the series. Is that acceptable from a three-time All-star point guard?

Rivers and the best player on the Sixers roster, Joel Embiid, didn’t buy that well.

Simmons’ lack of confidence was especially noticed in the breaking moments of game 7. With 3:30 to go in the game, Simmons backed his way to the basket, spun around Danilo Gallinari for the easy look at the basket, and instead of making a layup, or maybe even dunking the ball, he decided to pass the ball. He passed the chance to tie the game at that moment.

Embiid, who had an injury-prone season and still managed to finish second in the MVP vote, didn’t hide his disappointment for his teammate.

Coach Rivers had no answer when asked after Game 7 if Simmons could play his current position for a championship-caliber team in today’s NBA.

Daryl Morey, the Sixers president of basketball operations also avoided answering if he is going to trade Simmons in the off-season.

The Sixers started their lengthy rebuild back in 2013 and went through a 10-win season and 26 and 28 games losing streaks. Those were devastating seasons for the Sixers fans but the team management knew that the road to a victory is a marathon, not a race. The Sixers had numerous lottery picks in the last eight years, with Embiid and Simmons, as well as Markelle Fultz, being drafted as number one. From all those prospects going through Philly, the team management decided to stick with these two believing that Embiid and Simmons will take the team to the championship.

Now after four early Playoff exits the team is on the edge of another rebuild.

Simmons has been part of trade talks in the last couple of seasons and it is believed that his time to go has arrived. He has 140 million left on his contract for the next 4 years and the Sixers are not willing to gamble on him again.

Despite his value has downgraded due to his Playoff performance, it is reported that there are teams who are willing to trade for Simmons, mainly Portland and Washington.

The Portland Trail Blazers are finding themselves in a similar situation where they have done everything to win, but simply the current roster has reached its limits. Both Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum might be available for a trade to the Sixers.

Wizards on the other hand are struggling year after year to make a serious playoff push but have failed once again. Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal are available for a trade but the Sixers will have to think twice if they really want to trade a 24-year-old All-Star for a much older player.