The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly planning to use Ben Simmons at the point guard spot when he returns from injury later this season.

The announcement came from Sixers head coach Brett Brown during an interview with the local media in Philadelphia. Coach Brown also said that Simmons will guard the opposing team's point guard as well.

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"I think he can," said Brown, via ESPN. "If you don't, you get into real funky trouble in transition. When you look at his athleticism and you combine that with his intellect and part of my discussions with him are what do you see in relation to guarding - time will prove me right or wrong. I intend on making him what we know as a legitimate point guard."

Brown had initially utilized Simmons, who was this year's top draft pick, at the "point-forward" spot during the 2016 NBA Summer League. However, the coach's experiment was cut short when the former LSU standout suffered a right ankle injury and fractured the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot during the team's final training camp scrimmage in late September.

Reports are out that there is a possibility Simmons could make his official NBA debut in January, but his representatives have been trying to convince him to sit out the season just make himself 100 percent healthy for the next season.

Whenever Simmons' first game might happen, Brown is said to be positive that he will start him at point guard with Jerryd Bayless sliding to the two-guard position.

"It was 100 percent me," said Brown. "Realizing what we have, understanding Jerryd Bayless could comfortably play (shooting guard). This is something I think would be a mistake if we didn't try it."

Meanwhile, Fansided indicated that Simmons could be "the missing piece of the puzzle" for the Sixers to finally get out of the cellar in the Eastern Conference.

The Sixers are playing much better this year with the presence of Joel Embiid and other new players Bayless, Sergio Rodriguez, and Gerald Henderson, but the team is still lodged at the bottom of the East standings with a 4-16 record.

Philly had lost a lot of close games this season and some analysts believe that Simmons' versatility and natural basketball intellect could have altered some of the results if he was there.

TagsNBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2016, Ben Simmons, philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia 76ers rumors