The first picks from 2016 and 2017 are currently facing unemployment.

Following the retirement of 2010's top pick Wall, among the current first picks, 2011’s Irving is now the second oldest, with the oldest being well known. When I checked the list, the first picks from 2016 and 2017 are still without a team this off-season, which is quite unfortunate.

Interestingly, both these first picks were chosen by the 76ers. The 2016 pick Simmons was astonishing from the start, with his defense and passing almost star-level right from his entry into the league.

He missed his entire rookie season due to injury, but in his second year debut, he scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, and made 2 steals in the first game. That year, he won Rookie of the Year over equally impressive players like Mitchell and Tatum.

I remember fans often said that Simmons was already so impressive despite not being able to shoot, and once he developed a shot, he would be unstoppable. Unfortunately, a Simmons who can shoot might only exist in a parallel universe.

Regarding Simmons' inability to shoot, it might be more about his reluctance to take shots. Early on, Simmons had some mid-range shots and fadeaways, but as he played more games, he increasingly avoided shooting outside the paint.

Even without shooting, Simmons was selected to three All-Star games, but lacking range eventually exposed the flaws in his playing style. The 2021 playoffs marked a turning point in his career when he passed the ball instead of driving to the basket against Trae Young, a moment that became pivotal for him.

After losing to the Hawks and missing the Eastern Conference Finals, Rivers publicly blamed Simmons, and Embiid did not defend him, causing a rift between Simmons and the team. In February 2022, Simmons was traded to the Nets in the Harden deal.

During his time with the Nets, Simmons underwent spinal disc surgery to treat a back injury, and his physical condition declined significantly. He quickly went from a reasonably good star player to one earning a minimum salary.

Last season, Simmons bought out his contract with the Nets and joined the Clippers, which should have been a chance for redemption. However, he was mostly excluded from the playoff rotation and consequently did not receive a contract renewal from the Clippers.

Since the start of the off-season, Simmons has been linked with both the Celtics and Knicks but nothing materialized. Unlike previous off-seasons when he posted photos of intense training daily, this year Simmons has completely relaxed, either vacationing or fishing. Still, I believe he can secure another minimum contract, as he could still be useful as a small-ball center.

The 2017 first pick Fultz always evokes regret when mentioned. Before entering the NBA, everything about Fultz was promising, and no one questioned his status as a top pick. However, after joining the league, he suffered a shoulder injury that cost him valuable adaptation time, and after recovering, he was diagnosed with a rare condition called neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

This strange illness caused Fultz to lose his shooting ability and confidence in playing. He regained some shooting skills and confidence during his time with the Magic, but just when people thought he was ready to play well again, he tore his ACL.

So everything had to start over, but it’s difficult for Fultz to get another fresh start. Last off-season, he was unemployed until February this year when he signed a contract with the Kings.

Last season, Fultz played 21 games, averaging 2.9 points, 1 rebound, and 1.3 assists per game. After the season ended, he became unemployed again. Unlike Simmons, who occasionally has signing rumors, no teams showed interest in Fultz during this off-season, making it seem unlikely that the 2017 first pick will find a job again.

The average NBA career lasts only about four and a half years. No matter how high your starting point is, various reasons can cause you to fall out of the league. Every year, the NBA cuts many players, and even first picks are no exception.