NEWSLETTER
Do you know what’s fun? When your team isn’t the one experiencing internal offseason drama for once!
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons has made it clear that he will not report for training camp later this month. He has also not spoken to the organization since late August.
Simmons is clearly aware of sanctions available to organization to fine and suspend him, including withholding of salary. But so far, Simmons appears willing to carry out a plan of forcing his way to a new team. Sixers have yet to find a a trade they're willing to make for him. https://t.co/vxSrBUWjXw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 21, 2021
There have been reports that Simmons would look to sit out training camp in the hopes of speeding up his trade request. Meanwhile, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported on Monday that the 76ers organization hoped they could still convince Simmons to walk through the door next week.
The expectation remains, one week out from 76ers media day, that Ben Simmons will choose not to report to the team's training camp, league sources say. But the Sixers, sources say, remain intent on trying to convince Simmons to report.
More NBA from me at https://t.co/A6ycVmnrjq
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 20, 2021
Now, per Woj, it appears this will be an impossible task, and we will have to wait and see if this truly does provoke a Simmons deal sooner than later. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has reportedly been hunting for trade partners, but reports have surfaced that the asking price has been absurdly high. If the team wants their roster established for another run at a ring this season, they may have to significantly lower their asking price to finally get Simmons off their hands (Michael: Or convince Simmons to come in for camp to at least feign some leverage by making it appear that he might return to the team if it doesn’t work out … though I’m not sure if anyone will really buy that).
From the Chicago point of view, we have no direct dog in this fight, but Simmons’ absence could certainly make this 76ers team worse from the jump. We also all know trades of his magnitude can have ripple effects around the league, so it’ll be interesting to see (1) where Simmons lands and (2) whether or not this thing could end up as a multi-team deal.
The Bulls play the 76ers on November 3rd and 6th, then again on February 6th and March 7th. And from the sound of it, none of those games will feature Ben Simmons.
