During a meeting in Los Angeles last week, Sixers star Ben Simmons told team owner Josh Harris, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, general manager Elton Brand, and head coach Doc Rivers that he doesn’t want to be part of the team any longer, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Sources tell The Inquirer that Simmons doesn’t plan on reporting to training camp with the 76ers in four weeks.
According to Pompey, the Sixers’ brass told Simmons they want him to come to camp and be part of the team, but the three-time All-Star – who knows he can be fined for not showing up – apparently intends to take a drastic approach in the hopes of forcing the team’s hand. Money won’t be a factor in Simmons’ decision-making, a source tells Pompey, who notes that the 25-year-old has four years and nearly $147MM left on his contract.
Simmons has been considered a trade candidate since the 76ers’ season ended in the second round of the playoffs against Atlanta. The former No. 1 overall pick turned in a poor performance against the Hawks, showing a reluctance to shoot or even to have the ball in his hands late in games. He made just 15-of-45 free throws in the seven-game series vs. Atlanta and connected on only 34.2% of his total foul shots in the playoffs, the worst mark ever for a player with more than 70 attempts in a single postseason.
Although the 76ers have publicly indicated all summer that they’re happy to bring back Simmons and work with him on improving his game, the team has reportedly engaged in trade talks with several potential suitors, including the Timberwolves, Raptors, Cavaliers, Pacers, Kings, Spurs, and Warriors. A Monday report suggested that executives around the NBA believe it’s just a matter of time before Philadelphia pulls the trigger on a trade.
[RELATED: Ben Simmons “In Step” With Sixers’ Trade Efforts]
The Sixers’ efforts to find a suitable deal for Simmons have been hindered by Morey’s high asking price, per Pompey. Simmons’ lack of a jump shot and his significant struggles in the postseason have caused his trade value to diminish, but Morey has sought a trade package commensurate with a 25-year-old who has made three straight All-Star teams and remains under contract for four years. Pompey’s sources are skeptical that price will be met.
“Think about three months ago when the Sixers are willing to give up Ben Simmons. You are like, ‘Let’s see what we have to do to get him,'” one Western Conference executive told The Inquirer. “Now, the difference is Ben Simmons says he refuses to play for the Sixers. He wants to go to three California teams. There’s so much bad blood between him and the team. … I’m not giving you what you’re demanding.”
[RELATED: Warriors Rejected Sixers’ Offer Of Simmons For Wiseman, Wiggins, Four First-Round Picks]
As we’ve written multiple times in recent weeks and as Pompey notes in today’s report, the belief around the NBA is that the Sixers have been hoping Damian Lillard will request a trade from the Trail Blazers, putting Philadelphia in position to use Simmons as a centerpiece in an offer for Portland’s star point guard. However, all indications this month are that Lillard appears content to continue evaluating the Blazers’ present and future this fall.
If the Sixers feel compelled to get a deal done sooner rather than later, targeting another Blazers guard – CJ McCollum – might make sense, Pompey writes. However, he cautions that both teams highly value their own stars, which may make it difficult for them to find a deal that appeals to both sides.
The Simmons situation is similar to one Morey’s old team in Houston found itself in a year ago, when James Harden requested a trade during the offseason and didn’t report to the Rockets for the start of camp. Harden eventually showed up and began the year with the Rockets, but was traded less a month until the season.
Morey’s Sixers were in the mix for Harden right up until the 11th hour, offering a package headlined by Simmons. Less than eight months later, Morey will have to consider whether to let Simmons’ trade request linger into the season like the Rockets did with Harden’s, or if it makes more sense to complete a deal before training camp — even if the return falls well short of Philadelphia’s initial asking price.
CJ for Ben straight up. Blazers upgrade on D and finally have a small lineup to play – Dame-Powell-Ben-Nance-Covington
Philly gets perimeter shooting.
They’re not going to get CJ now without a major sweetener added to the package. Simmons has created a disaster for the 76ers with this news.
Now we will see Simmons’ value really plummet. Morey should’ve lowered his demands long ago when they still had the opportunity to make a decent trade. Sixers are gonna get pennies on the dollar.
Could have gotten Wiggins and 2 top draft picks from GSW for him. Instead wanted 4 draft picks and more players. GM doing what he did with the Rockets destroying a franchise.
Wiggins, Moody, and Kuminga are better than Simmons.
In August 2021
Simmons = Wiggins + Moody + 2022 First
In September
Simmons = Wiggins + Moody
In October
Simmons = Wiggins
Simmons $147 million contract
Wiggins $65 million contract
Simmons has rejected Blazers, Wolves and Raptors.
He refused to pay triple income taxes
Australia
Canada
US
If income taxes were part of his equation, why does he only want to play in California?
California State tax is no joke
Dallas Property tax 3%
San Francisco property tax 1%
Example
Steph Curry has $30 million house
20 years Curry pays $18 million property tax in Dallas
20 years Curry pays $6 million property tax in San Francisco
Curry saves $12 million
Sillivan, why did you mysteriously change your argument mid-stream from income tax to property tax?
One could save 5% in property tax in one state, but save 5% in income tax in another.
No, Simmons should have shut his friggin mouth and waited to be traded so that he doesn’t screw over the team that gave him a max deal, and his teammates who he let down in the playoffs. If we didn’t have Embiid, and players who can win a title, I’d actually rather them just never trade him, and he could retire at 25.
I think people, including yourself, are underestimating the value of the young controllable All-Star player. Now don’t get me wrong, CJ is a very good player but he’s both older and under contract for less time. Not to mention, CJ has never been considered a good defender or made an all-star appearance.
Young controllable [regressing in performance] All Star player [who, in addition to failing to put in the work to even marginally improve his jump shot, is now refusing to even play for the team].
Some people may be underestimating Simmons’ worth. But not nearly as much as Morey has been overestimating it since he became GM.
@bpdecore
Nothing great about having multiple years at a high cost of a player whose underperforming and seems unwilling to make the necessary improvements.
Yeah Morey’s tenure in Philly to date has been disastrous. He should have moved Simmons’ eight months ago.
Then after they got bounced he should have been somewhere in the realm of reasonable – he probably could have made a decent non-Dame deal on draft day.
Instead he made laughable demands.
Now, on top of everything else, Simmons is going to refuse to play. LOL. No team in their right mind is upping their bids at this point.
Those are likely the only types of deals even out there, maybe one for one plus a few future picks. Most teams have just set their rosters already, and there are zero free agents left to fill out a roster in a bigger trade of current players.
CJ is trash
As a 76ers fan, good riddance. He really isn’t that good. Unfortunately, the other teams know that too. The 76ers are totally screwed with this news and his market value is now lower than it was after the playoffs. Morey is going to have to bite the bullet on this one and take the best offer he can get.
Good luck he makes 30 mill but can’t shoot . He like a overpaid rondo
and close to 40 at the end of his deal
He’ll be 28
He means 40 mil
Rondo is actually an average to good shooter these days
This news just made his value go down really bad
76er GM fault for not trading him when they could have got a boat load of prospects and players. Instead asked for way too much and now will watch his value drop. Now its a buyers market on him with other clubs knowing he wants to leave.
Agreed. I’ve been saying for months that Morey has been playing an extremely high risk game of poker with Simmons, going back to January.
This has to be rock bottom, short of Simmons packing his bags and moving back to Australia.
Comparisons to Harden last season are poetic but Simmons’ value is going to take a much steeper hit (in addition to the hit it’s already taken) compared to Beard.
BS hasn’t proven NEARLY enough to refuse to show up for training camp. Even for Harden, a perennial MVP candidate, not showing up was risque.
Don’t worry Ben, they didn’t want you back either
I think he ends up in Memphis or potentially NOLA
No confidence on the court, lack of working relationship with the team, speaks to poor coaching and management.
There’s no excuse for this level of dysfunction, with all the resources NBA teams have at their disposal.
It’s his second set of coaching and management though…. When’s it become his fault?
It’s his fault too but I think from the teams perspective so I’m focused on what my team needs to do.
If the player can’t play they should be the first to know.
They have coaches and scouts with eyes on their team every day.
Why is it always team vs player with the comments here?
I can blame the team without absolving the player.
He’s dumb for not making it work too IMO
There’s definitely blame to go around. The Embiid/Simmons fit has been poor for years now.
And there have been plenty of opportunities to hit reset and move Simmons for a good haul.
Generally speaking, when something doesn’t work in the NBA, waiting it out and hoping for the best rarely achieves great results.
@cryptonerd
Why place the blame on the team? They’ve made a huge investment in this guy. You reallllly think they haven’t bent over backwards to give him the resources to improve? Today’s players want the most amount of money without having to match with max effort. They’re are few players like LBJ, Curry, Durant that legit aren’t satisfied with just being all-stars.
Because those resources should be used to reach the guy.
Even if he’s lazy, or unmotivated, all these things can be improved with coaching.
The players is to blame too but he has the natural athletic ability and basketball IQ to become a star.
Some coaches could mold that into a better player than what they have right now.
The teams job is to develop basketball players, the players job is to play basketball.
Simmons has delivered 3 AS games and playoffs.
That shows he’s not just some bust.
Some players/teams just don’t mesh well but other teams would get more out of his talent.
Trust the process
Hahaha, I remember philly fans talking about “the trade package for Ben starts with de’aaron fox” lol they might get bagley and a top 28 protected 1st for him
and now Portland can extract an even greater amount from them for Dame. I’m guessing 2 starters and 3 picks plus swaps.
Should of traded him before the draft now he’s causing trouble and making demands
Teams also had FA options at that point to fill the rosters with the pieces needed.
@mlbnyfan
Why do ppl assume Portland, short of a trade demand from Dame, want to trade him especially for Simmons when they would have a boatload of likely better options? Dame is better than Simmons and there would be a ton of better and cheaper options..
Exactly. Which is why Philly’s “hope” for Dame becoming available was so laughable. Morey basically made ridiculous demands bc he thought he’d get Dame by Sep.
Yet there were always going to be better rebuild offers than Simmons. Only way I see Philly getting Dame is if Dame demanded a trade solely to PHI.
I do that today if I’m Morey
I can’t see Portland using Simmons as the centerpiece of their post-Dame rebuild.
I think the only teams that will be willing to take the risk on Ben are the small market teams with nothing to lose like Sacramento and Indiana.
Maybe GSW just because they have the infrastructure and championship pedigree – and they’re a little desperate themselves to make one last run.
But other than that, Simmons is not worth the risk to most GM’s. Best case scenario he actually lives up to his contract. Worst case is you lose your job and become a laughingstock. I’d rather have the picks.
The nba likely already knew all this. Rich Paul is his agent. This is only news to the public.
Rich Paul is possibly the most powerful agent who ever lived. His power IQ was estimated to be 50 to 100 points higher than 76ers GMs.
They could literally just keep him on the roster and roll with 14 players the next 3 years lol. Morey just might. Stop pretending Paul or Ben has “leverage” lol
So just so i understand, you plan on sitting a guy who is paid $30million +/year while Joel Embiid gets older?
Ok, you try that and see where that gets Philly.
If Morey doesn’t care. Yup. I mean by the trade deadline something would be there he’d accept I’m sure. Where’s it gonna her Philly though? Probably a second round exit… same as with him on the floor though right?
@CF Trading him for trash because his market is low from his attitude, demands to specific teams and bad play wouldn’t get Philly anywhere either.
I hope you’re talking exclusively about basketball because Scott Boras has been wielding major influence in baseball for decades.
Atlanta could offer Galinari or Bogdan. Cleveland could offer Sexton. A lot of decent offers out there. Any of what I mentioned sound right??
Bogi has a trade kicker though. And I would expect that Atlanta would want to salary match so 76ers would have to sweeten the deal. 76ers are said to include Maxey too. So something like Gallo, Bogi, and Delon for Ben and Maxey? I think Hawks say no unless picks are included.
dang it Ben
As it turns out the clan don’t have to report and the Sixers don’t have to trade him. Morey loves drama.
He ran away when James Harden wanted a trade, will he run away again now that Simmons wants a trade? Haha oh how the turntables…
He won’t.
76ers owner paid annual salary $25 million to GMs and head coach. Clippers and Nets paid $12 million each.
Rivers has a contract with around $8 million in annual salary
Nate McMillan (Atlanta Hawks), the outgoing Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics, Mike Malone (Denver Nuggets), Miami Heat’s Eric Spoelstra and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves each earn around $3-4 million.
Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee Bucks) make around $6 million each.
Nice research but the sarcasm must’ve flown over you by a mile
The next collective bargaining agreement needs to have some rule that helps even stupid teams that wind up with a primadonna player. They shouldn’t have to trade him. But they should be able to annul that extension.
Maybe they should think it through before they give him an extension.
Funny. I was mocked for talking about Ben tarnishing his trade value. Now it seems we’re all on the same page. Very interesting
Just once I would like to see one of these “trade me or else” players suspended for the entire season without pay. You sign a contract, you live up to the terms of that contract.
Ummm…. That’s be great but now the team is down one player?
Haha nice….
Very graceful
Simmons is going nowhere unless he Sixers get the value they desire. The kid has no leverage and his agent should remember this player isn’t James harden or Anthony Davis.
Send Simmons to Sac-Town ………. Hield, Bagley + picks (fillers for both sides may be needed).
SIXERS get rid of Simmons, who won’t shoot, for Hield, a guy who won’t stop shooting …….. Bagley get’s a change of scenery, some semblance of health – it might finally start his motor.
KINGS finally get a ‘name player’, gets rid of a malcontent Hield and somewhat de-clogs that crowded guard line-up (moreso with Mitchell’s arrival). KINGS overall defense improves with Simmons.
Sixers want a player who can help them win a Title in return for Simmons. W’s might need to roll the dice and trade Green for Simmons. It could be win win win trade for everybody. Green could further establish his legacy with a Title in Philly
Green does absolutely nothing for Philly.
You don’t watch very much of the NBA. Both Lakers and Trailblazers want Green. Green is a player that does way more than stats.
Like 90% of you don’t understand why Morey was asking for what he was. He had no interest in moving Simmons unless it was in a package for Dame. So why not ask for everything and the moon? Maybe a team will blow you away with an offer.
Now that Ben publicly wants out, Morey will lower his asking price. It’s really not hard to understand, but apparently that’s a high hurdle to jump here.
Morey is a clown and totally f’ed this up. Accept it.
Not really.
Stop making excuses for Morey. It is much easier to make a trade before the draft than after the draft. Morey already knew Simmons wanted out but Morey’s ego hurt his chance of making a good deal.
Every roster is full, every FA has signed. Teams that were interested wont put the same package they would have on the table now since they wont gut the roster with nobody left to sign to fill the spots. GSW for example would not want to fill Kuminga Moody and Wisemans spots at this point in the offseason. They would have made different moves and signings had they traded for BS.
Also deals are harder after the draft because now the picks have real salaries. They cost nothing in matching before the draft, but now Wiggins. Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody cost 50M, and the 6ers dont have open spots for all of them.
They s*** the bed and any deal now will be for nothing like what Philly phans think they should get. Like Wiggins plus a protected 1st in 2027 take it or leave it. I mean would you rather do that or deal with BS missing camp and causing major issues all season for chemistry. They have to trade him and nobody will offer much since everyone knows it.
@ChapmansVacuum I rather deal with BS missing camp and causing issues all season
“You can’t fire me, I quit!”
I honestly liked one of the first deals ever rumored with the Pacers that would’ve brought back Brogdon, Warren, & a 1st round pick. Then Indiana used this year’s 1st and picked Duarte who happened to be someone that, even though a bit older, I felt could’ve helped the Sixers this coming season. Gotta say, if they could get those 3 for BS plus maybe Shake then they should jump on it and not look back. Wonder how far off the salaries are though.
Ok now tell me.
Is Morey an idiot or what. Perkins told you he wasn’t reporting to camp, Sept 28. He told you, us he wasn’t taking any calls from team or FO.
OK did I call it or What. Harden the diva ran Morey. Then Morey ran the Rockets to the ground. Harden left, Morey ran. Now he’s ruining another team. My analytics says He Sucks.
Last time I well help his dumb Are ….
Go to Kings … smile and say yes I will take Halliburton, Bagley, Buddy and a #1 pick. We will give you Ben and Maxey. You wellcone
That’s a good deal for the Sixers.
Halliburton has a chance to be really good. I thought that Sacramento was gearing up to move Fox when they picked Davion, before I realized that they had given him an extension. I don’t see how all 3 can coexist. So I can definitely see one of them ending up in Philly.
I don’t see Kings including Haliburton in a trade. If 76er got that offer they should take it in a heart beat.
Agreed. If the 76ers can get him and keep Maxey, I’m in. The other pieces don’t matter that much.
Colin Sexton, Kevin Love and a protected 1st for Ben Simmons and Tyrese Maxey. 6ers get a starting guard and a backup big. Cleveland can run their 4 seven footers with Garland lineup.
We would be better fining Ben and keeping Maxey than accepting that garbage
How much are they gonna fine Simmons if he simply shows up and plays half assed and half heartedly like James Harden did to the Rockets?
Could be a true story…but Pompey is not what I consider a reliable source.
This might be news to fans but for sure NBA FO people knew about this.
Ben Simmons to Denver for expiring contract id Will Barton, Aaron Gordon and a future 2nd. It allows Denver to get an excellent defender and ball handler while Murray rehabs and he can guard the team’s best player in the playoffs next year. Denver can’t really attract FA’s and they have a window right now with Jokic and Murray, regardless of his injury.
Expiring contract of*** I hate autocorrect. Sorry guys.
No need to apologize… Your trade offer was dumb no matter the correction or not
Lol being realistic to his trade value? Yeah I’m sorry I’m not asking for a player of CJ’s caliber for a guy who can’t even get pass “H” in HORSE.
I could see an offer maybe being Gordon, Barton, Campazzo, Rivers, 2022 1st, 2027 1st, 2024 2nd, and 2028 2nd for Simmons, Maxey, and a lottery protected 2023 1st (they would have to move that for Denver to legally be able to trade their 2022 1st)…and Denver could sign Etwan Moore and Dion Waiters to their 2 open roster spots, but Philly should do exponentially better than that, if they stupidly move him. This does give them the expiring deals, and the picks, and leaves them with decent enough replacement pieces, but too many teams could beat that offer, and especially in a deal like this, they’re better off keeping Simmons, which they should do regardless. Also, they wouldnt really be adding more than the 1 extra 1st b/c they’d have to give up 1 to get 1 of them earlier b/c Denver doesnt have picks they can legally trade, besides those
If they do trade him, I hope he gets a Detroit Pistons style welcome when he plays the Sixers. He can view the game from his backside, no easy buckets for my pal Mr. Bonpensiero.
And if they don’t trade him, he better shoot it.
Didn’t the Pacers offer them Brogdon and a 1st round pick?
Supposedly….and it is just as dumb an idea and as bad of an offer now as it was then.
Embid and Sixers front office literally left no choice for Simmons. They publicly chewed him up in the postseason and did not have Simmon’s back at all. This is the absolute right play for Simmons and Rich Paul.
its not possible but wish Boston could get Simmons
Ben-Brown-Tatum would be dope on defense
It’s possible…not likely…but if so it would cost Brown or Tatum.
CJ and Dame for Harris, Maxey, Simmons. Money is a pretty close match. That’s a title contending team for the Sixers and Simmons gets his own team to run in Portland.
Good, he stinks anyway. And Philly while you are at it dump Rhys Hoskins for some Sharpie markers
Just fire Doc R9vers, and I’m sure that will fix this, if its true
How about let him sit home and simmer, as his trade value plummets even further, then wait for an appropriate package to be made available by OKC or HOU, where he can spend the rest of his career realizing how much nicer it is to be on a team that is competing for a championship.