Although the Sixers have told teams they’re comfortable bringing back Ben Simmons for the 2021/22 season, rival executives are skeptical, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who says those execs think it’s just a matter of time before Simmons is moved. All signs continue to point to Simmons’ career in Philadelphia coming to an end, Charania writes.
Still, while the Sixers have held “expansive” discussions with multiple teams, they haven’t gotten close to completing a deal yet. The Timberwolves and Raptors are two teams in the mix for the three-time All-Star, per Charania. However, sources tell The Athletic that the Wolves’ assets may not appeal to Philadelphia and they might need to find a third team to get something done, while Toronto’s proposals haven’t piqued the 76ers’ interest yet.
As has been reported previously, the Sixers’ dilemma is complicated by the fact that they’d love to use Simmons as the centerpiece in a Damian Lillard offer, but the Trail Blazers‘ point guard appears set to open the season in Portland as he continues to evaluate the team’s present and future, writes Charania.
Here are a few more highlights from Charania’s latest article for The Athletic:
- Although the Bulls never seemed focused on signing Lauri Markkanen to a long-term deal, the high asking price they set in sign-and-trade negotiations sent a message to executives around the league that they valued him and weren’t willing to lose him for nothing, writes Charania. According to Charania, the second-round pick the Bulls received from the Cavaliers in the Markkanen trade had been a sticking point in negotiations.
- Markkanen “fully expected” to be signed-and-traded to the Spurs in the Bulls‘ acquisition of DeMar DeRozan, but Chicago is believed to have pulled him from that package, sources tell Charania.
- Before getting involved in the Markkanen deal to acquire Larry Nance from Cleveland, the Trail Blazers had interest in Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks, sources tell Charania. One report suggested that Memphis was willing to listen on inquiries about Brooks.
The second round pick was a sticking point? It’s from the Nuggets and is top-46 protected. Never heard of a pick bound to be in the early to middle 50s be very meaningful.
AK was part of the draft that got Jokic at 41, he will value second rounders for eternity because of that pick exclusively, although I think simonovic and donsumnu are gonna be ok enough rotational players
Of course the Sixers would love to use Simmons in a trade for Dame, but the Blazers wouldn’t bother considering that offer even with multiple first round picks attached.
While Dame has carried his franchise these past many years, one could say that Ben Simmons has held his franchise back in a way, at least in the playoffs. Blazers should pass on a Ben Simmons offer even if Tobias is attached imo.
Portland ain’t going anywhere with Dame and if they can get Simmons AND Harris plus multiple high picks, they should jump at it. Dame and the 8th seed is worse than what they’ll be with 2 starters plus future unprotected picks.
Morey dropped the ball last January when he could have gone all in for Harden and balked.
Now he’s trying to bluff his way into Dame but I don’t see it. The whole league knows the Simmons/Embiid pairing is toxic. He has no leverage left.
The Bulls received really good value with their last two second round picks. It seems many teams just throw them away. You can find rotational players in the 2nd round.
Lillard is not available next month
Don’t waste the time
DLo is friend of Towns, untouchable
Beasley and Beverley and picks to the third team
Not really a Morey hater but somehow rooting for him to get screwed on this Simmons trade lol!
I feel bad for young fans
Morey wants Simmons to suffer more in his force-out. Or he hopes Ben will give up on it— there are a number of years left on the contract. He can’t be expecting the offers to rise.
internet rumors
Raptors offer OG Anunoby and Dragic.
Both players are overpaid.
Ben Simmons is also overpaid
4 years $147 million remaining
Ben Simmons rejected Raptors, but he would like to play for Warriors.
How about this,
Ben Simmons give a list that he wants to play, then make a good trade via the 3rd team.
example
Warriors
Knicks
Lakers
Clippers
Nets
Ben Simmons has rejected Blazers, Wolves and Raptors
How many comments are you planning on leaving on this article?
Too many, I am sure
Simmons shouldnt play a single minute for Sixers and force a trade. They(Morey, Rivers, Embid) through him under the bus and shouldnt do any favor fir them.
If he doesn’t play his value will go even lower. He is viewed as somewhat stubborn already and unwilling to work on his shortcomings. He bowed out of the NCAA tournament when he realized he was a top 4 NBA pick. This is a deceptively selfish and conceited player, and sitting out will not improve his reputation. He needs to play his way into a trade if he really wants one. Or maybe he just wants to pout.
Blame the Sixers mgmt and not Simmons. It’s one thing to criticize Simmons privately but it’s another thing to publicly criticize to make him a scapegoat for their loss in postseason. Yes, Simmoms was terrible but he wasnt the only reason they lost.
^agreed. Simmons is done
And Morey still has some aces up his sleeve
I agree with everything you said about Simmons, except I think it relates to Morey not him.
Someone will trade for Ben Simmons. The issue is how much will they give up. It’s Morey who really needs to flip Simmons for some kind of quasi-star to play w/ Embiid.
If anything it’s Simmons who has all the leverage here. Whereas Morey is trying to thread the needle and play the waiting game, hoping the stench will fade from the playoffs and someone will make a big offer, but if Simmons decides to, say, not show up for training camp, then Morey is screwed. He’s going to have to beg to get CJ McCollum, nvm Dame.
No one believes that Philly is “comfortable” bringing back Simmons to start the year. Maybe Morey is, but not the rest of the key actors. I’d call that bluff and just wait them out
So last years one seed and projected a seed in the East is not a contender? That sounds a bit strange. Simmons stays and we run it back is my guess. Outside of landing a stud like Dame, yeah I think Morey and Philly are quite comfortable with what we have. Morey is not going to make a trade just to make a trade, and certainly is not going to accept the stupid hypotheticals that get floated around on here.
#agedLikeMilk
#StupidHypotheticals
Be lucky to get CJ, dame ain’t in the cards …