Ben Simmons is expected to address the media Tuesday before the Sixers leave for New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Wednesday, Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes. It’s uncertain whether Simmons will suit up for the opener.
“We’ve been together for three weeks, so we’ve established a good rhythm,” coach Doc Rivers said. “So the more he’s been in, the more he does, especially when we’re working on our offensive stuff earlier, because we’ve built from last year but we tweaked a lot of stuff. But it’s easy to pick up — especially for him.”
A source recently told The Athletic’s Sam Amick that Simmons plans to play in games, rather than sitting out while awaiting a trade.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Commissioner Adam Silver said the Nets’ decision to sit Kyrie Irving and the city ordinance that led to that decision is not a league issue, Bontemps writes in a separate story. The Players Association never agreed to a vaccine mandate and Irving is prohibited from playing in Brooklyn unless he’s vaccinated. “This is between Irving and New York City right now,” Silver said. “This is not a league issue … but I think it would have been best for everyone if every player were vaccinated.”
- With Irving out indefinitely, the Nets will need more out of Patty Mills and Jevon Carter, Zach Brazilier of the New York Post writes. Mills signed with Brooklyn on a two-year contract in free agency, while Carter was acquired in the Landry Shamet deal.
- The Celtics have an open roster spot after waiving Jabari Parker but they’re not planning to fill it immediately, Jared Weiss of The Athletic tweets. Head coach Ime Udoka said they plan to see who else becomes available around the league but with Boston projected as a taxpaying team, the roster could remain at 14 for the time being.
- The Celtics rewarded Robert Williams with a four-year extension in August. The goal now is to keep the young center healthy, Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald writes. “He’s a young guy we do want to build his role and minutes overall, and a big part of that is staying healthy, so we’re on him about lifting the weights, getting his treatment, take care of himself off the court as well as what we ask him to do on the court,” Udoka said.
- Mitchell Robinson is still working his way back from a foot injury, though the young Knicks center plans to play in the team’s opener, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Robinson played in the Knicks’ preseason finale on Friday. “Once I get my conditioning back — that’s the main thing — so I can play all day, I’ll be all right,” he said.
I would be very surprised to see Simmons suit up for the opener on Wednesday.
The 76ers don’t deserve Simmons.
None of them deserve each other or, rather, all of them deserve one another.
Simmons gets to play with the jojo nuff said friend.
It says a lot about Jabari that the Celtics valued an open roster spot over having him on the team.
It says he was right about not getting paid to play defense.
#FreeBenSimmons
#LetKyriePlay
Kyrie will have to get traded. Whoever cuts his checks won’t be happy paying him while he doesn’t play, cos having him means they also pay ridiculous luxury and repeater taxes.
A source told The Athletic’s Sam Amick that Simmons plans to play in games, rather than sitting out while awaiting a trade.
Well what did he do all off-season besides sulk?
This man insults me!!!
Hope still young Jabari Parker catches on with another NBA team! If not with any of the many leagues overseas. He can score. Again, with the Celtics it’s all about the money.
And Jabari not being very good
NYC vac mandate will be over soon and KD will welcome kyrie back
Big mistake he will find another reason to miss games
NY is set to vote in a new mayor on Nov 2 and both candidates seemed prepared to tweak De Blasio vaccine mandate. Kyrie most likely will be able to play with weekly testing.
He could get traded before then. After Ben Simmons just got kicked out of practice and suspended for the first game, it looks like the best situation for both teams would be a Ben for Kyrie swap, but we don’t know for certain that Ben is vaccinated.
As soon as the Nets show they’re still capable of winning a championship without Kyrie, he’ll get vaxxed and start playing. Nobody loves the spotlight/drama as much as Kyrie does.
Come on, Jevon Carter! Represent the gold and blue (even if it’s on a team I don’t like)