The chances of Ben Simmons ultimately reporting back to the Sixers have increased in recent days, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Sources tell Wojnarowski (Twitter link) that 76ers team officials and Simmons’ agent Rich Paul have made progress in discussions about ending Simmons’ holdout and having him return to the team in the near future. Shams Charania of The Athletic echoes that report, tweeting that the two sides have been “working around the clock” over the last few days to find a resolution. Those conversations are ongoing, per Wojnarowski.
Even if Simmons does report to the Sixers, that doesn’t mean that he’s prepared to play out the next four years of his contract in Philadelphia. According to Wojnarowski, the plan would be for the front office to continue exploring the market for a potential Simmons trade.
This scenario has always been a strong possibility if the Sixers were unable to find a deal they liked, following Simmons’ trade demand. The three-time All-Star is currently losing approximately $360K for each game he misses and isn’t expected to be able to recoup that money down the road — a report last week indicated that those financial ramifications were starting to hit home for Simmons and his camp.
The 76ers, meanwhile, have maintained since the start of training camp that they want Simmons back in the fold. Wojnarowski says that stance hasn’t changed, tweeting that the organization wants to convince the 25-year-old that it’s the best place for him long-term.
While that may be public posturing, the team is better with Simmons on the court than without him, and Philadelphia may not be able to find a trade offer it likes until a couple months into the regular season. At that point, more players will become trade-eligible and some teams may be off to underwhelming starts, making them a little more desperate.
Still, it will be interesting to see what exactly it looks like if Simmons does report to the 76ers. Given how far down the road the standoff has progressed, it won’t be easy for the two sides to mend fences and move forward.
Simmons has been described as “mentally checked out,” so it seems unlikely that we’d see him return to peak form for a team he has been pushing hard to leave. I’m also skeptical that the fans in Philadelphia would welcome him back with open arms — being booed by the home crowd would make the situation even more uncomfortable for Simmons and the Sixers. As Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice and Zach Lowe of ESPN (Twitter link) observe, Simmons “reporting” to the team might not be the same as him actually “playing” for the club.
The 76ers have two preseason games left this week, on Monday and Friday. If Simmons hasn’t returned to the team by then, he’d have forfeited more than $1.4MM in salary. However, it’s possible that negotiating a reduction in that penalty is something Simmons’ camp has discussed with the Sixers.
This is the worst soap opera ever.
The Brady / Belichick divorce wasn’t much better….
Lol. But Simmons was “DIGGING IN” last week for the long haul. Him and Klutch had no leverage from the beginning. Great job sixers not giving In.
We will see how he plays. Philly might not want him back if he does not care. Which is likely.
Harden came back and was traded pretty quickly…
I am sure Simmons will play 100% after being called soft, weak and not a team player. But Philly fan does not care, they just want to trade him.
I think Simmons can do far more dmg on the team than in LA, but ok great, you won…LOL
This cannot get better. Maybe next the Sixer fans will boo him everytime he touches the ball… please, we can only hope
Sixers fans don’t want him. My guess is he is such a coward that he will take an injury and just sit.
How does that help you trade him then?
If he is a coward, then your return just got worse and if you are just doing this to prove a point, well so long season.
It’s not about his trade value. Why does everyone say trade value. The sixers just wanted him to report and play on the contract he signed. Instead he cried like a coward and tried to hide behind Klutch sports. The dude is a coward.
Philly fans are one of the worst in sports. I think there passion becomes aggressive and disrespectful to players within the city and outsiders. Many Philly sports teams have a hard time keeping or signing free agents or players (in general) without overpaying. Someone has to sell their soul and be willing to take on the negativity of the fans to get a large pay day. Phillies are prime example of players being paid more than their actual base value beyond their “prime years”. Some of those contracts by the Phillies only hurt them because it couldn’t be spread out evenly to any other player willing to sign with Phillies. In most cases, players have taken other contracts over Phillies offer. And sometimes Phillies have offered more cash and players took the money elsewhere on a less contract. It’s pretty bad for Philly if LA or Texas teams are always taking players Phillies have targeted in the past. Angels and Rangers are the worst run organizations, but players are signing with them over Phillies. It speaks volumes of the fan base in Philadelphia
Same old lame ass “Philly fans are the worst” narrative spit by people who have zero clue about the city and the fans
We cheered Ben Simmons for 5 years. Through all his gifts and shortcomings.
And I have no clue what nonsense your talking about the Phillies and other teams
Lol, this city has ripped him since year 2
Philly fans will strongly support players who work hard and try to get better.
Some of them will, the vast majority won’t unless “they” believe said player is fulfilling their potential and is working hard to get better…
The facts don’t matter, most Philly fans have blinders on..
At least they aren’t Fairweather fans though like down here in Atlanta…Idk which is worse!?! Lol
I lived in Philly for years. They rip their own guys just for the sheer dumb fun of it. You know that’s true.
“Phillies have offered more cash and players took the money elsewhere on a less contract”
Bryce Harper on line 1
It is a standard situation, that Philly teams “have to pay more”. It is no worse than anywhere else not LA. Even the Knicks have to pay more and they play in MSG. Everyone thinks they’re a small-market team because GMs call agents and they report their client likes where he is unless it is LA. Then the crying, •the FAs don’t like us, why oh why•.
It is not a logical claim, just whining.
I am not sure about how hard the Philly fans make it. They do have a history and reputation, but that should make boos less personal.
Simmons is holding out for a job opening at his position like anyone else would when the new boss comes in and issues a condescending demotion. Simmons is a winning PG. Everything else is people saying •shut up go out there and wait for the ball to come off the rim•.
@PiratesFan
There really isn’t any comparison to the Phillies vs Sixers. There’s no hard salary cap in baseball and it’s not hard to meet the salary floor with a 25 man roster. For the most part the salaries in the NBA are predetermined in terms of the max. Plus there’s a hard floor that must be met so teams have money they have to spend. NBA only have a handful of guys that really earn significant money.
He’s really showing them! “Take $360k a day! I don’t care! Trade me!”
Step 1. Sincere apology to the fan base for being a baby.
Step 2. Shooooooooot the ball.
Step 3. Find a trade that makes them better.
Probably going 0 for 3 on these.
I doubt he apologizes or at least sincerely.
I doubt he will shoot since he hasnt since 2017.
There is no trade that makes them better, this is the false assumption that Morey is working from and will eventually fail.
There’s no trade that makes them better? Who do you think they are going to deal him for? Darko and some nacho fries? Even if the Sixers have to attach picks to get a better player, it’s a better player.
The premise for any Beal or Lillard is Simmons and all their future picks. Or it’s a package of picks via a 3rd team. One thing we learn every year, there’s always a desperate GM. Morey just isn’t acting out of desperation.
If you look at what the Rockets did… that was desperation and stupidity they could have Simmons right now. He would be the face of the team, like he actually wants. Instead they got nada.
Simmons has the opposite incentive from “play well to generate a good return for the Sixers.” Total 180 degree opposite.
Okay well or freeze in Minnesota. If they can’t get a good package for him, it’s Philly or that dumpster fire.
then he’s staying here unless someone gets real desperate.
He should join kyrie and play when they both feel like it
“… a source inside the 76er organization said supply chain problems have been solved, and the supply of Costco tissues are available again. This his has made Simmons more amenable to coming back…”
Don’t go back Simmons! You might not have played well in the playoffs, but that’s not an excuse for your head coach and teammates to treat you like trash! And now they’re talking about wanting you back?! No way.
@gocavsandbrowns
LeBron is gone, your team is back to obscurity. You don’t have a voice any longer.
…I don’t have a voice… okay dude whatever.
Trade Ben Simmons to Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving so Ben can be happier and Kyrie can play all games
Kyrie, like most profesional athletes, has no interest in playing in Philly and has said he would rather retire.
@seamaholic
He absolutely has NOT said anything at all about retirement dude. Ppl have SUGGESTED he might but they were simply basing that on the opinion that he’s not so into basketball vs other things in his life. Damn Khalani.
Tell me you’ve come to realize you’re not a tradable asset without telling me you’ve come to realize you’re not a tradable asset
A million rea$on$ for him to return – and that’s the bottom line.
All he has to do is come back and hoist a few jumpshots in the game (make or miss), be who he is in transition, get some dunks and throw some lobs… and watch how easily those boos gradually turn silent, then turn to cheers.
Ben literally has to change nothing about his game other than cast up a jumper or two, and at this point, he doesn’t even care if they go in or not.
Just Do It! (the direct deposit into his account)
Reality has sunk in his trade value is nothing so now he needs to play to get traded. Sixers Are stuck too so either trade him for nothing or have him sit out. No winner in this soap opera.
Trade value is still solid. But yes there is no winner yet.
A Simmons/Irving trade would be appropriate but the Nets have Harden, and I doubt Simmons feels confident in knowing what he should be doing if he is not the PG. Some players do not know what they will do with themselves if they do not bring the ball up. It is wearing to them; they lose focus.
Most do not have that problem of course. Picture your team in HS or whatever, the PG told give the ball up. o
It’s not “appropriate.” Kyrie would not report.
lol…Appropriate for angry fans! And would not be wrong value-wise except that, it is suspected that Irving may be too quick to call it quits, even without the covid stance. He may try to go off & on somehow, to keep people interested in him… making him a total jerk in a literal sense!
In hindsight, I bet he wishes he showed a little bit more respect towards his teammates by at least meeting them when they were willing to fly out to him OR at least spoke to them individually or collectively to mitigate bad feelings. If he comes back that locker room is going to be arctic at best.
This also supports what ive been saying about Rich Paul. It’s been said he’s been working with the Sixers on a possible return the last 2 weeks. I promise you, an agent with a client under contract for 4 years wants no part of a fiasco like this, especially one where he might see his client leave a playoff contending team in a major market moving to non contenders in small markets like Cleveland, Indiana or Sacramento. Doesn’t add a single more dollar to anyone’s pocket, stains relationship capital and can stymie any opps to grow Simmons brand thru Klutches partnership with CAA’s entertainment and advertising machine.
Kork just spoke out today saying he hopes Ben comes back:
“I would like to play with him again. We want to see him back here, I want to see him back here. On the court, off the court, I know what kind of person he is, how strong character he is. We would like to have him back. I would like to have him back.”
He does not need to worry about the players, they know what he adds and they want him back…unfortunately the media/fan narrative will be negative and all encompassing
Agree, teammates know the parties already, and the things that must be done.
Talking about how hard the principals are working in negotiations is just another thing to say. Truth is that stalemate has already been achieved on that front, so nothing to negotiate. Not sure what can be read into what was given to the press… I guess the headline is fair.
These fines, are they in addition to “guaranteed” income?— do the minuses equal the plusses dollarwise?
#FreeBenSimmons
You see this is a win for Ben, he just needs to turn up, suit up for the team throw a dozen turnovers in the first 2 minutes of the game, no defense whatsoever, no shots… then PHI will bench him, he will get paid & will look pretty for playing for the team, meanwhile as a paid professional he will achieve his goal to diminish his trade value… I mean is a win win win for Ben, that is actually a real smart move!
Rather, I think he’ll come back and play his game. I also think he’ll shoot some jumpers which, to your point, will essentially be turnovers.
He’ll be fine. He knows how to play basketball.
Does he still get traded?
Depends on if they’re winning. If so, Doc gets another free year of nothing being his fault riding the Ben/Joel dynamic. If he stays the whole season and they don’t win a championship, one of them will be gone. If Joel can stay healthy all season, Ben will be gone.
I would love to see him return to the team and watch the fans in Philly boo their heads off each time Simmons touches the ball, or takes a single step onto the court.
So what is this harden 2.o
Well of course Philly fans are universally known for their caring and warmth, so I am sure nothing will happen.
I’m guessing the trade is imminent at this point. This is all part of the set-up so that it looks like some reconciliation has occurred. The owners, the managers, and the players union do not want this to become a precedent. Interestingly, CJ McCollum is the head of the union and also a top trade prospect. Must be interesting to have these negotiations with him involved…
Yep, that’s my guess. From one side or the other Paul knows it’s about to go down, and he’s in reputation-repair mode for future off-court marketing purposes.
Ben should’ve taken the Harden approach from day 1. Show up to camp, report an iffy injury, sit out, and continue to get paid. Become such a distraction that the team has no choice but to trade him asap. Ben made it easy on Philly by staying home. Nobody wants a circus environment, and if that environment starts playing out, Darryl will jump at the first offer that offers him $0.25 on the dollar
The best trade out there is a Fox for Simmons straight up swap. Ben Simmons would have his own team, surrounded by Hield, Haliburton, Davion Mitchell. I think Haliburton, Mitchell, and Buddy work way better around Simmons than Fox would. Philly gets their point guard, Simmons gets a team built around him and gets to play in California, for a team that has nowhere to go but up. If he helps the Kings make the playoffs, he’s a hero and his image recovers.
It’s not “out there.” Sacto has stated flat out they won’t do that. Nor should they.
SAC probably will offer Fox down the line though, if Simmons is not resolved. GM says he wants a look at his existing team. They do have other PGs though.
@x%sure
I know Ben is the better defender but with allllllll things considered do you really think he’s a better player/fit than Fox? Just feels like he’s a huge step backwards for any offense especially when you’re trading away a 25 ppg point guard.
I think Fox is kind of the designated 20+ ppg man on a bad team. He gets to bring the ball up and decide what he’s in the mood for. That is what Simmons wants too IMO end of the day.
Buddy Hield has to wait on the ball then worry if he’s perceived as gunning, a burden… he may be getting undervalued… Lakers blew him off for Westbrook… we will see how that turns out!
Let him sit and not collect the 30 or so million he’s supposed to get. Fine him everyday missed and make sure he pays it. Another cry baby Philly athlete that has to be coddled. Dump him for a case of Chuck Taylor’s already