Sixers reserve guard Shake Milton continues to struggle with a sprained ankle. Head coach Doc Rivers said today that Milton was “nowhere near” being ready to rejoin his teammates in Philadelphia’s season-opening contest on Wednesday against the Pelicans, tweets Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times. Rivers added that he expects Milton to be unavailable “for a while.”
The 6’5″ Milton, selected with the No. 54 pick in the 2018 draft, enjoyed a breakout year with the Sixers during the 2020/21 season, averaging career highs of 13.0 PPG, 3.1 APG and 2.3 in 63 games.
There’s more out of the City of Brotherly Love:
- After a tumultuous offseason that saw an extended holdout from All-Star Ben Simmons, the Sixers have their work cut out for them to remain a contender in the East. John Hollinger of The Athletic supplies a fresh recap for Philadelphia’s offseason moves and examines the club’s cap situation in a new season preview. Hollinger offers high marks for the club’s value free agency signings, especially applauding the addition of reserve power forward Georges Niang and the re-signings of wings Danny Green and Furkan Korkmaz to team-friendly deals.
- The Sixers are optimistic they can compete for a title, even with the situation surrounding disgruntled star Ben Simmons still unsettled, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “If you don’t have great expectations, you are not going to have great success,” head coach Doc Rivers observed. “We have to be able to handle the expectations that we create.”
- After successfully clearing team health and safety protocols, embattled Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons has resumed practicing with Philadelphia as a full participant, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Head coach Doc Rivers said he intends to treat Simmons as if he will playing with the club going forward. “Well we have to,” Rivers said. “As a coach, I’m literally in a tough spot, right? But we literally have to.” According to an ESPN report, it remains uncertain when Simmons will play actual games for the Sixers. “When he’s ready, he’ll play,” Rivers said.
Number 1 seed top ranked starting 5 back intact with a starting unicorn point guard trying to prove he’s worth the pricetag his front office is attached to his game. Doc and morey proved to be prophetic.
He’ll probably wind up playing for them. He wants to get paid so he’s not going to hold out further. Philadelphia is insistent on receiving a star in return. The only way I see them doing that straight up without giving up additional assets would be for Kyrie Irving. On the court, it makes sense for both teams. Off the court, it doesn’t look like Philly has any interest in dealing with Kyrie’s issues. Separately, it’s not clear Ben’s vaccinated from the type of protocols he went through before he could join the team.
If the Sixers aren’t interested in an offer involving Brogdon and LeVert, they wouldn’t be interested in deals involving weaker max players like Love or Wall. So, he’ll probably be there for a while.
I don’t think either Philly or Brooklyn are desperate enough to discuss a swap … yet. I’d say early 2022 they might be pushed to discuss, assuming things continue to go sideways with Simmons and Kyrie.
The fact Rivers is still as cagey about his status is probably a bad sign. Philly might want to take a page from Brooklyn’s book here. Either in or out. Trying to potentially integrate Simmons (before the inevitable trade)—is it really worth it?
I doubt the Sixers would have welcomed Simmons back if there wasn’t an agreement that he would be a full (playing) member of the team (a quiet one) until a trade can be arranged. Too bad Rivers wasn’t rolled into the deal (with him agreeing to stay quiet too). When it appears Simmons value has moved out of fire sale territory, Morey should make a deal.
The phila’s problem is not Simmons: it’s Rivers
B I N G O
The Sixers don’t have just one problem. Everyone keeps trying to blame a single person, but their myriad issues go so far beyond anyone in particular.
It’s not just Simmons, it’s not just Rivers, it’s not just Morey. It’s everyone.
Ben has to go. And he has to stop playing PG. Philly will move him eventually. Sixers open at NO. Then go home to face Nets. Philly is not going to accept him. Kings is best deal out there.
This whole drama is literally dumb.
#FreeBenSimmons
Interested to see Philly fan reactions if Ben comes out jacking shots, going 1-15, forcing jumpers he usually doesn’t take. More tears I imagine.
I assure you Philly fans will boo Simmons regardless of how he plays
Of all the Philly head coaches right now, Rivers is by far the worst. Considering the others, that’s saying something (as is the fact that Vigneault might be the best of the bunch).
For a guy that I thought was a player’s coach, he sure does seem to say some dumb sh*t when talking about his guys. Maybe if he dropped his obsession with dogging out Conservatives and Trump supporters he could actually be competent.