Recent reports have indicated that Sixers star Ben Simmons and his representatives fully understand the financial ramifications of the 25-year-old’s holdout and are prepared to ride it out, but Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com hears that those financial ramifications are starting to hit home for Simmons’ camp.
According to Neubeck, after Simmons was fined approximately $360K for missing Philadelphia’s first preseason game on Monday, his reps had another conversation with the players’ union. Sources tell PhillyVoice.com that it was reiterated during that discussion that Simmons wouldn’t be able to recoup the money he loses in fines.
As Neubeck writes, Simmons would have the ability to attempt to recoup his lost salary through the arbitration process, but the general belief is that he’d be unsuccessful going that route. The only real path to getting that money back would be reaching a settlement with the 76ers, but the team will have little incentive to negotiate such a deal.
Here’s more on Simmons and the Sixers:
- A source tells Neubeck that Simmons’ camp believes the development of the former No. 1 pick has been evaluated on an “accelerated timeline,” since he missed his rookie season and then was expected to be a key part of a contending team almost instantly. Most other top picks join bad teams and don’t face such intense scrutiny early in their careers, Simmons’ camp has contended. While some members of the Sixers are sympathetic to that argument, they believe it “went out the window” after he signed a maximum-salary contract, writes Neubeck.
- In addition to discussing Caris LeVert, the Sixers have also inquired about Malcolm Brogdon in their trade conversations with the Pacers, tweets Jordan Schultz of ESPN. Brogdon’s name surfaced in Simmons-related rumors early in the offseason as well.
- Grant Riller, who is on a two-way contract with the 76ers, suffered a torn left meniscus on Monday, a team official said today (Twitter link via Derek Bodner of The Athletic). Riller is undergoing surgery and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
- Rich Hofmann of The Athletic examines the Sixers’ game plan without Simmons, particularly on defense, where last season’s Defensive Player of the Year runner-up will be missed most. “It’s a collective thing,” swingman Danny Green said. “We’re not going to leave each assignment that Ben has taken on to one person. We’re going to do it as a group.”
I wouldn’t cave to this bum. Come play ball or forfeit your salary and move on. They weren’t winning championships either way. They ruined that when they let Butler walk
Butler didn’t exactly walk, they got Josh Richardson in a sign and trade, then traded him for Seth Curry. Of course Curry isn’t nearly as good as Jimmy Butler, but he’s still an excellent shooter (like his brother).
Well regardless of how it happened they chose not to retain him and picked up weak @$$ Al Horford
Lol. Last week Ben was digging in for the long haul. Loses 360,000 for one game and he is starting to cave. Fact is Klutch have him bad advice. The union never backed Simmons and Klutch
@13morga13
I’m an agent in a different field. TRUST ME. Paul isn’t advising Ben to take this action. Some feel the agent dictates to the client. We don’t. We advise but if the client demands, then that’s what we do. Paul doesn’t benefit from this at all and while agents/GMs generally don’t let business get personal, Paul doesn’t like being vilified publicly. He loses nothing monetarily because he’s paid already but he’d rather be spending energy growing the biz than dealing with a guy under contract for 4 more years throwing tantrums.
@KnicksFan
I disagree completely. Paul told him to play hardball and probably thought they would cave and trade him like Anthony Davis. Dude thinks he runs the league and is empowering players but finally some owner or GM had the nuts to stand up to him. This isn’t football where contracts aren’t guaranteed.
@Casor
You’re entitled to your opinion. But ask yourself. What does Paul, who works strictly on commission abd has already collected his fee, have to gain by doing this? He’s got a top client playing in a top market on a contender 4 years left on a max contract? Nothing. Ben clearly has his personal reasons to want out of Philly. Agents are used to do the bidding of their client. What if Ben is traded to Sacramento and either because of small market coverage, playoff irrelevance or bad publicity fades out of nba relevance? How does that help Paul? Ben might be cool with it simply because he wants out of Philly and honestly, might prefer being out of the media glare. With AD I promise you….he wanted out of NO and Paul said “let me be the bad guy”. Agent’s don’t run the show. They advise and do the bidding of their star players.
So why was he telling Maxey to alienate the fanbase?
@ philly
that was addressed and both Maxey and the teran said it wasn’t true. I hate to sound like I have inside info because I don’t. but I do no Rich and I agent in a different field. When you have multiple clients and a closed set if ppl tou ned to deal with you need to be able to curse a guy out about one corner then have dinner with them a wel later about negotiating a deal for another client. I promise you, Rich probably hates having to go thru this for a client under a max contract for 4 more years. And he can’t, because of Ben, ask Maxey to do a dang thing let alone hold a grudge. If anything, this opens up a chance for Maxey to ein a starting job. Maxeu is due up for a contract soon. That’s a win for Macey and Paul.
Wow. This is excellent information. Thanks for sharing. Always interesting to see what happens behind the scenes. Over the last four years, I’ve gone to Vegas for summer league and sit in a hotel to watch/listen to agents talk with free agents. The sales pitch and honesty are really interesting.
Exactly. Ben is already faltering at the fines and we haven’t even reached game 1 of the season yet! Why do I get the feeling that Simmons will end up like Noel and suing Rich Paul over bad advice. If you aren’t Lebron James or Anthony Davis stay away from Klutch Sports! They won’t help you at all!
Petulance is expensive!
I can’t imagine Rich Paul saying anything as stupid as the statement made. I hope it’s from Ben or someone else. Say what you want about him, he’s no idiot and he understands the business. Ben needs to stop speaking to anyone about this topic if the article is truthful. Most teams drafting #1 usually have bad records but guess what, they aspire to be better and two years ago the team was horrible. What a jerk. What a feeling of entitlement. He should be lucky to be in a major city like Philly and not to have had to wait to be part of a competitive team. You think Zion is happy being sub .500 to start his nba career? Grow up Ben.
Simmons is realizing he has no leverage, that’s what 4 years left on a contract does. Indiana doesn’t move the needle with names like brogdon or levert unless sabonis and unprotected picks are added in my opinion.
@Ojdiddoit. It’s just at the point we’re either Ben reports to camp or he just keeps quiet and sits at home. Like pick one and stick with it.
We will see how Philly feels when they start to lose bc $35 million is tied up in Los Angeles. Or how they feel with Ben Simmons sitting on the sidelines for the Lakers opening game.
Philly fan is so lost in its own hate, they fail to see how they can be hurt. Embiid is not getting any younger and Philly will not be in the ECF without another player.
If I was Embiid, this would be the moment I decide whether i want to stay with this incompetent front office or move to try and get a real chance at a ring. If Embiid figures he has no shot at a ring in Philly, HE GONE!!
BTW I find this all hilarious. Cannot stand Simmons and cannot stand the Sixers so all I am cheering for is injuries..lol
Please keep fining him and shaming Simmons on Social Media. That should help…
Jojo just signed a super max extension my friend. jojo loves philly and philly loves him.jojo won’t be going anywhere.
I can’t take your post seriously because it’s clear u are just spewing your anti Philly BS. People are just mad because the sixers didn’t take a BS low ball offer for a player who signed a 4yr extension
@CF As a Philly fan, losing would have no affect on me in regards to the Ben situation. Also, I’m not concerned with losing a year of Embiid’s prime.
What I am concerned with is making sure the 76ers get back the best deal they possibly can, hopefully for either a superstar in return or a great amount of young prospects and good draft picks to be able to turn around and use them at a later date to get that other star… Otherwise, I’d let Ben sit for 4 years because anything else isn’t helping the 76ers anyway. All we’d be doing is capping our potential as a mid-level playoff team with no real chance without luck to compete for a championship… In which case, we’re wasting Embiid’s years anyway and eventually we will have do a complete rebuild.
We’ll see. Pressure will mount on Philly if they stumble out the gate. Ben’s losing cash but Philly has a finite amount of prime Embiid.
What difference does it make how fairly Simmons is being (or has been) evaluated by the (basketball) world at large? It’s not like the Sixers are refusing to give him something (raising the issue of whether they value him enough); it’s Simmons that’s refusing to play for them. If he’s going to holdout, he (and his camp) need to focus on facilitating a trade (ASAP). The PR battle over whether he’s appropriately appreciated can wait.
I always said a player have to have fun for the first 6/7 years of his career… & just try to be as good as they can & get all the accolades they can achieve… then after that by the time they reach their prime is the time to start thinking about winning, by now Ben still should be trying to become the best player he can, not trying to help a team win… that is the problem he hasn’t been able to develop his game as his team hasn’t allowed him to do so as they are only focused in winning!
@ElDon
You lost me after “I always say”. This is a business. It became that the moment they entered the draft. But the majority of nba players love the game too and enjoy the competition. Trying to be the best player IS helping the team win dude. You’re acting as if a player can’t develop and help a team win too. He signed a max contract. Be a professional. Otherwise, get a regular 9 fo 5 and join the big 3 or YMCA.
That was also a lot of “I always say”.
Contracts are a necessary evil, and are not excluded from your list.
The signing of the extension 7-16-2019 is the problem.
#FreeBenSimmons
#freeBenSimmons
LOL, cannot get any funnier
Any way to block or mute Ben Simmons stories?
Yeah don’t click on them
But the two seconds wasted in scrolling past these articles! I’ll never get them back!
A joke, guys
Ben Simmons is a joke. Dude wants to be in a worse situation than the Sixers (which they’re in a decent spot to be 1st in the East last season) to be the focal point and “develop” with minimal scrutiny? Sure buddy, once the lanes are closed, he’s just a passer. Put Zion, KAT, even Anthony Bennett (lol) and they’ll be happy AF to be in a winning franchise to start their NBA careers. He doesnt care about winning as the end goal, but to play and make money, which is fine. But doesn’t help a franchise and their fans.
Ben Simmons 275 games played
Win % .647
Seems like he knows how to win…but yeah keep spinning your narrative. Not sure how many other all stars had that win % during their first 4 years. We know he can’t shoot, but he does seem to know how to win
@philly
you say that with a snark yet, according to the article, they make it sound like him being in a winning situation early in his career was a bad thing. and the winning % is reflection of the team not just Ben.
I’m so sick of this guys excuses. He’s had years to develop what a dumb argument. Trae young and Doncic seem to have done fine developing on contending teams.
Ben isn’t even the best player on his team. Dude is terrified of Philly fans/media. He will never be ‘the guy’ on a championship team.
Morey must be kicking himself he wasn’t able to unload Ben N change for harden.
If Sixers want to play this game, just report to camp and get hurt, or dont play well. Sixers are the one playing hard ball and making it worse…
Honestly, i really really love his games.he cant shoot,but he is great defender and playmaker. He can be one of the best pf if he played at 4.but this case made me sick. Cmon ben..let play with sixers. Im not sixers fan,but if he play,that will make this league going better.
The only real place he could go would be SA Spurs and it would have to be for Lonnie Walker, Thad Young, Aminu, Luka Samanic, and a protected first. If the Sixers don’t bite then they can keep him.