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Ben Simmons trade talks have started to gain steam.
The Ben Simmons trade market is picking up steam, Adrian Wojnarowski explains. The song is called "1:56."
It was almost a year ago that the Brooklyn Nets completed a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets for James Harden, which meant that Ben Simmons would remain with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simmons said that this was a business. Things like that happen. How I approach my workouts, the games, and my day-to-day thing are the only things I can control. I'm just trying to be professional and help my team get wins.
The quote came after a game between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons wasn't playing when the Heat returned to Philadelphia on Wednesday. He asked to be traded in the off-season and then spent the past two-plus months trying to get a deal done, but the 76ers refused to part with him.
The 76ers have been through a lot in recent seasons, but that's not new to the year 2021. One doesn't need to go back to the Harden negotiations, but instead to this past spring, when the 76ers failed to make the playoffs.
Simmons answered critics in the 76ers' Game 2 victory.
Simmons had a huge game in the second game of the 76ers' first-round playoff series against the Washington Wizards. He snapped back at those who questioned his approach.
The All-Star guard recorded 22 points, 9 rebound and 8 assists without needing to step on the floor in the fourth quarter as the 76ers won to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Simmons had 15 assists and 15 rebound in the first game, but only six points. Negative feedback was given to that unbalanced line. It led to coach Doc Rivers calling out 76ers fans, saying, "If you guys don't know the treasure you have by now, shame on everyone."
Simmons thought it was difficult to get 15 assists and 15 rebound in the NBA playoffs. That was impressive to me. We won. What do you want? Do you want to win? I'm here to win and I'm doing what I can to help my team win. I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong. I'm trying to win.
Rivers defended his decision to keep Simmons on the court late in a Game 4 loss to the Wizards, who intentionally foul Simmons four times, including three times in the final two minutes. "You want me to remove Ben Simmons from the floor?" Rivers said after the game. I'll pass on that suggestion.
One day after the second-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Rivers said he keeps a "catalogue" of video clips showing what he believes to be unfair whistles against Simmons. The 76ers won Game 2 behind 40 points from their star player.
Simmons has his hands full on defense in the first half of the Game 3 win against Atlanta. Rivers wants him to do more. He passed up too many opportunities in the fast break. We told him we were going to feature him on the post. He was great for us. It's what we need.
Simmons is responsible for the 76ers' Game 7 loss.
Simmons took the blame after the 76ers bowed out of the 2020-21 playoffs in which he was historically poor from the free throw line.
Simmons said he wouldn't shoot well from the line in the series. I wasn't there. I didn't do enough for my teammates. There are a lot of things I need to work on.
He failed to attempt a shot in the fourth quarter in five of the seven games he played.
Simmons shot 15-for-45 from the foul line against Atlanta and 34.2% from the line for the overall playoffs, which was the worst free throw percentage in NBA playoff history for a player with at least 70 attempts.
Simmons passed up a wide-open dunk for a pass in Game 7 of the series.
Ben Simmons had 5 points, 8 rebound and one steal in the 76ers' loss to the Hawks.
The idea that Simmons will spend the off-season improving his shooting stroke has become an annual discussion in Philadelphia. Rivers thinks this summer will be different for Simmons, not even 24 hours after his team's season ended. It's definitely a job that Ben can do.
Simmons' agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, and general manager Elton Brand are among those who are involved in discussions about Simmons' future with the team, according to sources.
Simmons told the Australian Olympic basketball team he wouldn't be going to the Tokyo Games. Sources told Brian Windhorst that Simmons was not going to play in the Olympics because he was focused on skill development.
In a series of posts on his verified account, Embiid denied a reported "rift" with Simmons and said he loves playing with his teammate in Philadelphia. "Stop using my name to push people's agendas." We know we're good enough to win.
Sources say Simmons won't report, he's done with the franchise.
Sources tell Adrian that Simmons will not report for the opening of training camp and will never play for the franchise again. Sources say that Simmons wants a trade out of Philadelphia and will not wear an NBA uniform again until he is moved to a new team.
Simmons explained his stance to ownership and management in a late August meeting in Los Angeles, but has not spoken to the 76ers organization in weeks.
Simmons has four years left on his max contract, which will be $33 million for the year of 2020. 50% of his salary is due before October 1.
Simmons requested a trade after the playoffs, but the 76ers have been disappointed in the offers they have received, so they have decided to hold onto him with hopes he would start the season and improve his trade value.
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The idea of the Trail blazers trading for Ben Simmons is something Israel Gutierrez likes.
Rivers wants to convince Simmons to stay. "That's part of our job." In the Game 7 loss to the Hawks, there was a discrepancy between the two teams. After the playoffs ended, Rivers said he wasn't sure if the 76ers could win a title with Simmons at point guard. "That's not what I said, actually," Rivers said when asked about the comment. When the guy asked, I said I'm not answering that right now. I don't know how to answer that. I was not answering the question. It had nothing to do with Ben.
The NBA fined Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob $50,000 for violating the anti-tampering rule. Lacob doubted that the Warriors would be interested in acquiring Simmons. Lacob told the newspaper that it doesn't fit what they're doing.
Morey says he hopes for a 76ers-Simmons reconciliation, pointing to the Green Bay Packers situation as proof that things can turn around between a team and its disgruntled star. "I think there's a lot of hope," Morey said at the news conference.
The situation with Simmons is "borderline kind of disrespectful" to the rest of the team, according to Embiid. The comments come after a report by The Athletic that Simmons feels his partnership with Embiid has run its course. Simmons hasn't reported to training camp.
Sources tell me that the 76ers don't want to pay Simmons 25% of his contract because they don't want to put the money into an account. The 76ers deduct fines from their account as the season progresses. Sources later said that if Simmons shows up, he will get the money that is left in it.
According to sources, discussions gain steam on Simmons returning to the 76ers. Sources say that Philadelphia management and Rivers are in talks with Paul about a resolution for Simmons to report to the team. Simmons hasn't spoken with team officials since the August meeting.
Rivers said that Simmons' teammates will welcome him back if he comes back. Rivers said that they had said what they wanted from the beginning.
Simmons, who cleared the NBA's health and safety protocols to rejoin the 76ers, will not play in the preseason finale against the Pistons. Simmons does not travel with the team to Detroit for conditioning.
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Domonique Foxworth says that 76ers president Daryl Morey needs to accept that he can't win a trade involving Ben Simmons.
Simmons is with the 76ers.
Simmons' return to the 76ers is being played cool by Rivers, who introduced the point guard to the team at practice with a joke like the coach would use for any other player who returns from a drawn-out absence.
"That's how it is," Rivers says. This was not an ordinary return from an injury or any other excuse. Simmons faced his teammates for the first time since he demanded a trade, and he wasgrudgingly concedes that he no longer wants to play for them.
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Simmons' return to practice was not awkward according to 76ers forward Tobias Harris. It was fine.
There is no decision on Simmons' status for the season opener. He'll play when he's ready.
Ramona Shelburne reveals that the stalemate is far from over despite Simmons rejoining the 76ers. "I don't know if Simmons can face the team or the fans after what happened last year," one source says.
The 76ers announce late in practice that Simmons has been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team, a suspension he serves for the 76ers' season- opening game the next day against the Pelicans. In the wake of the 76ers suspending Simmons, Embiid says it isn't his or his teammates' job to "babysit" anyone.
Rivers says that the usual fun that surrounds opening day is not as great because of Simmons being suspended. It's a situation that we're in and it's not fun. It really isn't. Ben is not playing right now. Ben should be playing. That's his job. The experience is not something that Rivers is celebrating. I don't think people understand that you want your players to do well. You support your players. You want it to go well for them, even when they're in a tough spot.
Sources tell me that Simmons leaves the team's practice facility without working out and is expected to meet with organizational leadership the next morning to discuss his playing status. Simmons was treated for back pain by the staff of the Philadelphia 76ers. In a Philadelphia radio interview, Morey reiterates that the 76ers will not be rushed into trading Simmons. People should be careful. This is going to take a long time. This could be four years. The conditions that I'm pointing out don't change. Unless Ben Simmons is traded for a difference-maker, we're in the prime of our career. We have to get back either Ben Simmons playing well for us, who helps us win the championship, or we have to get back a difference-maker for Ben Simmons, because this could be four years from now.
Philadelphia Eagles veteran center Jason Kelce has some advice for Simmons, "I don't want to crush any other players, but what's going on with the 76ers, Ben Simmons, stuff like that, all of that is because of a lack of accountability." Everyone can complain about how tough this city is. Just play better. The city will love you.
Ben Simmons practices with his teammates.
Simmons told the 76ers he wasn't ready to play.
Sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski that Simmons needs time to step away after telling the team that he wasn't mentally ready to play.
Sources say that Simmons starts a process that is expected to keep him from making his season debut after meeting separately with Rivers, medical staff and teammates at the team's facility in Camden, New Jersey. Simmons told the team's medical staff of his reasons for seeking help, and the 76ers offered whatever resources were necessary to help him. He will not be playing in Friday's game with Brooklyn.
The 76ers' All-Star guard wants out of Philadelphia.
Simmons is off-limits in trade talks.
Shelburne talks about how we got here.
We want to see six trades.
There is a
Simmons trade guide.
The Trade Machine can be used to build a Simmons deal.
There is a provision in the collective bargaining agreement that protects players' salaries if they fail to render services due to a mental disability.
In the wake of Simmons addressing his teammates in person for the first time since his holdout, Harris gives an ardent defense of Simmons. We have to respect his privacy, his space, and we have to be there for him, with what he's going through. It's easy to make assumptions about athletes when you look at something on the surface. He needs more support. I told the group that we need to be there for him as a team.
Sources told Adrian Wojnarowski that the 76ers were increasingly frustrated with Simmons' refusal to accept organizational assistance to address his mental readiness to play. Simmons is working with doctors to treat a back problem. He has been working with mental health professionals through the National Basketball Players Association.
The 76ers will continue to fine Simmons until he cooperates with team physicians on his mental health and fulfill other basketball-related obligations, sources tell ESPN.
Sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski that Simmons met with a team-recommended medical specialist to discuss his mental health after initial resistance. Simmons often shows up to the team's facility for daily basketball activity with coaches and teammates, so he meets with the medical specialist.
Sources say that trade talks for Simmons are off-limits.
Sources told ESPN that the Portland Trail blazers have made it clear that Damian Lillard is not available to be discussed with the 76ers.
In talks centered on Simmons, the 76ers have become more engaged. Sources said that Philadelphia has been trying to assemble two- and three-team deal structures to land a package that would include a top 25-level player.
Sources said that the Blazers had been open to discussing a deal for Simmons centered on the guard.
