Ben Simmons won’t report, done with the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to ESPN, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star forward Ben Simmons will not report for the start of training camp next week and plans to never play another game for the club,
in a looming confrontation that may have long-term repercussions for the NBA.
Simmons, 25, is seeking a trade out of Philadelphia and has informed management that he will not wear an NBA jersey again until he is assigned to a different club, according to sources.
This is setting up a confrontation for a Sixers team whose championship chances would be severely harmed without Simmons on the court,
with the team weighing the probable short-term losses with him out against the long-term objective of obtaining the best possible trade return for Simmons.
In a late August meeting, Simmons outlined his position to ownership and management,
and insiders say he hasn’t had any direct contact with the company in weeks.
Simmons has four years and $147 million remaining on his maximum deal,
including $33 million in 2021-22, and he is well aware of the financial consequences of sitting out.
The Sixers may put Simmons’ desire to remain away to the test by fining him a large sum of money.
Since the conclusion of the playoffs, the Sixers have explored trades around the league at Simmons’ request,
but they have been dissatisfied with the offers and have opted to keep him in the hopes that he would start the season well and increase his trade worth.
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According to insiders, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and coach Doc Rivers have informed Simmons that they want him at training camp.
and on the court alongside All-NBA center Joel Embiid, something Simmons has claimed he no longer wants to do.
The Sixers have their own set of regulations,
which include penalties for skipping media day and each missed practice,
in addition to the league’s collective bargaining agreement,
which allows them to withhold pay for a player’s failure to deliver services.
The Sixers’ last option may be to ban Simmons for “failure to provide services” once preseason games begin, which would cost him $227,613 each game missed.
Simmons’ contract stipulates that he get half of his pay before Oct. 1.
Simmons’ dismal performance in the Eastern Conference semifinals defeat to the Atlanta Hawks contributed to the tension,
but insiders say Simmons has become more unhappy with his Sixers partnership over time.
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