The Ben Simmons saga drags on, and could even continue into the season, according to a new report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer. The Sixers are now expected to keep Simmons into training camp unless Damian Lillard becomes available via trade. This is in line with Philadelphia’s rumored maneuvering all summer.
Per Fischer, the Sixers’ asking price remains a “James Harden-like” package. With Joel Embiid now signed long-term, there is no source of internal pressure to move Simmons. It could get uncomfortable, but in the end, he is a top-40 NBA player and the Sixers’ clear No. 2 star. Downgrading talent just to get rid of him could actively harm Philadelphia’s title pursuit.
On the other hand, Simmons is still a 25-year-old with three All-Star appearances and a Defensive Player of the Year runner-up on his résumé. There’s always a chance someone hits Philly with an offer they can’t refuse. That said, any deal would almost have to include players and picks the Sixers could then use to acquire Lillard.
The Sixers might be stuck with Ben Simmons for a while longer.
Fischer mentions all the normal teams as potential suitors — San Antonio, Golden State, Sacramento, Minnesota, Toronto, and of course, Portland. He also notes specifically heavy interest from San Antonio, even mentioning the Spurs’ famed shooting coach Chip Engelland, who would “relish” the opportunity to rework Simmons’ mechanics.
All that said, none of those teams have met Philadelphia’s outlandish asking price so far, and most of them don’t have a clear path to acquiring him. De’Aaron Fox has higher value league-wide than Simmons, while the Warriors are high on lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
This, however, is the most important nugget from Fischer’s report:
"“Dating back to Morey’s tenure running Houston, he has traditionally begun trade talks with offers that his counterparts deem outlandish as a means to set an extreme parameter for the ongoing negotiation. This year, several rival executives told Bleacher Report they believe part of Philadelphia’s calculus behind those unrealistic offers has also been to assure Simmons’ camp that the Sixers are at least attempting to move him.”"
Simmons wants a new home, which comes as no surprise. Unfortunately for him, the Sixers have eyes for Damian Lillard, who is expected to begin the season in Portland and reassess his future at the trade deadline. With four years left on his contract, Simmons’ leverage is limited. He can canvass the league for interested parties, but if Morey doesn’t receive an offer he’s happy with, the 6-foot-10 point guard may be out of luck.
Bringing Simmons to camp would be extremely awkward. His limited communication with Joel Embiid, Daryl Morey, and Doc Rivers has been widely reported, and it was Simmons who shouldered most of the blame for Philadelphia’s second-round defeat. He no longer wants to be there, and the Sixers are trying to win a championship this season.
All that said, if the Sixers don’t receive adequate return value in a trade, keeping Simmons around is probably the right move. He’s still a positive-impact player and the best defensive complement imaginable to Joel Embiid. Also, there’s a slim (extremely slim) chance things can smooth over in time. Just last season, rumor had it the Embiid and Simmons relationship was stronger than ever. Perhaps that can still be salvaged.