Sixers rumors: Could Ben Simmons return to the team?

A new report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggests that Ben Simmons‘ return to the Sixers organization could be imminent. With over $8 million in salary in an escrow account and no way to recoup value on lost fines, this development does not come as a surprise. In fact, a return could happen as soon as this week.

This does, however, come after some pretty strong offseason posturing from Ben Simmons’ camp over at Klutch Sports. Rich Paul reportedly asked for a trade in Chicago just days after the season ended, and the leaks all summer have suggested Simmons would take this the distance.

Per Woj, the Sixers will continue canvassing the league for trades, and there is no doubt Simmons — who recently moved out of his Philadelphia residences — would like to change teams as soon as possible. That said, it is equally clear the Sixers’ brass hopes to convince him to stick around.

Ben Simmons could return to the Sixers. What does that mean?

This does not mean the situation has been resolved. Not at all. Simmons could return, but that does not mean a return is conducive to team success. He could go out of his way to be a distraction, not unlike James Harden and Jimmy Butler before him. Simmons could even claim injury and sit out, which has been floated as a possibility.

The idea of Philadelphia convincing Simmons to stick around long term feels far-fetched, even now. While the Sixers have a great deal of leverage with four years on his contract, it is readily apparent that Simmons just has no desire to play for the franchise. He has leaked every possible excuse for wanting out, from criticisms of Doc Rivers to not-very-subtle shots at Joel Embiid. Repairing such a damaged relationship would be damn near impossible.

In the short term, this probably doesn’t change much either. The trade market has stagnated, with Daryl Morey’s lofty asking price getting absolutely nowhere. The Sixers are clearly banking on a team getting desperate, or a superstar asking out (we’re looking at you, Damian Lillard). Short of that, however, it’s hard to tell how long Morey is willing to take this. If Simmons returns and is completely unengaged, it probably will not boost his trade stock. In fact, it could damage team chemistry and irritate important members of the organization. Consider me skeptical of Simmons’ return meaning the return of his competitive spirt, whatever that was in years prior.

Simmons has successfully put the Sixers in a tough position. While the franchise holds all the cards to a certain extent because of his contract, this feels like a situation that will not simply resolve itself. A trade would behoove both player and organization at some point, but it’s unclear whether Morey feels the same.

Also of note is how the fanbase will treat Simmons. The Sixers should in no way make moves based on the temper of the fans, but Simmons will get loudly boo’d whenever he sets foot in the Wells Fargo Center — if he’s playing or not. That will not get the best basketball out of Simmons, if I had to venture a prediction.

While Philadelphia is clearly better with Simmons in the fold, and he is still the team’s second-best player, it is extremely difficult to view this as a tenable long-term situation. The Sixers can bring Simmons back, and they can maybe even get him to play, but a trade feels inevitable. It just has to happen.