Ben Simmons wants to be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers and is willing to sit on the sidelines for a year to make it happen. The 76ers have heard his wish but are not willing to give him up unless a better deal comes across their desk.
The Sixers gave rise to Simmons’ career in the NBA after they picked him first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. The 25-year-old, originally from a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, played for LSU for only one season before declaring for the Draft.
After four successful seasons with the Sixers as a power forward, Simmons no longer wants to play for the franchise. He credits the fact that he and Joel Embiid, his superstar teammate, do not jive offensively on the court. He believes he would find greater success with a different offensive setup.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers comment on the situation. “Ben’s not here but I do believe at some point he will be,” he said. “This is not the first time guys didn’t think they could play together. It’s just basketball.”
Simmons believes a trade would better his career, however, his unwavering stance could be financially problematic. If he does not play this season, the Sixers reserve the right to withhold his salary. He has contractual obligations with Philadelphia for the next four years. The upcoming season alone would earn him $33 million if he decides to play. Although Simmons seems set in his decision, it just seems that this is too incredible of a sum to forfeit. We will see in the next couple of weeks how this plays out — the Sixers will be playing their first regular-season game against the Pelicans.
Simmons is a three-time NBA All-Star. Over the entirety of his career, he has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
