2020-21-22 Sixers Season

[VoteForKalas]

Isn’t it better to throw the fans under the bus than Ben himself, or management for thinking he would develop a shot?

No. Why would you insult the fans that have supported your organization through thick & thin during this entire rebuild and competitive process? Why would you hurt your already mediocre standing as the go-to destination for basketball talent by allowing the fans/city to be portrayed as running off one of your stars?

For Ben Simmons? The player who gladly cashed your checks and got the fame & media attention while not working on his game, not being a team player and now holding your organization hostage because of his hurt feelings and highly inflated sense of entitlement?

Would the Eagles have thrown the fans under the bus to defend TO? Never and they rightfully so kicked TO to the curb as fast as they could for the benefit of their team, fans, organization and league. Accountability is not just words; it needs to have real consequences and, for far too long, Simmons has not only never been held accountable, but has been enabled to continue his bad behavior.

No, it should be exactly the opposite approach. Of course you take the high road and do not bash him publicly, but the appeasement and enabling must end and should have ended long ago. Your head coach, GM and whoever else is involved needs to be told to stop talking about the issue. You need to make clear that this is a choice by Simmons, not the 76ers and that you want & expect him to join the team, honor his contract and work his tail off to help the team win.

That is the best option for all parties involved and always has been, but Simmons believes he is above all that and has clearly put himself ahead of the team, the fans and the organization. That is on him.

[zambonir]

Ben now saying what more than half the articles ever written about the Sixers have always said.

Sources say Simmons expected to be traded by now. And while Embiid insisted to reporters at Monday's media day that he wants Simmons back with the team, the feeling is not mutual. As Simmons sees it, sources say, the organization's choice to build around Embiid's style simply isn't conducive to the way he needs to play.

Ben Simmons believes playing with Joel Embiid has 'run its course' and Sixers...

[Patchmk88]

And what is the way the Simmons thinks he needs to play? Embiid is probably the best Center in the league and can space the floor. Does Simmons want to play Center?

[phillychuck]

I suspect Simmons wants to play with a pure "stretch 5" on the court with him, and three other shooters.

Sort of a "Bball Paul, Simmons, Curry, Green, Shake lineup." Playing with Towns would fit the bill for him.

He doesn't want a center who posts up.

[zambonir]

He's not wrong, but this is clearly just another excuse at this point. Still, the Sixers created and never solved the fundamental problem, Joel and Simmons weren't a perfect fit and they never found the right third guy/shooter (though last year still could have been really different with a healthy Green. And Joel for that matter).

He could totally be a center or point forward. But if he does get himself traded somewhere like Portland or Golden State he's certainly not going to be the primary ballhandler, and he didn't want to play with Butler either.

[VoteForKalas]

He's not wrong, but this is clearly just another excuse at this point. Still, the Sixers created and never solved the fundamental problem, Joel and Simmons weren't a perfect fit and they never found the right third guy/shooter (though last year still could have been really different with a healthy Green. And Joel for that matter).

He could totally be a center or point forward. But if he does get himself traded somewhere like Portland or Golden State he's certainly not going to be the primary ballhandler, and he didn't want to play with Butler either.

Agreed. Simmons has a point, but he has destroyed his own credibility to deliver that message with all the excuses and refusal to work toward and be part of the solution. He wants everything on his terms only; not in collaboration or compromise with others. It is like he forgot basketball is a team sport.

Embiid I'm sure was frustrated playing with Simmons too because he would never shoot, vanish late in games and not take full advantage of playing with a dominant center. The difference is Embiid became part of the solution last season. He demonstrated consistently that he wanted to win, was a team first player and was willing to do whatever was needed to get it done. He stepped up his game and approach to the game in a way Simmons never has or seems willing to do.

Simmons may blame the 76ers, and again there is merit to his points on that front, but I doubt very much any NBA organization is going to let him get away with what he did here and will not allow everything to be on his terms only. He may believe some shining city on a hill is out there where he will get what he wants, but it is a fantasy unless he is willing to change his attitude and approach IMO.

[zambonir]

Ben Simmons’s Trade Demand Is About Him, Not the Sixers

[bigegypt0417]

He's not wrong, but this is clearly just another excuse at this point. Still, the Sixers created and never solved the fundamental problem, Joel and Simmons weren't a perfect fit and they never found the right third guy/shooter (though last year still could have been really different with a healthy Green. And Joel for that matter).

I want to be sure that I point i'm no longer a big Simmons fan and think a divorce is exactly what both sides need. The issue for me is other than the refusal to meet his teammates it sounds like he made his desire to be traded on the day after the season ended. Since then, other than speculation and rumors, Simmons has been silent. All the reasons we keep hearing seem to change with the hour of the day.

Simmons said what many people were already thinking...he and Embiid can not co-exist.

[zambonir]

I think we'd be hard-pressed to find too many fans on Ben's side at this point, even those who love him or recognize his talent. It's clear the Sixers will no longer be able to capitalize on his talent, and/or the possibility that he can still mature and improve, and I probably still put more blame on the Sixers than Ben, as he was just a kid and they had 3-4 different opportunities to create better situations (along with 3-4 different GMs and two coaches). But it's unfixable now, and all this soap opera is merely about the Sixers' trying to preserve his trade value (ideally while also not putting a much worse team on the court for the next 2 1/2 to five months). But it's probably one or the other, because at this point it's questionable whether a team with an unhappy Ben (and unhappy teammates) would actually be better than one with that big hole unfilled.

I do think what's true about all this week's reports is it really isn't about the soap opera, nor is it truly about the fit. It's entirely about Rich Paul's power. He's happy to have this fight as a test case, and if he's correct that Ben can still be a star on the right team, that's big $$$ for them in 2-3 years. If he's wrong, or if Ben just stayed in Philly and did more of the same for another 2-3 years, the guy's no more valuable than Noel (another client Paul let down) or Okafor.

[flyers19rw]

Paul’s power is an important component in the Simmons equation. To that end, it involves more than the Sixers. If ownership gives in here, the League is totally in the hands of the players with management on the outside looking in. Paul, and other agents, will be dictating who plays where and for what salary. It will be interesting to see if the owners understand the threat that this is to their investments as well as the future of the NBA. Up to this point, and over the years, management has been willing to create a shared future for the game by giving in on many aspects of the business. Paul wants control not shared power here.

[xogfog]

What I don't understand is why the Sixers have not already fined Simmons for missing media day and holding out of camp. They should be taking every opportunity to fine and withhold salary that they can. They seem to be trying to play nice and keep the door open for his return, but Simmons's actions have been abhorrent, his statements have not only hurt his trade value, but in an offhanded way put down Embiid. So screw Simmons, fine him withhold his salary and forget about trying to woo him back.

[zambonir]

I think the Sixers will ultimately fine him every penny they are allowed to (and the league will also insist) but they have to let it play out a while longer, and the money is meaningless until the first exhibition game. Both sides are playing poker now - the Sixers don't believe Ben is really willing to miss 20 or 30 games of salary and Ben doesn't believe they're willing to go that long into the season without trading him.

[nycphils]

Friday is the test re: $$. Simmons is due 25% of this year’s salary on Friday. Hard to believe the Sixers won’t withhold it, and suspend him if needed to effectuate that.

If somehow they pay him, then the hold out will continue indefinitely. If they don’t pay, I think it is 50/50 whether he shows up, but it certainly is much more pressurized.

Personally I think him staying away is better for the team. If he shows up he’s likely to not play hard, which doesn’t help solve the situation. If he stays away, there’s at least some chance that the team performs well enough (especially Maxey) to get a little leverage back for the Sixers.

[zambonir]

Oh yeah I forgot about the prepay, but what is allowed according to league rules/contractually? Is that a lump payment from which they can only deduct what they are allowed to fine him up to this point, and then they can start fining him per day from there, or can they withhold it all until he reports?

[bigegypt0417]

There is no way he's sitting the entire year and I'm sure the NBA is going to push the sixers to not give in because of the precedent it would set. Simmons, in my opinion, will need to report.

76ers' Ben Simmons willing to forfeit salary and sit out entire season if not...

[phillychuck]

Honestly, let him sit, and I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who likes to watch Simmons play. If we don't trade him this season, there's always next year. Who throws away 30 million dollars just because they don't like the style of basketball they need to play?

[zambonir]

It's a lot of money, but he's also made a lot of money. Someone suggested that his $17.3 million house would mean he needs to pay the bills, but that's like saying someone who makes $100,000 a year would struggle to pay the mortgage on a $50,000 house. He'd get be, especially with other income sources.

The reporting has suggested Ben is shocked he hasn't been traded already, but now that they are here, he is probably prepared to not get paid for a month, maybe three. It took the Rockets a month to trade Harden; the Sixers also might want to wait until the December 15 window to trade newly signed free agents if they can find a package more to their liking (and more easily salary-matched). I don't think either side can afford to wait until closer to the trade deadline.

Still a poker game right now. Or like trading lawsuits, but not yet actually in court.

[bigegypt0417]

I really do think we need to consider the NBA is going to ask the sixers to take a hardline on this because if they don't, it will be a precedent I don't think the league wants...Harden at least played during the trade request.

[zambonir]

For sure. As did Jimmy Butler.

I'm not sure the Sixers even have the option to choose not to enforce the rules/contract. Unless they want to get fined themselves.

[phillychuck]

Embiid posted a long comment about the Simmons situation today which is spot-on: