Ben Simmons Trade Rumors: When Will This Process End?
The Ben Simmons trade saga is feeling more like a Giannis Antetokounmpo free throw.
Day after day, week after week, there has still been no Woj- or Shams-Bomb with the phrase “The Philadelphia 76ers have traded Ben Simmons”. And with every new development of Simmons’ frustration with the organization, it’s making every NBA fan wonder, “When will Ben bid farewell?”
How it Started
Following a lackluster postseason with averages of 11.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 8.8 APG, the 6’10” super-afraid-to-shoot-er was thrown into trade rumors as soon as Philly was eliminated by the Hawks in seven games in the second round.
The speculation around Simmons’ future sprung up immediately with mixed messages. In their postgame press conferences, Doc RIvers and Joel Embiid began to criticize Ben Simmons, albeit in different ways. Rivers explicitly doubted Simmons’ ability to be the point guard on a championship team, while Embiid hinted at Simmons’ unwillingness to pass up the open dunk as the “turning point” of the game. In spite of these remarks, however, Sixers brass formally stated that they would not be looking to trade Ben Simmons, but that period would not last long.
If you thought Simmons’ days would be numbered as soon as his head coach and superstar teammate doubted him, think again. The time bomb officially began ticking in late August, when Simmons met with Sixers executives in LA and formally requested a trade from the organization. Embiid tried to brush it off the next day, tweeting and asking for any Real Madrid news. Even though he tried to be light and avoid the situation, he could no longer do so, as what once was considered “drama” became more serious. As the offseason progressed, Simmons reportedly became more distant, refusing to answer calls and texts from the front office and his teammates, Embiid included. A couple of weeks ago, some of his teammates, including Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Matisse Thybulle, attempted to fly out to LA to meet with Simmons and sort the whole thing out. Simmons, however, was not interested in that either, turning them away and not wanting them “to make the trip for no reason”, according to Shams Charania. With everything going on between Ben and the Sixers, Embiid’s mood towards the situation has shifted, calling Simmons’ antics “borderline disrespectful” to the team after the first day of training camp. All of this has had ripple effects throughout the organization, and with the latest news that he may be willing to sit out the entire 2021–22 season if he’s not traded, GM Elton Brand better be working overtime on those phone lines.
How it’s Going
There have been some teams that are interested in the 6’10” floor general, including the Cavs, Spurs, Raptors, Pacers, and Pistons. In spite of the interest, Brand has yet to pull the trigger on a deal that he likes. The Sixers initially sought out a King’s ransom for their Dollar Store LeBron, asking for young players and a plethora of picks in return. They asked that of the Raptors and Spurs, and both of them wound up declining. Their request of the Spurs — a young player, four first-round picks, and three first-round pick swaps — would be enough to headline all the comedy clubs in San Antonio. They even rang up the Golden State Warriors, asking for James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins, and the 7th and 14th picks, but that was also rejected. The Timberwolves then emerged out of the gates desperately trying to trade for Simmons, offering a more down-to-earth package that involved D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley. This time, the Sixers declined it, seemingly being introduced to the sobering reality that Ben Simmons isn’t “all that”.
As of now, Philly is in a lose-lose situation. Between their steep asking price for Simmons and the humbling offers they’ve received, the Sixers are desperately trying to get out of a crossroads they partially put themselves into. They can threaten and fine Simmons all they want, but it will ultimately make the situation far worse than it already is. The only way it turns around is if the Sixers get “win-now” assets for their point guard who wants to be like Bryce Harper’s home run balls: outta there!
Nonetheless, this whole saga has to end at some point, and if it doesn’t conclude the way we all expect it to, then it’s safe to say that Ben Simmons and “the Process” have one thing in common: they can’t be trusted any longer.
