Shaq Says 76ers' Ben Simmons 'Ain't That Damn Good' After Trade Request

Shaquille O'Neal offered some pointed criticism of Ben Simmons amid the star guard's reported request to be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers. 

On The Big Podcast with Shaq, the Hall of Fame center said Simmons "ain't that damn good" (starts at 1:30 mark):

Simmons' relationship with the Sixers appears fractured beyond repair and has looked that way since the team's 103-96 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The final three games of the series were abysmal for Simmons on offense. He scored a combined 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting, and he didn't attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter after Game 3:

Joel Embiid was critical of Simmons' decision to bypass an open layup attempt late in the fourth quarter of Game 7 that would have tied the game at 88. 

"I'll be honest," he told reporters after the game. "I thought the turning point was when we—I don't know how to say it—but I thought the turning point was just we had an open shot and we made one free throw and we missed the other and then they came down and scored."

Sixers head coach Doc Rivers told reporters he didn't know if Simmons could be the starting point guard for a championship team. 

Per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Simmons told key members of the 76ers organization he doesn't want to play with the team anymore and is planning to hold out when training camp begins later this month. 

Aspects of Simmons' game would make him an attractive trade piece for other teams. The 25-year-old is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive first-team selection. 

Simmons has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 275 career games. The biggest drawback to his game, though, is his limited shooting range. He attempted 583 field goals last season, and 406 came within five feet of basket. 

The LSU alum does enough in other areas to be a good player, but his offensive ceiling will be limited until he proves himself capable of being a shooter away from the rim.