Shams: Ben Simmons Not Against Playing for 76ers, but Isn't 'Mentally Ready Yet'
Ben Simmons, who was sent home from Philadelphia 76ers practice and suspended one game on Tuesday for refusing to participate in defensive drills, "is not against playing, but he is not mentally ready yet," according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Charania added that it's become "clear around the league" that the Sixers are "attempting to try to use any amount of leverage now that Simmons has returned to Philadelphia. The 76ers are not trying to move Simmons and have made clear that they will not deal him at this time, according to sources."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the same:
Sixers superstar center Joel Embiid seemed more than a little annoyed with his disgruntled teammate while speaking to reporters:
"At this point, I don't care about that man. He does whatever he wants. That's not my job, that's [the front office's] job. I'm only focused on trying to make the team better, win some games, play hard every night, try to lead the guys we have here, and I'm sure they feel the same way. Our chemistry has been happening the last few months. So like I said, I don't really care. I don't care. That's his problem. I'm only focused on what we've been doing. As a team, we're going to be fine."
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers added that Simmons was a "distraction" on Tuesday but that he would give him the opportunity to return to the team going forward.
"Every day, every single moment, I'm going to give Ben a chance to join the team and be part of the team," he said. "He's under contract to be part of the team, and so that's not going to change."
It's the latest twist in the ongoing saga between the 25-year-old and the Sixers.
Simmons clearly wants to be traded, while the Sixers don't want to be forced into taking a bad deal for a player whose trade value has never been lower after a poor Eastern Conference Semifinals series that saw him attempt just three fourth-quarter shots and pass up a wide open dunk at a critical moment in Game 7.
There's little doubt that a change of scenery is in the best interests of all parties involved. But the Sixers are going to try to rebuild some leverage in potential trade talks, either by winning with Simmons off the court or getting him back on the court and playing at his previous All-Star level.
Simmons, meanwhile, appears to be taking the James Harden and Jimmy Butler approach to forcing a trade, making himself a distraction and making it clear to everyone in his vicinity that he isn't happy with the current situation.
Outside of Kyrie Irving being away from the Brooklyn Nets because of his stance against vaccine mandates, the Sixers vs. Simmons showdown is the biggest drama in the NBA on opening night. And with the Sixers seemingly resolved to not being forced into a trade they don't like and Simmons amid a four-year contract, it's a situation that could linger well into the season.
