Don’t expect to see Ben Simmons in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey again. According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons has made it clear that he intends to never play for the franchise again.
The representatives of Simmons have notified the 76ers about their client’s intentions while also telling the team that he won’t report when the training camp opens in late September. Wojnarowski adds that the 25-year-old star hasn’t had any direct communication with the franchise in weeks.
Simmons and the 76ers ended the 2020-21 NBA season on a bad note after the All-Star point guard’s poor performances were singled out as a reason for the team’s early playoff exit. The relationship between the two sides only got worse during the offseason, and the bad situation turned to worse when Simmons asked to be traded during a meeting with the Philly brass in August.
The 76ers front office and President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey reportedly wouldn’t have anything against trading Simmons but found that the offers they received for him were not even close to something they would consider. The team was ready to play the long game, hoping that Simmons would rebuild his value in 2021-22, but that doesn’t seem to be an option anymore.
Sitting out won’t be without consequences for Simmons, who has four years and $147 million left on the max rookie extension he signed back in 2019. According to ESPN, the 76ers could fine him around $227K for each game he misses, starting preseason.
