[brid autoplay=”true” video=”809588″ player=”23231″ title=”Chris%20Mannix%20calls%20for%20the%20Sixers%20to%20trade%20Ben%20Simmons%20after%20the%20loss%20to%20Trae%20Young%20and%20the%20Hawks” duration=”100″ description=”Carolyn Manno asks Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated about the future of Ben Simmons with the Philadelphia 76ers following his rough performance in the team’s second-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks.” uploaddate=”2021-06-22″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/809588_t_1624392684.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/809588.mp4″]
The agent for Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, Rich Paul from Klutch Sports, met with the team’s brass during the NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago this week.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the conversation with Sixers general manager Elton Brand and president Daryl Morey did include talk about a potential trade before the 2021-22 season.
The NBA insider did note that no trade request was made by Ben Simmons or his representatives. Wojnarowski also pointed to the 76ers potentially wanting to see if they can make it work with the three-time All-Star point guard and reigning NBA MVP finalist Joel Embiid. Whether that’s a possibility moving forward remains to be seen.
Philadelphia is coming off a brutal seven-game series loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Those seven games saw Simmons attempt all of three shots in the fourth quarter. His lack of aggressiveness is something Embiid discussed immediately after the 76ers’ Game 7 loss to Atlanta.
“I mean, I’ll be honest. 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,” Embiid told reporters.
This was in response to Simmons passing up an easy lay-up late in the close game. It’s the latest example of a perceived rift between the point guard, his organization and some within the locker room.
Ben Simmons trade value takes center stage
It was noted earlier in the month that Simmons’ trade value has taken a major hit recently.
“I have news for Philly fans, the GMs of the other teams watch the playoffs very very closely,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted. “And there are definitely teams that I have talked to in the last 48 hours who were once in on Simmons, who say, at least to me, it could be posturing, “eh, we’re a little less in than we used to be.’”
As Wojnarowski reported, Philadelphia might push back against dealing Simmons if it is not going to get equal market value for the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist. Right now, it’s hard to imagine Simmons’ trade value being any lower mere months after Philadelphia offered him up in a package for then-Houston Rockets star James Harden.
Simmons, 24, averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists on 56% shooting from the field this past season. His points, rebounds and assist numbers were all career lows. He then proceeded to average a split of 11.9/7.9/8.8 on 62% shooting during the playoffs.
Ben Simmons trade complicated by multiple factors
- The former No. 1 pick has north of $146 remaining over the final four years of the max contract extension he signed with Philadelphia back in July of 2019. Not only will it be hard to match salaries, other teams might see that as an albatross of a contract.
- Another thing to look at here is how other teams view Simmons. Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers wouldn’t answer when posed with the question whether he sees Simmons as a starting point guard on a championship-contending team. Other organizations might view him as more of a ball-handling power forward. Think Draymond Green with more skill.
Either way, this report is not going to do anything to quiet Ben Simmons trade rumors. His reps will continue to have dialogue with the 76ers’ organization during the summer. Whether that leads to a trade remains to be seen.