The primary motivation for Ben Simmons‘ trade demand and holdout is to steer him to a team that would build around him on offense, league sources tell Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. O’Connor’s story comes on the heels of a Tuesday report which suggested that Simmons no longer wants to play with Joel Embiid, whose style of play isn’t considered conducive to the way Simmons wants to play on offense.
However, according to O’Connor’s sources, Simmons didn’t make it clear during his August meeting with the Sixers‘ brass that his offensive role was a major problem. During that meeting, O’Connor says, head coach Doc Rivers outlined a plan to stagger Simmons’ and Emibiid’s minutes more often, frequently using Simmons more like the Bucks use Giannis Antetokounmpo, with four shooters around him. It sounds as if the three-time All-Star wasn’t enthused by the team’s pitch.
League sources tell The Ringer that the Rockets planned on building their system around Simmons if they had taken the Sixers’ trade offer for James Harden last season, but obviously that didn’t come to fruition. It’s unclear whether any of Simmons’ current suitors are prepared to provide him with the offensive environment he’s looking for — O’Connor suggests that the Kings might be the best candidate to do so.
Here’s more on the Simmons situation:
- O’Connor acknowledges that things can change quickly, but said that as of Tuesday, league sources didn’t get the sense that the Sixers were close to trading Simmons. As O’Connor notes, with Philadelphia not especially interested in packages heavy on draft picks and prospects and so many veterans ineligible to be dealt until at least December 15, it could still be a while before the 76ers start getting offers they deem acceptable.
- Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (Twitter link) has heard that the Sixers are targeting potential trade partners in the Western Conference.
- With Simmons unavailable, Tyrese Maxey has taken the reins as the lead point guard, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. However, Rivers and the 76ers are prepared to try out some unconventional ball-handling options beyond Maxey. According to Mizell, Rivers said that Furkan Korkmaz and Georges Niang were “very effective” at bringing up the ball with the reserves on Tuesday.
What I saw there was Simmons and Embiid each wanted the team to have the title of being “their” team, and nobody truly knew “who’s team” it was coming into last season – and Doc didn’t even know as he took the job. The two players didn’t necessarily dislike each other, but it’s been obvious that there was a “struggle” between the two over that title. The way the season played out, it became clear it was Joel’s team, and that is why Simmons shut it down and has been ready to go for quite some time. The early talk of a trade to Houston certainly didn’t help.
I disagree with the premise of Joel wanting it to be “his” team. Rather, I think he recognizes what his abilities are and wants an offense where he gets “enough ” touches in the paint with some outside shooting. makes sense. Ben on the other hand is trying to play away from his inability and needs an offense that hides them. Its almost like a blind person that develops enlightened hearing ability. Out of necessity he’s good at scoring in the post. But for most teams, as the play creator, he’s best working from the top of the key where he can see the whole floor. If he could shoot from more than 3ft away he would open the floor and be a better all-around scorer.
I’m not sure it was an issue of either wanting one or the other as much as it was just Embiid developing into the vastly better player.
All I can go by is my two sources – great sources at that – my left eye and my right eye, as I was literally in the building everyday two seasons ago and saw the whole dynamic as it was happening. Literally couldn’t get any closer. Was around their entourages as well and saw their awkward “interaction” with each other… they had more “beef” than the actual 2 players did. The two players, while not best friends, got along fine but each simply thought they were the best player on the team and wanted the team to be thought of as “their” team. I can’t speak on any of the other 29 teams that season because I wasn’t there. This one… I could write a book on. smh Where it’s at today is where I knew it’d get to – especially when Doc came in and said he’s gonna “let Ben be Ben”. I knew that’d be the last season that pair (Embiid & Simmons) would be together. And Doc knew he had a free year because of that dynamic.
But hey… say I’m wrong or I’m just guessing! That’s cool.
@jumpshot
We are all offering our opinions. I could be wrong, so might you. Not sure your eyes can look into the mind of someone and see intent. If Embiid feels like he just wants the ball to be fed to him consistently doesn’t mean he’s selfish or needs the coach to declare himself the leader of the team. It’s already been clearly established during the process that he’s THEE main piece or piece 1a of the team. He sure gets a lot of the player blame when they fail. If Ben feels HE is the main part of the team and needs the style of play changed to suit his strengths and hide his weaknesses then that’s something different. Embiid isn’t a ball-handler so it makes sense that he needs the ball given to him to do what he does. Ben needs the post cleared because his offensive game is limited. He needs to be surrounded by shooters because he can’t shoot. In essence they might both want the same thing but with Emniid it’s more inline with logical team playing style operating from hooooood strength whereas with Bern is more to compensate for his weakness. The very nature of a PG should mean to make others better. Embiid can’t do anything to make Ben better.
KnicksFan…. or maybe, just maybe actual conversations were had (separately) with each of the two over the course of the season before shutdown, and then with one of them often since… so I don’t have to guess about what “my eyes cant see”… intent, etc…?
But, it’s fine. You’re correct. I don’t (really) know anything about the situation ;)
Again, there’s 30 teams and we’re talkin about one. Hopefully it doesn’t bother you that I was actually there – and privy to more than most – about 1 of 30.
@jumpman
your’e being wayyyyyy too touchy my friend. You said “your own two eyes”. if you know them and dontre to then then that’s different. either way…good for you. im sooooo willing to defer to this.
Knixfan, seems like you are speculating when you assign only good qualities to Embiid and only bad ones to Simmons. Jumper’s stance was standard a few years back before the recent problems, which represents Simmons forcing out. You don’t get this and have been resolute in saying Simmons is gutless or whatever.
Embiid wants his way, Simmons his, and your longer post confirms you know there’s a difference; also that Embiid won. So why wouldn’t Simmons want out.
how can it be Embiids team when he misses a load of games every year
Lol. Over the last 3 years Embiid has played in more games then Curry and Kawhi. So based on your post it can’t be their team either. Come on. When he plays he is Unguardable
Except by Marc Gasol..
When he plays, this is for the most part almost true. But this is a player who has already missed 295 out of his first 555 NBA games, more than 53%. Granted almost 56% of those games were in the first two seasons he missed entirely. Even so, Embiid has still missed 131 out of 391 games, just over 1/3 of the games during the five seasons he has played. Durability is not his forte.
Suess:
There’s many who’d say Embiid is the best player on the team. Of course, your counter would be: How can Embiid be the best player on the team when he misses a load of games every year… Right? Or just for “Who’s team”?
This is a great opportunity for Maxey to build off a solid rookie season. Maxey has the talent but would make a really small backcourt next to Curry(both 6ft 3in and under)
Yeah, a great shot for Maxey who I am super impressed by. I feel like we are setting him
Up to fail though as we are currently constructed. Becoming a full time starter is going to be filled with ups and downs. I would prefer to bring him along as a 6-7th man, than a starter but this is where we are.
How a guy who needs to be removed at crunch time can be the focal point of your offense is baffling. Simmons doesn’t finish at the rim,can’t hit his charity stripe shots,is useless in the halfcourt game outside of 2feet.
Yes and now with the talk coming from the side of the mouth of Doc Rivers, about staggering their minutes? So that means one of them sits in crunch time. Probably won’t be Joel embiid.
Latest news? I think I read all of this days ago. Ben Simmons is ATG clickbait it seems
Yep it’s been that way all off season long. Nothing is even new at this point. Just a repeat of the past
They’re just giving us different glimpses of the “WHY.” Without these stories we would all be wondering why can’t Simmons just show up and try to improve his game and play? Now we know a lot more each day as more stuff comes out.
Simmons says this, then the Sixers say that, and Simmons thinks it’s a load of crap…, so he says this and that as response. Etc.
Okay but how amazing would it be if Simmons gets shipped to Minnesota and is on the other side of the Joel/KAT beef
With Wiggins showing his attitude there might be a trade between the 2 teams. If sixers allow unvaccinated players to play a Simmons/Wiggins trade could happen with GSW throwing in 2 1st rounders to Sixers.
Ben is a superstar & Wigs totally sucks, specially last season where he regressed considerably… you need to add 2 or 3 unprotected firsts for someone to take on Wigs… then you need to add the value of a superstar player like Ben… then we can talk about a serious trade, right?
Wiggins put up almost the same numbers as Toby Harris so are you saying Harris is a terrible player? Sounds like it. Wiggins did not regress but became a better defensive player. Simmons regressed on offense in all 4 categories so how is he a superstar if he got worse?
That is a childish argument that Ben regressed on offense as his numbers were lower, so was Kawhi’s numbers, you know stars numbers go up & down every year, but, but they still are stars, that is the case with Ben!
Wigs will never be a star… more to the point if GSW wants to compete this year Kuminga must be the starting SF & Wigs buried at the end of the bench… otherwise they are fried even before the season even starts!
No its not a childish argument but one with facts. So other words you are saying its only your opinion in your comment. Simmons star is not very bright at the moment or Sixers would have traded him in a heart beat. His value goes down by the day. Kuminga is too raw to be a starter. He was drafted knowing he is a future star. Sixers are screwed the longer Simmons holds out.
I really hope PHI gets screwed for years & even decades to come… so what is your point?
@ElDon
Ben has been awarded accolades. Great. Great defender. Good passer. Solid but one dimensional scorer. That’s not a superstar. A superstar needs to be at great at a few things and at least close to average at everything else. This is the nba where the team with the most points wins the game. People point to the 7th game when he “shut down” Young to 5/23 shooting. Yet, Trae still got to the FT line and scored 21pts, 10 assists and won the game. But what did Ben do on the other side of the ball? 2-4 with 5 points and 13 assists. Great passing but only 5 points in the 7th game with a total of 2 FG attempts all in the 3rd quarter with none in the 4th???? That’s not a superstar. That’s a specialist. One on one defense is great but looking at the +/- of that game, Trae was a +7. Ben a +1. My point is that you MUST look at what Ben is in his totality and I’m sorry…. superstars don’t have that many glaring holes on their game.
As for Wiggins, he’s a better complimentary play to Embiid than Ben is. Embiid doesn’t need Ben to be successful in terms of scoring, rebounding or shooting. He just needs someone to feed him the ball. Wiggins shot 47/38/71 last year. He might lack defensive ability or a motor but he’s far from a bad player. A lot of superstars are not good defenders. And I guarantee you teams would rather have Wiggy @ 2/$74 than Simmons, his attitude, his seemingly uninterested mindset towards accountability, and $140 mil tag.
Your guarantee is worthless, even if it wasn’t wrong on both players. If Wigs is preferred, it is because his contract has two years left not four, not because his talent is more appreciated.
GSW cannot unload Wiggins; Sixers are asking for the moon for Simmons.
If Simmons wanted to be traded he shouldn’t have cratered his value with the worst playoff performance of all time. What contender would want pay him 164m and give up assets, and why would Philly want to trade him for 2 cents on the dollar? Rich Paul might actually be a terrible agent.
It’s worst case for Phili, but best case for whatever team aquires him for pennies on the $
The possibility of Ben for Wall is becoming more and more likely.
The only way thats happening is if the rockets include a bunch of 1st rd picks. No disrespect but Simmons has way more value than Wall does in a straight up deal. That and the fact theres obviously no way houston lets either of green/porter go
That would be a dream for Houston to unload Wall, but they probably don’t want to give up the picks they just obtained to do it. There may be a way to work it out, though.
As a professional it is Ben’s obligation to devalue himself as much as possible, his loyalty is to his new team, he must be as cheap as possible, so the new team can compete with him… about PHI he owes them nothing & he must do all possible to break them up for years to come!
@ElDon
“as a professional it is Ben’s obligation to devalue himself…”.
dumbest comment ever. sorry. no really. He was given a contract with the HOPE that he would grow into by improving on his defects. Horrible works we are living in if ppl actually think like you. Sickening. Beyond a sports rant. Entitlement x 1,000
Ben now needs to look for the best interest of his new team, why would he care for PHI when the team doesn’t care for him, boy can’t see at all your point!
BTW no need to be nasty at a personal level as I have never dissed you, if you don’t like my opinions don’t read them, but no need for nastiness, dude!
How many ways can you be clueless Nixfan? There’s a real world out there, regardless of your insult-words.
Simmons needs to go……to Minnesota.
He just needs Curry Klay GSW then needs to trade for Duncan Robinson and Davis Bertans. That’s your ideal 5.
#FreeBenSimmons
Ben to Kings ….. Halliburton will take Sixers to Finals. That’s what real PGs do with real Centers.
Again, Haliburton is not available. The Kings have made this clear. Fox is also not available.
Call me crazy. Sixers seem pretty good without Simmons. Hold out to get a veteran point guard who can shoot and some other value. No need to hurry.