German-born wing Isaac Bonga was able to make the Raptors’ opening roster thanks in part to help from two of the best coaches Canada has to offer, in current German national team head coach Gordie Herbert and assistant coach Roy Rana, per Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.
“Their development and what they do up here, we all know,” the 21-year-old said in discussing the appeal of joining the Raptors on a non-guaranteed deal during the 2021 offseason. “Obviously in the past, people can see what they did with people like Pascal [Siakam], Chris [Boucher], OG [Anunoby].”
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Though he still wants to be dealt, Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons has at least been physically present for practice in recent days and isn’t against playing for the team until a trade can be worked out, says Shams Charania of The Athletic. However, Simmons remains disengaged and isn’t “mentally ready” to get back to normal, sources tell The Athletic. Charania details the events of a tense practice that ultimately led to the 25-year-old’s one-game suspension today.
- Nets All-Star guard James Harden didn’t come to terms on an extension agreement with Brooklyn before the October 18 deadline. Per Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Nets tendered Harden a $161MM extension offer. After successfully signing All-Star forward Kevin Durant to a lucrative contract extension earlier this summer, Nets team president Sean Marks expressed confidence he would be able to ink both Harden and All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to extensions before the season. Neither player has been locked up long-term, and both could opt out of their deals to become free agents in the summer of 2022. Lewis notes that Harden will be eligible for a four-year, $223MM extension next summer. “I love it here, I feel at home,” Harden said of his future with the club, per Cassidy Hubbarth of ESPN (Twitter link). “For me individually, I just want to focus on this year… I don’t plan on leaving this organization.”
- Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum hopes to become an undeniable two-way force this season, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. “The next step is … just dominating,” Tatum said. “Not going out there and being just the best player — like dominating the game. So people walk away from the game and be like there’s nothing they could do, on both ends.”
For those who don’t subscribe to the Athletic (so basically everyone who uses this app including myself), the Ben Simmons altercation was because Doc asked him to join a defensive drill twice and he refused to twice. So he kicked him out.
Just realized Luke Adams covered that in a previous article, my bad.
I feel so bad for Sixers fans. There’s no way this thing ends good for them.
It’s not a big deal if you’re able to put things in perspective. Probably would have bothered me more if I was still a kid. Sports fandom really does get out of hand.
Could’ve said the same with Harden requesting out and being overweight….
i thought it was cuz he passed up an open dunk in scrimmage.
Bongs just needed to be in a better situation. He is very skilled at his size, and can defend. Can help at the 1-3 positions. That team is so extremely versatile
As said a thousand times, Sixers just need to part ways with Simmons. There’s obviously no mending the situation ever again, it’s all about value and return.
Now the season has started the likes of Booker, Beal, Dame, even Ingram, Fox and others in that second tier won’t be available anymore. (Not that were ever available)
Just accept less and move on, do it for the players, the coaches, the trainers and the fans. Everyone is sick of hearing about it, the players are sick of him as are the coaches.
1. Simmons and Maxey for Brogdan, LeVert and a first
2. Simmons and Joe for DLo, Prince and a first.
3. Simmons and Milton for KLove, Sexton and 2 firsts
Either of these three and I’d be happy
Take Brogdon off of your wish list. He just signed his extension with Indy and the trade deadline will pass before he is eligible to be traded
Cheers for the info
I know you’re going to hate this trade, but it’s probably about the best offer the Sixers are going to get: Simmons and Thybulle for John Wall and one unprotected first round pick. It’s not as unrealistic as you think.
You are so delusional or such a troll. I can’t decide day to day.
It is more unrealistic than you think
I have a feeling the “centerpiece” of any deal involving Simmons is going to be a combination of first round picks and unprotected pick swaps.
You need to match salaries in any trade, it’ll be something like this as an example.
Gary Trent Jr. + Drajic + Boucher and a FRP.
Or Pascal + FRP.
They’re not getting anything close to the type of draft compensation that Houston did for Harden. And whatever player(s) is/are traded for salary matching purposes isn’t going to be the highest quality. People are dreaming if they think the Sixers are getting a good return for Simmons at this point.
It’s completely unrealistic. They’re getting pennies on the dollar, no doubt.
Though he still wants to be traded, Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons has at least been present for practice physically in recent days. Shams Charania of The Athletic notes that, though Simmons is not against playing for Philadelphia before a trade can be worked out, he remains mentally disengaged. Charania details the events of a tense practice that ultimately led to the one-game suspension of Simmons today
The Athletic… Known for writing paragraphs of pure BS
How else to describe it and be truthful?— Someone looked at his face, posture, foot movement, attention. Maybe the truth part aggravates you. Simmons isn’t doing it right or whatever… blame the messenger.
Friends morey is paid 7 figures not to trade Big Ben for other teams garbage. Big Ben is a top 20 player and as such is going nowhere until such compensation is forthcoming. Accept it.
That ship has sailed.Simmons value continues to decline with every passing moment. It’s time to cut there losses and launch the juvenile distraction for whatever they can get.
The only thing that needs to be accepted is there’s simply no way that the Sixers are getting both quality draft compensation and a great player for Simmons in any trade. If Morey is lucky he can work out a deal that his team can live with, but he’s simply not going to get any type of blockbuster return. That’s just not happening. He has to make a bad trade, period.
Greenwood I will beg to differ. Simmons has no choice but to come back,play lights out,increase his horrendous trade value according to you and only then will the mad genius morey attempt to move him. Or he can sit.
I’m against Ben Simmons playing because he stinks.
I’m having a hard time recalculating the 4/$227M.
Harden is making $44.3M this year and I believe that he is eligible to sign an extension starting at 105% of his previous salary with 8% raises each year after year 1. That would put him at approximately 4/$210M.
What’s missing?
He could pick up his $47.4MM option for next year and start the extension the following year. With a 5% raise on the option salary and 8% annual raises after that, he’d get up to $223MM. I’m not sure where Lewis’ $227MM number comes from. That seems a little high to me.
Ah, thanks. I was combining the “could opt out” with the signing of the extension, which as I now think about it, are mutually exclusive actions…..
The current players are ruining the league for future players. The owners will take the league back as soon as the next CBA. Remember owners are billionaires, players are millionaires. It’s coming.
Simmons is the new Kyrie Irving. I wouldn’t want either of them on my team. Too bad because they are both unique talents.
#FreeBenSimmons
Simmons is a clown and a loser. There were concerns about his makeup at LSU (1.9 GPA). The guy just isn’t coachable.
Haliburton, Bagley, Buddy, #1 pick
———————— For ———————
Ben, Maxey, and their agent BYE …….
I have faith that Morey will get the job done. If Simmons ends up on a bad tram and pays more income taxes, better yet.