3:25pm: Simmons is expected to come early to the 76ers’ shootaround on Friday to meet with team leadership to discuss his playing status, reports Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
2:08pm: Simmons told Sixers staff members he was experiencing back tightness on Thursday and briefly received treatment for it, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Being diagnosed with a legitimate injury would be one way for Simmons to avoid participating in practices and games while still being paid. However, the team’s medical staff cleared Simmons to participate in his scheduled workout today after he received treatment on his back, sources tell Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
According to Charania (Twitter link), Simmons won’t be available for Friday’s game and isn’t expected to play for an “undetermined amount of time.”
1:39pm: After being suspended for the Sixers‘ regular season opener on Wednesday, Ben Simmons showed up at the team’s practice facility on Thursday, but left without taking part in his scheduled individual workout, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter links).
Simmons’ status for Friday’s game in Philadelphia vs. the Nets remains up in the air, but it seems unlikely that he’ll play in the 76ers’ home opener since he has yet to fully engage in a team practice, says Wojnarowski.
Simmons, who has pushed for a trade for months, ended his holdout and reported to the Sixers 10 days ago, then resumed practicing with the team over the weekend. However, he has reportedly not been physically or mentally engaged in those practices. On Tuesday, head coach Doc Rivers threw Simmons out of practice when the 25-year-old refused to sub in during a defensive drill. His one-game suspension was announced shortly thereafter.
Subsequent reporting from Shams Charania of The Athletic indicated that the Sixers don’t expect to find a trade they like for Simmons in the coming days, and want him to show up for – and engage in – practices and games. Sources tell Charania that the three-time All-Star isn’t against the idea of playing again for Philadelphia as he awaits a trade, but isn’t mentally prepared to do so yet.
The Sixers didn’t hold a practice today, but Simmons is scheduled to return to team activities on Friday, writes ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. It’s unclear if the team would continue to suspend him if he remains disengaged.
As Windhorst details, the rest of the Sixers were able to escape the Simmons drama for a few hours on Tuesday night when they gathered for a team dinner in New Orleans in an effort to clear the air.
“It’s good to just go out and kinda not talk about basketball and talk about life,” Joel Embiid said. “That’s also an evolution for me, because I usually, when I used to go on the road, I’d just like to stay in my room and be on the phone and play video games.”
The 76ers followed up that dinner with an impressive road victory on Wednesday over the Pelicans. They’ll face a stiffer challenge on Friday against Brooklyn.
Ended his holdout and showed up only to not participate in anything and get suspended without pay. What a genius move.
It’s actually a good play. I can’t see how the 76ers can continue to suspend him if he shows up, even if he’s not fully engaged. Eventually the Union will file a grievance.
It’s the Harden playbook. They can fine you for not showing up, but they can’t fine you for effort.
Good for Ben.
Good for him? He’s a total clown!
Then trade him for the Indiana package.
He’s either a star or a clown, depending on what side of the fence you sit on. You can’t say he’s a clown but support Philly asking for a superstar in return.
Brogden is no longer tradable after his extension.
He’s a clown and Philly should take what they can get. I’m a Bucks fan, I have no dog in this fight.
Simmons isn’t a star or a clown lol. He’s an immature child calling himself a man
He didn’t participate in his scheduled workouts, I anticipate that will result in a fine and/or suspension. They can’t fine you for effort but refusing to participate is a different story. Good for Ben for continuing to be a petulant child
It didn’t say why he left. If he left by choice, yes, they could punish him. If they asked him to leave for whatever reason, he’s good.
@Appalachian
I was listening to a podcast where they read language out of the cba that limits the number of consecutive days a team cab fine a player for the same issue but CAN trigger a situation where the NBA can step in and offer more stringent penalties including dissolving the contract. I have to find it myself but I can’t imagine Ben could not play and still get paid.
@KnicksCavsFan
Interesting. Honestly, dissolving the contract could be best for both parties. Philly is not getting a star back because they have no leverage. Frees Ben and keeps the 76ers cap clear.
There is no way the NBA is going to set that precedent.
@pc01
There’s no way a player can get paid and NOT perform. What’s a contract for then?
I didn’t say anything about his effort, I said him showing up and not participating at all is a dumb move.
And I don’t see why or on what grounds the Union would file a grievance. Good luck going up against the league when Simmons is not participating in practice or workouts, much less in games. Even Adam Silver commented on it the other day (‘There’s a reason we have contracts in this league’). It would be a huge, unnecessary fight over a player who is not worth it. The Union’s first move would be to convince Simmons to show up and play, not file a grievance and kick off a major battle with the league.
This is different because, like you say, Harden was an effort thing. At least he showed up and went through the motions. Simmons won’t even do that.
I saw a clip where he was participating in the initial practice before his suspension, just with less than 100% effort. My understanding is he was suspended for not joining a team huddle. So he did participate, hence my argument against what you said.
Maybe you were talking only about this incident, but he hasn’t been suspended for this.
That was day 1. They let him get away with the bs effort day 1 and didn’t say anything. Day 2 Simmons refused to go in for defensive drills twice so Doc sent him home
You are clueless my friend. He’s no harden and the comparison is vomit inducing..
So clueless thinking that the Sixers are going to get any deal remotely as good as the Rockets got for Harden. Of course the players Houston got in that deal weren’t that good and are all gone now, but the draft compensation they received will far out-weigh anything involved in a trade for Simmons. The longer Philly let’s this drag out, the worse the return on Ben will end up becoming.
Harden got traded to a contender and made them better. He was a known quantity as a scorer. Simmons wants to be the #1 option, but hasn’t shown the will to get better. That’s why contenders aren’t currently pursuing him. I admire Morey’s demand for a star but Simmons is torpedoing his value. He will be a cancer for his next team. He could be out of the league in three years.
Jdog he does not have to go to a contender or… he is not even old enough to think that crucial. He just wants to be PG, set the tone, move quicker than Embiid, who is going to sweat more at pace.
Whoever puts Simmons there will win more games, though not necessarily in the playoffs. And the Sixers will want to send him to a non-contender if this does not resolve.
Teammates are not vocally against him… so far.
He put his house from Morristown NJ on the market today
Moorestown, locals hate being confused with Morristown
I’ve been critical of Philly fans in the past but this all on him and not a fan base, how is it there fault he’s a big baby that’s been babied his whole life being the youngest of 14 kids that doesn’t want to improve his basketball skills and only cares about the lifestyle the game has provided him
Why if he does multiple things exceptionally well does he have to do the one thing he doesn’t? I get it’d fit better with Joel and the team, but that’s a roster construction issue. That’s on the franchise. Ben asked to be traded to clear that up, but they won’t do it. Again, on Philly.
Players who are great keep working on their weaknesses so they aren’t a fatal flaw like his shooting. He’s a total liability at crunch time in the playoffs. No one is asking him to shoot 40% on 3’s but if you don’t take any outside shots you are making it too easy on the opposition. As longtime Eagle Jason Kielce said if you put in the effort Philly fans will love you. He’s punted on improving his shooting and is showing he’s a quitter rather than take it as a challenge to improve himself.
He’s a grown man and a professional athlete. Most of them tend to work on his shortcomings. But he’s a diva who would rather tuck tail and run when you get called out for your faults. He was butthurt when his name came up in trade talks for Harden. He was butthurt when Doc threw him under the bus in the game 7 post game presser (should’ve kept it inhouse, but he wasn’t wrong in the statement). He was butthurt when Joel said that his pass-instead-of-easy layup was the turning point of Game 7 (again, inhouse). So he wants to run instead of being a man and improving his game. The Sixers brass isn’t innocent, but Simmons is finally being held accountable since Brown is gone, and he can’t take the negative attention because he’s in a state of arrested development. That’s on him.
Philly has no obligation to trade him. Ben on the other hand is under contract and has an obligation to show up to work. Ben continues to look worse and worse. I wouldn’t want this guy on my team if I’m a player in the NBA.
When Giannis got drafted he was just an athletic freak. He has worked on adding another thing to his game every year. He started with passing and rebounding, then defending and is constantly working on his jumper and FTs and now he’s a 2 time MVP, Finals MVP and has a ring. LeBron had finishing ability, raw talent and unmatched court vision. He’s learned to play 1on1 D, post moves and added a consistent jumper from all levels.
Steph was quick, had great handles and could shoot 3s. He’s added a midrange, a floater and gotten adequate on Defense by clogging passing Lanes to create turnovers.
Old school, Jordan could finish at the rim with his athleticism. He learned to trust his teammates, became a better passer and developed a jumper.
I could go on and on with greats that got better. Ben has done none of that, in fact I’d say he was a better player 3 years ago then he was last year. That being said if someone wants to take a chance on him Philly should trade him if they get a decent offer. The whole off-season up til and including the holdout was silly. He needs a fresh start as does Philly. They just need to put this behind them and trade his ass. Heck Maxey looked like better contributor on opening night anyway.
BTW Giannis has regressed quite a lot with his FT%… not improved, just to tell the truth!
You skipped over the part where he chose to sign a huge contract with the team in the first place. If he was worried about direction and roster fit he coulda just left.
Plus he can ask to be released and give up all his money at any time. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. This nonsense is on him.
Just suspend him without pay. Don’t let
him divide the locker room.
I don’t think anyone is on his side so if anything he’s uniting the locker room against him
Conduct detrimental to the club can get you sent home w/o pay.
If he was smart,which he is not,he would sit out 30 days w/o pay so long as he was traded within the 30 days.
Must be very upsetting to be an owner and have to pay guaranteed contracts to whiny babies. That is the trouble with this country. Too many people claiming to be victims.
They don’t have to pay him if he won’t do his job.
The problem with this country? This is about one player. Almost all of the other players have no problem showing up and honoring their contracts. But I guess don’t let that stop you from your weird old man complaints about the country.
Maybe my comment doesn’t sound quite right. I get it that ninety some percent of the players work and play real hard and appreciate their jobs. Just think Simmons is very wrong to pout just because he had a bad time in the playoffs last season. Simmons is on a 5 year contract for $170 million, so $34 million per season, the entire contract is guaranteed.
Just don’t like it when a star with a massive contract that takes up a big chunk of a franchise’s payroll holds the team hostage.
Just to say the obvious, most Americans will never make anywhere near what Simmons makes in an entire lifetime.
All employment contracts (including NBA contracts, and whether or not stated) require the employee to act in good faith to perform his services to the best of his ability and in furtherance of his employer’s ends. Showing up isn’t enough. It can be difficult question of fact for an employer to establish (because an employer assumes the risk of health and loss/lack of skill), but Simmons (stupidly) is making it as easy as it could be made. If he keeps it up, Sixers should send him home, not pay him and let the league/union reps deal with it under the CBA. It might be best for him too. This isn’t helping him.
I understand why Ben wants to be traded but I think a lot of fans have lost all respect for him at this point. Requesting a trade and sitting out over the summer is one thing, but he’s being a petulant child now with refusing to participate in practice and faking injuries. It’s too bad he’s not smart enough to realize his fastest way out is to be a good teammate and play well thereby raising his trade value.
Agreed. I considered BS the latest victim of Doc Rivers’ ego until this nonsense about not reporting began circulating. He has, in a way, taken Doc off the hook.
Ben is doing the only thing the CBA allows him to do, maybe you should inform yourself, dude!
Ben is doing what he has to do as stipulated in the CBA…
BTW all the fans, real hoop fans are with Ben as a matter of fact!
If he’s a self-respecting person he’ll give it his all. Well..he’s not.
It’s so obvious what he’s doing that I actually think the union might side with the sixers. He’s faking injury and making every excuse not to be there. I can’t see why the union would support this behavior and I feel like Ben’s going to make it difficult for them to continue to do so.
It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove. How do you disprove he has back tightness?
The Sixers don’t expect to find a trade they like for Simmons in the coming days?
Do they think they will magically find a trade they like as the situation festers?
Yeah, the smart move is to wait till December when newly signed players are available, broadening potential options. Most of the hypotheticals floated don’t help us…time is on Moreys side in this one.
His value has tanked since the summer though. By the time we get to December, he might have sabotaged any value he has left.
I won’t say that Morey overplayed his hand because hindsight is 20/20, but at this point you gotta cut your losses and move on. Might as well get something back that will help the team.
He either plays with good effort or he doesn’t get paid. Cba my friends.
How do we know if Simmons is actually hurting? A back injury one of the easiest ones to pretend
They have no choice but to now indefinately suspend him without pay. He is now a liability to sabotage games for them. He clearly has shown that if he is forced to go on the court for this team he will not give any effort. I think this can be easily proven at this point. No way Philly can play him now.
I wonder how much of this conflict is Ben vs Doc or Rich Paul vs Morey.
Bad look on all involved.
That’s what I keep saying, this will end up badly for all parties involved.
The Sixers won’t drop off nearly as much as the Rockets did last season after the Harden trade, but they won’t finish anywhere near the top of the east.
They could even end up as one of the 7-10 seeds in the play-in tournament.
It’s not his back, but his brain. What a waste of talent.
I still side with Ben.
Why does everyone think that it has to be taking one side over the other?
It takes two to tango. That expression applies to a ton of situations like this.
Especially in most divorce cases. Look at the movie The War of the Roses.
While I totally agree with you, I just want to point out… look at all the comments above and you will see all Ben Simmons hate. I just want it known that someone is rooting for him as a player and as a person. And that I’m not going to tear him down like the 76ers did.
They didn’t tear him down. Come on now. Pointing out the obvious and giving constructive criticism isn’t tearing someone down. Sorry, but if you pass up a wide open dunk and can’t make free throws you deserve to be called out.
Embiid and the fans are the problem… and the coach poured salt on the wound. Embiid played like garbage against Toronto 2 years ago then got scored on in his face by Kawhi to lose the series. Ben didnt play the next year in Boston and the team got swept. Nobody said anything about Embiid. Fans love him, organization is building around his needs. Then doc questions and fans go ape sh@t on Ben this year? Why would he want to entertain these people. They will all soon learn what he brings to the team. Now everyone is freaking out that he is leaving. Good luck losers. Learn to treat people with dignity and respect.
Great points! Finally someone with some sense in this thread!
@JerBear
You’re going to blame Embiid for Kawhi making one of the craziest shots in history?!
Joel Embiid is the problem? Stop. A guy who dragged his ass up and down the court on a torn meniscus for 7 games averaging 30/10 while Ben Simmons was terrified to shoot a basketball and put up the worst free throw percentage in NBA playoff history
And you’re so unoriginal. Let’s blame the fans. You have zero clue about this city and the fans. Zero. Learn to treat someone with dignity and respect? We do. We just don’t coddle cry babies who blame others for their shortcomings. If you’re a grown ass man and have to blame others for your failures and your shortcomings then you’ve got more important things to address than a game of basketball
Want to know the difference between the fans and Ben Simmons? The fans actually show up when it matters
Ben:
I hope your back gets better soon.
-Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, Manti Te’o, Rafael Palmeiro
Motet said in the radio this could take 4yrs. Sixers are digging in
#FreeBenSimmons
A back injury is the easiest injury to fake and the hardest to prove. Kinda funny how this happens right after hes suspended for that game. Must be his way of not wanting to play but still wanting to be paid.
They have access to advanced diagnostic equipment including MRI, CT, ultrasound, electromyography and nerve conduction studies as well as methods for determining symptom magnification and malingering. They aren’t going to be fooled if they aren’t presented with at least SOMETHING diagnostically significant. This is why Simmons got treatment and was cleared to play.
The time to try and make a claim about a medical issue was BEFORE all of the sitting out and demanding a trade drama.
Also before you moved out of your team local homes and put them up for sale.
Now it just looks like a lie to manipulate the contract and CBA.
From now on he shall be nicknamed Ben “Douchebag” Simmons. Although that demeans actual douchebags. Maybe Ben “Enema Bag” Simmons.
@stevep-4… come on man, no need to share your personal & unique nicknames with others, specially guys like Ben, who comes across as much nicer than you, right?