This offseason has been anything but quiet for the Philadelphia 76ers, to say the least. Following a premature exit in the postseason, there has been chatter of the Sixers breaking up their All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

For weeks now, Ben Simmons has made it clear he longer wants to remain with the organization. The three-time All-Star has formally requested a trade and plans on sitting out until a deal happens. 

With the start of training camp right around the corner, things are about to heat up. The longer Ben Simmons holds out on the Sixers, the bigger the cloud gets over them. As these threats slowly start to become a reality, one must ask the question: Have things gone too far, and should the league consider stepping in? 

Over the years, the NBA has moved into what is being called the player empowerment era. From star players joining forces to join super teams, to disgruntled stars forcing themselves out of unwanted situations, it's gotten a bit crazy. Players are more in power than they ever have been before in the NBA.

There is nothing wrong with players having control over what happens with their careers, but Simmons' situation is slowly becoming an extreme case of player empowerment. 

To be clear, Simmons should not get criticized for asking to be traded. He is not the first player to do it and will not be the last. Players have a right to request a trade the same way a team has a right to move them as they see fit. The issue lies in his willingness to remain away from the team until he gets what he wants.

When James Harden wanted out of Houston last season, he still did what was needed until a trade happened. The former MVP might have been out of shape and visibly unhappy with his situation, but he was still there. There should be a certain level of respect between player and team to show up to work while business is handled behind the scenes. 

One big problem with Simmons' holdout is his contract. He is in just the second year of his max contract extension and is preparing to sit out until he is traded. If he can get away with this, what will stop the next generation of young stars from doing the same? 

Young stars on bad teams can sign a max contract off of their rookie deal, get the extra year and money, and then simply force their way out via trade. 

Commissioner Adam Silver typically does not intervene in these situations but should make an exception regarding Simmons. The league office needs to have a plan prepared to get Simmons to return to Philadelphia until Daryl Morey finds a suitable trade

If Klutch sports and Ben Simmons can successfully pull off this holdout, it could become a catalyst to player empowerment going off the deep end. Silver should be ready to step in before things get too out of hand.