Despite being traded to the Brooklyn Nets after holding out for months, Ben Simmons isn't done with the Philadelphia 76ers just yet.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Bobby Marks and Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN, Simmons is filing a grievance over the Sixers withholding nearly $20 million of salary. The NBPA is backing up the Nets' star forward on his grievance, which will be settled in an arbitration process.
Reporting with @RamonaShelburne and @BobbyMarks42: Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has filed a grievance to challenge the nearly $20 million of salary withheld to him by the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Story soon on ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 2, 2022
Simmons received fines from the Sixers over the course of the season for his extended absence. He was briefly working towards a return to the team but ultimately decided to stay away. To add fuel to the fire, he liked an Instagram post that showed all the different ways he could be fined by Philadelphia.
Now, Simmons will look to recoup the money he lost from his former team, who traded him to the Nets along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and draft picks in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap. Given that Simmons provided a reason other than his discontent with the Sixers for staying away – he cited his mental health not being in the right place to play — he brings a more legitimate case to the table.
As he deals with a back issue, Simmons is making progress towards returning to the court. The Nets aren't holding their breath, though, as his timetable to return is not yet known. While Brooklyn fights for a spot in the play-in tournament, the Sixers are competing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
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