Philadelphia 76ers fans have had March 10 circled on their calendars ever since the team traded Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden. They're hoping for the chance to boo the two-time All-Star who stopped wanting to play for them.

Simmons cited mental health struggles as the reason he did not suit up for the Sixers this season. While Nets fans eagerly await Simmons' on-court debut as he recovers from a back issue, it sounds like he'll at least be on the sidelines for what figures to be an insane atmosphere.

But the question is why? Is it to acclimate Simmons to a wild environment or something related to his salary? Let's unpack the latest because the answer might be some of both.

Speaking to reporters at Tuesday's shootaround at the Carole Hoefener Center, Nets coach Steve Nash shared that he thinks it could be good for Simmons to get used to being heckled by fans, according to The Athletic's Alex Schiffer.

 

Remember, there's always the chance these Nets could be heading back to Philadelphia come playoff time. If that happened, Simmons might gain a sense of what to expect if he at least sits through Thursday's game in person.

The Nets wouldn't want Simmons to have to get used to being mercilessly heckled for the first time during the postseason, so maybe this way he gets to expose himself to the extreme conditions.

However, there may be another reason he'll be in attendance as well: He wants the $20 million his representation may think he's still owed back.

Per Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice:

There's Kevin Durant vs. Joel Embiid, James Harden vs. his former teammates, and Ben Simmons vs. just about everybody. It's that last piece many are focused on, with league sources anticipating that Simmons and his representation will file a formal grievance against the Sixers at some point in the coming days.

The suggestion has been floated in league circles that Simmons showing up for Thursday's game is merely setting the stage for Simmons and Klutch Sports' argument when the grievance is filed. Reports of an increased security presence at Thursday's game circulated on Tuesday morning, which a cynical observer would say is meant to combat the venom directed at Simmons specifically.

Simmons, Neubeck pointed out, has forgone around $20 million in salary this season for not fulfilling his contractual duties with the Sixers. But it sounds like he is hoping to recoup some of that in a pending arbitration case. So, maybe, Klutch founder and Simmons' agent, Rich Paul, thinks the controversial guard enduring plenty of boos will somehow aid his case.

See, you can't expect someone with mental health struggles to work under conditions such as this. Look what he endured just sitting there, so imagine him playing night in, night out that way. Pay him his salary back!

With Olympian gymnast Simone Biles bravely speaking out about her mental health struggles recently, this issue took center stage last summer. Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers also recently opened up about how being heckled affects him and his family:

This is certainly a complicated issue. Beyond that, there is the player empowerment angle. Rival owners and NBA commissioner Adam Silver will likely be paying close attention here as well. If Simmons can regain the money he lost, it could set a sticky precedent for small-market teams that already have trouble keeping their stars contented. A player can sign a long-term contract, then find a way to not play until he's traded, then still get paid for the entire thing? It's something to watch.

Simmons has not traveled on the current Nets' road trip. He wasn't with the team in Boston, and it doesn't sound like he traveled to Charlotte for Tuesday's game. It's at least curious why the team would have him in attendance for the Sixers game.

Is it, as Nash said, so that he can gain exposure to the type of environment that may feel like LeBron James' villainous return to Cleveland for the first time after leaving for the Miami Heat? Is it to accommodate Simmons in his future legal pursuits? Some of both, like a win-win?

Neubeck continues:

Put Simmons in the middle of that storm, the argument goes, and it's believed that will be Exhibit A in the case of why Simmons could not and did not fulfill his obligations for the Sixers prior to being traded, why he was unprepared to work for this franchise prior to being dealt. And the debate over Simmons' obligation to the franchise is what will ultimately take center stage, even if Simmons' side of the argument appears to be fighting an uphill battle in their quest to recoup his lost money.

This is a wild story.

Nets fans have gotten used to Kyrie Irving making headlines beyond the basketball court. It's routine now for fans to flip on CNN for city and state updates on COVID-19 protocols and learn the latest about their local basketball team. Now, they'll likely see more national coverage extending beyond ESPN, examining this sensitive mental health angle.

The more things change with this Nets team, the more they stay the same.

They're having trouble fielding their Big Three on the court and they routinely make news for things beyond it. Simmons' mere presence on the bench in Philadelphia is going to create quite the spectacle among fans with a certain reputation for pelting Santa Claus with snowballs.

This is a budding rivalry waiting to explode. We'll see if the scene helps Simmons wrangle some lost salary out of the Sixers. Fans of both squads, and the league in general, will be watching with popcorn ready.