Just like any good drama, the Ben Simmons trade soap opera has taken an unexpected twist. After an entire offseason of speculation about where he'd end up, the 76ers All-Star has made his way back to Philadelphia. Bet you didn't see that coming, did you?

But after passing what felt like several points of no return, Ben Simmons' actual return hasn't exactly been met with a warm return. Last week, the Sixers star received a chorus of chants against him during a recent All-Elite Wrestling show in Philly. During Monday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets, a similar chant broke out despite a much less hostile environment to do so in a meaningless preseason contest.

Can the situation still be salvaged? That's seemingly the idea that the Sixers brass is trying to portray given their public answers to the media. Head coach Doc Rivers emphasized this again after their preseason win against the Nets.

Via Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“We’ve said from Day 1 what we wanted,” coach Doc Rivers said prior to Monday’s game. “That we would love to get him back. Other than that, honestly there’s nothing to report. … Our position hasn’t changed at all.”

It's hard to imagine that Ben Simmons will be 100% engaged and cooperative after everything that's happened. But the Sixers coach remains optimistic that they'll be able to separate off-court issues with on-court performance. Though in many ways, the former comes directly because of the latter.

“We’ve been around this before, haven’t we?” Rivers said. “We really have, in different ways. My guess is if and when he comes, I think he will be ready to play.”

The Ben Simmons offseason primetime show has certainly taken a spin off what was to be expected. Sixers fans can only hope the ending is one that will truly satisfy them.