The fiasco between the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons has spiraled completely out of control. After refusing to show up most of the offseason, Simmons finally showed up for the Sixers last week. After seeming more than disinterested for a couple of days and refusing to partake in a drill on Tuesday, head coach Doc Rivers booted Simmons from practice.
Now, the Sixers have taken another step in this war to put down their foot by fining Simmons $1.4 million for his offseason absences:
Sixers' approach on a trade has remained steadfast: They won't move Simmons for role players — only a player who'll help keep them a championship contender. That hasn't changed. For now, no one should expect a speedy resolution on Simmons' future in Philadelphia. https://t.co/YUdkseUZOo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 19, 2021
As Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN notes, Simmons was officially fined for missing preseason games and for missed practices and meetings. It was thought that Simmons had reported to the Sixers to avoid fines like these and try to protect his pockets. After Tuesday's debacle at practice, Philadelphia threw a right hook back at Simmons by laying down the fines.
While a trade seems inevitable at this point, Wojnarowski says the Sixers are still hell-bent on hanging onto Simmons until they get a trade for a star player of equal value. It seems at this point Philadelphia's front office may be living in an alternate universe if they think anyone is going to trade a superstar of their own for Simmons, who has shown this summer alone that he will holdout and sit out if he doesn't get his way.
Simmons has been suspended for the season opener, and the next step in this dilemma is seeing what happens following that opener for the Sixers against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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