Is Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey concealing his true intentions regarding a possible Ben Simmons trade?
Brian Windhorst thinks the answer is yes.
The ESPN insider said on the latest Hoop Collective episode he feels Morey is being dishonest when he claims Simmons is not available in discussions for Houston Rockets guard James Harden:
“He’s not credible with what he says publicly about his trade intentions. So he comes out the other day and says ‘we’re not going to trade Ben Simmons.' I do not find that credible in addition to the fact that very good reporters have reported that Ben Simmons is available, and I’ve heard myself that Ben Simmons is available.”
Numerous reporters seemed to corroborate one another last week in suggesting the Sixers were indeed making Simmons available in Harden talks, though no deal was imminent.
However, Morey later told Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium the Sixers were not trading Simmons, saying the former No. 1 pick is “an important part of our future.”
In response, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium: “We are not trading Ben Simmons — he is an important part of our future.” https://t.co/W6T7HQjjoP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2020
Perhaps Windhorst is right in that the Sixers are privately floating Simmons. Again, it is not as if talks were gaining any steam.
Then again, Philadelphia has been pretty consistent in stating neither Simmons nor Joel Embiid will be dealt. New Sixers head coach Doc Rivers has been especially vocal in saying the speculation is not coming from within the organization.
Would Morey really include Simmons in discussion without first consulting Rivers? That seems unlikely, at best.
Still, Windhorst feels there is something fishy as it relates to Morey's statements on Simmons' availability.
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