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Looks like this bridge has been burnt … except that both parties may need to fix it if no acceptable trade is found.
There were already reports that the 76ers organization couldn’t reach Ben Simmons, and now KRON 4’s Jason Dumas and Bleacher Report are echoing that idea.
Source: Ben Simmons cut off communication with virtually everyone in the Sixers organization. Everything goes through his agent, Rich Paul. Ben is ready to go to GSW although he doesn’t have much influence on the situation.
– Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) August 5, 2021
Jason Dumas on Ben Simmons: “He’s open to California teams, that’s what I’ve been told. Joel Embiid has contacted him several times since the end of the season. He hasn’t responded to calls from Joel Embiid… he doesn’t want to go back to the 76ers. The damage is done. ” https://t.co/CJhQ1YACFA
– Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) August 5, 2021
We all have a pretty good idea of why Simmons is not responding to Embiid.
The 76ers and Simmons’ agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports) are looking for a trade, but there isn’t one right now. At least at the price asked by 76ers general manager Daryl Morey (he has a reputation for starting ridiculously high in his selling prices before he gets to something where a deal can be made). He would have asked for an All-Star player plus “control” over four first-round draft picks.
Otherwise, the buzz around the league is that Morey is happy to bring him back until the offers improve.
Dumas isn’t the first to point out that Simmons likes the idea of Golden State. These parties spoke before the NBA Draft and Morey would have asked for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, the No. 7 and No. 14 picks in this latest draft, plus two future first-round picks. The Warriors obviously took this down (as they should have). It is not known if and where the negotiations started, but we do know that no agreement has been reached.
From a Warriors perspective, how do you play Draymond Green and Ben Simmons together on offense? While the two can pass, the two together would destroy any floor space, even with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Other potential landing points for Simmons have faded. Washington traded Russell Westbrook and now Bradley Beal looks happy and wants to stay put. Miami went all-in by trading for Kyle Lowry. Damian Lillard has not (yet) requested a trade in Portland and sources have told NBC Sports he would expect him to start the season as a Trail Blazer. Morey doesn’t seem enthralled with a Pascal Siakam-based business program from Toronto.
All of this leaves Simmons and the 76ers to rebuild a bridge. For the time being. Eventually, a Simmons trade will happen if he wishes, but he has four fully guaranteed seasons left on his contract, which limits Simmons’ leverage and allows Morey to be patient.
Simmons and the Sixers may not be speaking right now, but they will have to do so soon.
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