Warriors owner Joe Lacob fined $ 50,000 by NBA for forgery after downplaying importance of potential Ben Simmons trade

Maybe we can cross the Golden State Warriors off the list of potential contenders for Philadelphia 76ers All-Star forward Ben Simmons. The Warriors have always been mentioned as a potential landing point for Simmons, who made it clear to the Philadelphia front office that he would like to be traded to another organization. However, during an interview with Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, Warriors owner Joe Lacob brought up the topic and mentioned a few reasons the Warriors would be reluctant to take a step for Simmons. Lacob listed Simmons’ important contract, his late-game playoff struggles, and his similarity to Draymond Green as issues.

“I think we always look at everything to see if we can improve our team. We would always look,” said Lacob. “In some ways, [a trade for Simmons] doesn’t really match what we’re doing. He earns a lot of money. And, can he finish the games? I do not know. He is very talented. The problem is: we have Draymond [Green]. He and Draymond are very similar in that neither of them really shoot and they do a lot of the game. That’s a problem. The salary structure is another. “

While Lacob was not expressing interest in Simmons, he technically discussed the availability of a player who is currently under contract with another team. The NBA therefore responded with fine him $ 50,000 Wednesday for breaking league tampering rules.

Lacob’s comments, especially regarding Simmons’ similarity to Green, aren’t particularly surprising. A previous report from NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole suggested that a trade for Simmons would be banned for the Warriors while Green was on the roster. “According to league sources, any interest the Warriors may have in Simmons is conditional,” Poole wrote. “In short, they’re not that interested as long as Draymond Green is on the list.”

The Warriors were one of the teams that Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey called upon when Simmons was purchased early in the offseason. At that point, the Sixers asked for a set of Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, the No.7 and No.14 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft and two future first rounds. The Warriors refused and talks between the two teams ended there.

Lacob couldn’t say more about Simmons publicly due to the NBA’s tampering rules, but he certainly didn’t give the impression that the Warriors are a team looking to acquire the star from the Sixers. Obviously, the team’s position could change over time – perhaps if they start slowly over the next campaign. But the way Lacob sees it, Golden State, as it’s currently built, should be back in the contenders’ conversation shortly.

“I hope this year we compete for a championship,” said Lacob. “I think we should do it. Over the next four to five years, I think we should continue on this path and have a second great decade in a row.”

Things can certainly change, but for now it looks like the Warriors are happy with what they have. So the Sixers will have to locate another landing spot for Simmons.