Ben Simmons still doesn’t plan to report to Sixers training camp, per report
With less than a week until Sixers media day, Ben Simmons remains on the team’s roster despite persistent offseason buzz about potential trades involving the 25-year-old All-Star.
He will not be there when training camp begins at the Sixers’ training complex in Camden, New Jersey, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday. Simmons “intends to never play another game for the franchise,” Wojnarowski reported.
ESPN Sources: Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons will not report for opening of training camp next week and intends to never play another game for the franchise. Simmons hasn’t spoken to team since a late August meeting when he communicated this message to Sixers officials.
ESPN’s reporting is consistent with much of what’s been out there recently about Simmons’ situation. I’m told Sixers are expecting Ben Simmons will stick to his word and not show up for training camp when it starts next week pic.twitter.com/RQknOdQzQf
The Sixers could fine or suspend Simmons if he indeed is not present at camp, though ESPN reports he “appears willing to carry out a plan of forcing his way to a new team.” Simmons has four years left on his rookie maximum extension that began last year. His salary for this season is $33 million.
Thus far, the Simmons saga has been characterized by stubbornness on both sides. The Sixers haven’t settled for a trade return they deem insufficient for a Defensive Player of the Year runner-up and three-time All-Star and Simmons has, via media leaks, stayed firm on the stance that he’s determined to move on.
A young player on a team that just earned the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed holding out into the regular season would be highly unusual. We’ll surely hear much more about Simmons as the reality of another season draws closer and closer.
