Ben Simmons has delivered bad news to anyone hoping he stays in Philadelphia as the Aussie star’s major move shows how badly he wants out.
Ben Simmons is moving out and there’s nothing anyone in Philadelphia can do about it.
Everyone in the NBA knows Simmons can’t stomach playing for the 76ers again as he seeks a trade but publicly, team officials like coach Doc Rivers and basketball operations boss Daryl Morey have been holding out hope the Aussie superstar will see the light and stay put despite all the bad blood.
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In a sign Simmons has no interest in remaining in Philly, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the 25-year-old has listed one of his residences in the city for sale.
According to the report, Simmons has listed his 3000 square foot home at the Ritz-Carlton Residence for sale for $AUD4.3 million. That suggests he’s already committed to shipping out.
Simmons is refusing to suit up for the Sixers and is boycotting pre-season camp, not turning up to Philadelphia’s first practice match against Toronto on Tuesday. It was revealed yesterday just how much his holdout will cost him.
ESPN reports he was fined approximately $AUD494,000 for missing the clash. That same penalty will be extended for every game Simmons misses from here on out — both in the pre-season and when the campaign proper gets underway later this month.
According to ESPN, Simmons won’t be able to get this money back even if he eventually secures the trade he so desperately wants.
Philly Voice reports Simmons’ camp approached the NBA Players Association to discuss the heavy financial penalty but was told he couldn’t recoup the money that will be taken out of an escrow account that holds the $11.4 million Philadelphia refused to pay Simmons because of his boycott.
Simmons and the 76ers remain at an impasse because the franchise hasn’t been able to agree to a trade package with any other teams it believes compensates it fairly for the loss of a three-time NBA All-Star.
Speaking on SEN’s Breakfast with Garry and Tim on Monday, Bobby Marks of ESPN said the saga could drag on into “early December”.
“He’s (Simmons) gonna be home (in Philadelphia when the season starts),” Marks said. “I think he’ll be home, he’ll still have the Sixer name attached to him.
“I don’t think he’s gonna be traded by the time the season starts.
“I think it gets dragged into mid-November, maybe even into early December.
“But I still think he’s gonna be a Sixer when we get going in a couple of weeks.”
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