By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
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, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Simmons hasn’t spoken to team since a late August meeting when he communicated this message to Sixers officials.
The report also states that Simmons is clearly aware of sanctions available to organization to fine and suspend him, including withholding of salary. But so far, the player appears willing to carry out a plan of forcing his way to a new team. Sixers have yet to find a trade they’re willing to make for him.
Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his max contract — including $33 million for 2021-22. The Sixers have discussed Simmons trades throughout the league since the end of the playoffs, but they were disappointed in the offers and decided to hold onto him with hopes he would start the season and improve his trade value with his performance.
Beyond the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which provides the ability for the Sixers to withhold salary for a player’s failure to provide services, the Sixers have their own set of rules that include fines for missing media day and each missed practice. The final resort for the Sixers could be to suspend Simmons for “failing to render services” once preseason games begin — which could cost Simmons $227,613 for each missed game. Simmons’ contract is structured for him to receive 50% of his salary prior to Oct. 1.
Simmons’ poor performance in a Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Atlanta Hawks played a role in this drama playing out, but Simmons has become increasingly frustrated with his partnership with the Sixers over time
Simmons played 58 games in the last NBA regular season, averaging 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals. His biggest flaw, however, the three-point shooting, stayed the main topic of conversations about his gameplay. He shot only ten shots from deep for the season, making three of them.