Tom Moore Reports Sixers Expect Ben Simmons to Play For Philadelphia in 2021-2022
Tom Moore, sports columnist for the Bucks County Courier Times, dropped a bombshell on Twitter this afternoon. According to one of Moore’s sources, the 76ers are expecting Ben Simmons to show up bright eyed and bushy tailed for training camp on Sept. 28 after being unable to move the talented but mercurial Philadelphia point guard.
Sorry Ben, we couldn’t find a deal worth moving you for, so why don’t you show up to training camp ready and raring to go for the new season? No hard feelings. Oh, one last thing, if you don’t show you’ll be fined. Great! Love you. See you soon.
#NBA source: The #Sixers 'are expecting (Ben Simmons) to play (in 2020-21). The expectation is they will. It's bumpy right now (& the team expects it) to get better.' The #76ers don't plan on making a deal that would drop them back in standings & not getting viable offers. pic.twitter.com/QUMmzkKbKF
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) September 15, 2021
Moore went on to report that the 76ers will fine Simmons if he doesn’t show up for training camp.
More #NBA source: 'Eventually he's going to show up. (#Sixers will) go from there.' They apparently plan to fine Simmons if he doesn't attend 2021-22 camp, preseason & so on. Don't want to trade for draft picks & try to convert to players. Can't get any of 5-10 NBA guys they like https://t.co/CVfFbQLJH4
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) September 15, 2021
I’m sure Kevin Kinkead will have plenty to say about this upon his return to Crossing Broad, but he’s too busy enjoying time with his newborn daughter (congrats buddy) so you’re all stuck with me.
My analysis of the situation if true? NOT GOOD! Does this ever work out in the team’s favor? Jimmy Butler and James Harden IMMEDIATELY come to mind as two disgruntled superstars who showed up to training camp and forced their way out of town, but not before being the biggest pains in the ass they could. Butler showed up and reportedly dominated a Timberwolves practice with the team’s bench players, challenged his coaches and screamed “You f—ing need me, Scott. You can’t win without me!” at Minnesota GM Scott Layden.
Butler was then traded to the 76ers 13-games into the 2018-2019 NBA season. As far as I remember that worked out just fine for the Sixers.
Harden showed up to training camp last season out of shape, was immediately fined and suspended for violating COVID-19 protocol after being spotted maskless at a nightclub, and was traded to the Brooklyn Nets shortly thereafter.
The players have all the leverage in these situations. If the 76ers are aiming to mend fences with Simmons after openly shopping him all offseason they have a long and difficult road ahead of them. May I suggest a nice gift basket of vegemite and tinnies of Victoria Bitter to appeal to the Australian native?
Is there truth to this rumor? Are the Sixers leaking information to try and improve their position with Simmons? I don’t know! It’s going to be incredibly interesting to see what happens on Sept. 28.
My gut tells me that there’s no way this situation ends well. The only good thing is Simmons won’t be able to dominate a practice like Butler. Hard to be disruptive when you don’t shoot the basketball.