AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Ben Simmons Trade Rumors: Offers Haven't 'Been Even Close to What' 76ers Seeking

Tim Daniels

The Philadelphia 76ers reportedly remain steadfast in their stance of not trading disgruntled point guard Ben Simmons unless they get a fair-market offer for the three-time All-Star.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday on the Crossover NBA Show podcast (h/t HoopsHype) that no team has been able to meet the demands of Philly's front office.

"The Sixers have made it abundantly clear that they aren't dealing Ben Simmons anytime soon," Mannix said. "They have spoken to teams about Ben Simmons. I'm told none of the offers for Simmons have been even close to what they were looking for."

Simmons and the Sixers were locked in a multiweek staredown after he didn't show up for the start of training camp last month while awaiting a potential trade.

Then Monday night, the 25-year-old LSU product reported to the team facilities to restart COVID-19 testing protocols, a sign he may be willing to rejoin the 76ers with no deal in sight.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported Simmons passed his physical Tuesday and held a "brief" meeting with president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and general manager Elton Brand. He'll be eligible to join team activities as early as Friday if he clears the NBA's health and safety protocols.

The lack of progress toward a trade combined with the financial impact of an extended holdout may lead to Simmons' return to the Sixers' active roster, an outcome that seemed like a long shot as recently as last week.

Philadelphia owed the two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection around $8.25 million on Oct. 1 as part of his five-year, $177.2 million contract.

The team instead placed that money in escrow and began to deduct an estimated $360,000 from that account as a fine for each game he missed, including preseason contests, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks.

It's possible the Sixers retroactively waive those fines and pay him the full amount if he returns to the roster.

Simmons hasn't publicly stated his intentions since showing up to the facility Monday, but the timetable may allow him to log a few minutes in Friday night's preseason finale against the Detroit Pistons if he clears protocols.

Meanwhile, the Sixers could always revisit a trade if the point guard gets off to a strong start to the 2021-22 season to bolster his value.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer previously reported the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors were all teams with some level of continuing interest in Simmons.

It sounds like there's a sizable gap between how the 76ers view one of their franchise cornerstones and how the rest of the league values him, though.

The Sixers begin the new season Oct. 20 when they travel to the Smoothie King Center for a meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans.

   

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