CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Ben Simmons has reported to the Philadelphia 76ers but the disgruntled All-Star guard still may not play for the franchise.
Coach Doc Rivers says he doesn’t know if Simmons has backed off his trade demand. Rivers said Simmons was scheduled to return to the practice facility late Wednesday for an individual workout and that he won’t practice with the team until he clears NBA health and safety protocols.
Rivers said he hasn’t ruled out Simmons traveling with the team to Detroit for their last preseason game Friday.
Elsewhere around the NBA:
— The New Orleans Pelicans exercised options on four former first-round draft choices including star forward Zion Williamson and also added undrafted rookie guard John Petty Jr. to their roster. The Pelicans picked up fourth-year options on 2019 first-round draft choices Williamson, center Jaxson Hayes and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, keeping them under contract through next season. New Orleans also exercised a third-year option on 2020 top draft choice Kira Lewis Jr., keeping him under contract through the 2022-23 season as well. The signing of Petty gives the Pelicans three ex-Alabama players including Lewis and 2021 second-round pick Herbert Jones.
— The Western Conference has the best regular season team from last year in Utah. The West champion Phoenix Suns are primed for another run. But the team to catch might be the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James and Anthony Davis now have tons of proven players alongside them like Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook. James says he knows a popular narrative is that the Lakers are too old to win. He says he’s looking forward to disproving that.
