The Ben Simmons saga has taken its next step – this time, through comments coming from agent Rich Paul.
Paul told The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Thursday that the 76ers’ recent string of “fines, targeting and negative publicity” has “furthered the mental health issues for Ben,” who hasn’t played this season since requesting a trade in June and doesn’t have a concrete return date set for games. Paul also said that Philadelphia wants to “deem him fit to force him to play” despite what his client might tell the 76ers’ therapist.
“Either you help Ben, or come out and say he’s lying,” Paul said. “Which one is it?”
According to Charania, the 76ers sent Simmons a schedule on Thursday that included the team’s game against Toronto that night — which, to Simmons, resembled a similar path toward a game-check fine that the team has taken in the past, including earlier this week for their game against the Pistons. Simmons reportedly participated in a team meeting, but didn’t join the walkthrough or play in Philadelphia’s 115-109 loss to the Raptors.
In response to Paul’s comments, a 76ers team official said that they are “absolutely not” claiming that Simmons had lied or forcing his return, and that the team expects participation in team activities — gradually building back toward an eventual return — unless information presented by its doctor or mental health professional dictates otherwise.
But Paul said only Simmons can dictate when he’s ready for a return, and he questioned how a doctor who “met with Ben once” can insist that his client should play.
“This is no longer about a trade,” Paul told The Athletic. “This is about finding a place where we can help Ben get back to his mental strength and get back on the floor.”
Simmons reportedly met with the team’s mental health therapist on Nov. 8 for an hour, and the priority, Paul added, is to complete Simmons’ return to playing basketball — regardless of whether that opportunity comes with the 76ers or another team. Additional meetings with between Simmons and the specialist are reportedly scheduled too, a team official told Charania. Paul said that he respects Philadelphia’s management, but said that “humanity” is needed in business, too.
Simmons arrived for training camp two weeks after the start date on Oct. 11, and first told the team about his mental health concerns 11 days later, according to The Athletic’s report. Paul disputed that, saying that the team knew about those concerns during the offseason. According to another report earlier in the week, there were “fluid” trade talks between Philadelphia and the Celtics, but any potential deal would’ve needed Jaylen Brown as a piece.
Without Simmons, the 76ers have opened the 2021-22 season 8-5 and currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division, though they’ve dropped three consecutive games since a six-game winning streak. Philadelphia next plays on Saturday, when it travels to Indiana and faces the Pacers.