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Ben Simmons believes Sixers are trying to force him back on the floor

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The saga between Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers took another turn for the worst on Monday. In the middle of a six-game road trip that takes them to Salt Lake City on Tuesday, the organization has punished Simmons again for not cooperating.

While he is away from the team addressing his mental health, according to his camp, the Sixers have resumed fining Simmons again. He did not travel with the team on this trip. The organization has been growing increasingly  frustrated with Simmons. They say they want to help him as best they can, but they maintain they need his cooperation.

Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, claimed the Sixers are making his mental health issues worse by continuing the fines. However, that hasn’t stopped the team from doing so.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and The Stadium:

The Philadelphia 76ers are fining Ben Simmons for failing to travel on their six-game road trip sources tell me. Simmons believes that the team continues to try to force him back on the floor despite his mental health concerns, they’re disregarding his mental health issues, but the team’s positioning has been that until there’s information otherwise from their mental health specialist, or Simmons, that he should be expected to ramp back up for return to the court. As Simmons’ agent Rich Paul told me last week, this is no longer about a trade, but Simmons receiving the help off the court that he needs. But for now, the fines and the stalemate continues.

The Sixers might have to bite the bullet and trade Simmons for whatever they can get this season. It’s at a point where the situation is getting toxic, and it will be best for both sides to just get a deal done as quickly as possible.

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