By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Ben Simmons doesn’t want to play another minute with the Philadelphia 76ers and the club is looking for possible trade destinations for the 25-year-old player.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, six teams are “inquiring” about Simmons: Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs.
Simmons made quite clear his intention that he wants out of the Sixers to the point that he refused to meet with a group of his now-former teammates, including Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris. Embiid addressed the Simmons situation by calling it “disappointing” and stating that the Sixers was always “built around” Simmons’ needs as a player.
Embiid still believes that Philadelphia is a better team with Simmons on board.
Following Simmons’ absence from the Sixers’ media day and the first three days of training camp, the club withheld 25 percent ($8.25 million) of his 2020-21 salary that was due to be paid on October 1st.
Simmons, a three-time NBA All-Star, averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 32.4 minutes in the 2020-21 regular season, alojng with 11.9 points, 8.8 assists and 7.9 rebounds in the playoffs. He faced criticism for some of his postseason performances and particularly for not taking a bigger initiative on offense.