With the NBA regular season set to kick off in less than a month, Ben Simmons and the 76ers organization have still yet to resolve their months-long standoff.
Simmons hasn’t reported to training camp and has made it clear that he will not be putting on a Philadelphia uniform this season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi, the three-time all-star hasn’t been in contact with the organization since a late August meeting during which he reiterated his reluctance to play ball until he’s traded.
The 76ers have held numerous trade talks since the end of their disappointing playoff run. Much of the blame was aimed at Simmons, who only averaged 9.9 points per game on 33% shooting during the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Atlanta Hawks. A number of plays showed his reticence to score despite having open looks.
However, the Simmons saga is also the culmination of years-long frustrations that stem from the Australian’s inability to take the leap from being an all-star to a superstar caliber player like his teammate Joel Embiid.
The league’s collective bargaining agreement currently allows the 76ers to withhold a player’s salary for their refusal to provide services. Simmons could potentially be suspended by the organization and fined $227,613 for each missed game.
The power forward has four years and $147 million left on his max contract and is guaranteed to receive half of his salary by October 1.
