A trade centered around Ben Simmons and Damian Lillard swapping homes is an ideal scenario for the Philadelphia 76ers, but not so much for Portland.
A league source says that isn’t realistic right now. That source added that the Sixers are “waiting on a prayer” in hopes of dealing for the Portland Trail Blazers star.
Daryl Morey, Doc Rivers, Josh Harris, and Elton Brand met with Simmons and Rich Paul in Los Angeles earlier this year and they believed a deal would go down by the 2021 NBA Draft. At that meeting, Simmons made it clear he wouldn’t be returning to Philadelphia. He has held up his end by not showing up to the team until recently.
Several teams remain engaged with the Sixers in trade talks for Simmons, but it would take for Morey to come down on his asking price to get anything done. The Sixers are looking to find the right value for a player of his caliber, and team president Daryl Morey has work to do.
The disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers All-Star would reportedly have no problem with a trade to the Sacramento Kings. While it’s a rumored spot for him, the Kings have been hesitant to part with young star De’Aaron Fox in a deal.
Sources indicated that Philadelphia hasn’t budged on a trade, as they continue to hold out for a deal involving Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal.
His trade value has only plummeted after Tuesday when head coach Doc Rivers was forced to send him home after he refused to participate in a defensive drill. He has since been suspended for their season opening game.
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Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid said Tuesday he wasn’t here to “babysit” Simmons.
“I just thought he was a distraction today,” Rivers said Tuesday after practice. “I didn’t think he wanted to do what everybody else was doing. It was early. It wasn’t a big deal. I just told him he should leave. We went on with practice.”
Now, the Sixers have taken another step in this war to put down their foot by fining Simmons $1.4 million for his offseason absences. After Tuesday’s debacle at practice, Philadelphia threw a right hook back at Simmons by laying down the fines for missing preseason games and for missed practices and meetings.
The divorce between the two is clearly going to happen, it’s just a matter of when and where.
