Ben Simmons has had a tumultuous few months since the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the playoffs. He has been linked with many various destinations in trade rumors, and there was a lot of talk about him being moved prior to the start of the season. However, it seems as though things might not quite work out that way.
Michael Kaskey-Blomain of CBS Sports has recently reported that the trade talks around Ben Simmons “have stalled”, and that the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to keep him on the team when the start of the season rolls around. This is definitely a contrast to other reports, that have suggested that Ben Simmons will eventually get traded.
Ben Simmons trade talks have stalled for the time being, and the #Sixers are prepared to have him on the roster at the start of the season, according to a league source.
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) August 26, 2021
This is a development that Ben Simmons will likely not be happy about. Prior reports have suggested that Ben Simmons could consider missing training camp if he isn’t traded and that he has cut off communications with the Philadelphia 76ers. It makes sense if Ben Simmons wishes to get traded, as a fresh start could be beneficial for his career. Ben Simmons on a different franchise could absolutely blossom, though obviously, we don’t know when that will happen yet.
However, if we go with the idea of Ben Simmons staying on the Philadelphia 76ers, there’s still a lot he could provide to the team with his defense and playmaking. Sixer Georges Niang stated that Ben Simmons could be the piece that “puts you over the top” in a championship scenario. While his relationship with the 76ers seems irreparable, it seems as though they are willing to hold him until the start of the season at the very least. Regardless of where Ben Simmons ends up though, all we can hope is that he’s in a good environment for his own development so he can fulfil his potential.
