The Ben Simmons-76ers situation seemingly came to a temporary halt last week. The Australian point guard had been absent from the team’s preseason training camp and practice games. But he returned a few weeks ago.
Since his return, there have been a lot of developments. He looked disinterested and disengaged during practice, even having his phone in his pocket. Simmons was even kicked out of practice by Doc Rivers for being a disruptive force, something that Embiid completely disapproved of.
But things have improved between the two sides after some open communication. Simmons spoke to Rivers and the rest of his teammates and told them that he doesn’t feel mentally ready to play yet.
This communication has eased the tension between all parties, and players like Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid have called on 76ers fans to show some love and support for Simmons as he tries to find his confidence and return to playing for the 76ers. So all sides have seemingly softened their stance.
And it appears that the 76ers are no longer punishing him for missing games. As reported by NBA insider Marc Stein, the 76ers are no longer fining Ben Simmons for missed games and practices now that he has informed them that he is taking time away for personal reasons.
The Sixers have stopped fining Ben Simmons for missed games and practices given that he is now out for personal reasons, one source close to the situation says, confirming a report this afternoon from @ramonashelburne on the NBA Today.
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— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 25, 2021
Perhaps this act could be a way for both sides to mend their bridges and continue working with each other. The 76ers have maintained that they want to keep Simmons, and have confidence that he can be a star for them going forward in their pursuit to win an NBA championship.
But it could also be a case of trying to quieten the drama. Apparently, the 76ers are hoping that either Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal becomes available in a trade. If they can trade Simmons for either player, they feel that their championship window remains open. Where Simmons ends up before the deadline still remains to be seen.
