The off-season is basically completed for the Detroit Pistons and other NBA teams. All the big names either have decided to stay where they are, or already signed contracts with new teams. However, there is one bit of unfinished big business.
Where in the NBA world is Ben Simmons going to play this season?
The 6-foot-10 Australian is a three-time NBA All-Star, finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, and is just 25-years-old. He also just signed a long term deal, so he is locked up for a while.
However, he turtled up on offense in the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. He set an NBA playoff record for lowest free throw percentage. Importantly, in Game 7 against the Hawks he passed up a wide-open dunk to pass off to a player with a tougher shot, in a crucial part of the game.
What is Ben Simmons doing ? pic.twitter.com/Cc93Rg9shQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 21, 2021
After the shocking loss by the No. 1 seeded Sixers to the No. 5 Hawks, star center Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers criticized Simmons’ performance. Simmons was hurt by this and, reportedly, has cut off all communication with the team.
To have Simmons come back to the 76ers this year would be difficult, to say the least. Everyone on all sides seems to be hurt and unhappy. Moving Simmons seems like the only thing the Sixers can do at this point.
However, with a $33 million salary for this year, and with most NBA teams having used up all their cap space, it will not be an easy task to find a new home for Simmons. Additionally, 76ers GM Daryl Morey wants real value, they do not want to just give away a three-time All-Star.