Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

76ers president Daryl Morey: Ben Simmons drama could last 'four years'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Oct 21, 2021 5:45 PM ET

Amid stories that wantaway and disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons refused to take part in a scheduled individual workout Thursday due to "back tightness" and because he's "not mentally ready to play," claims the franchise may or not may not dispute, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey appeared on sports radio station 97.5 The Fanatic to offer an update on the matter.

Simmons requested a trade during the summer but still has four years and $147 million remaining on his contract, and Morey suggested it could take that long for this situation to be resolved:

Daryl Morey on @MikeMiss25: “People should buckle in.” Says the team can only get role players in a trade now, will only trade him for a difference maker.

“What’s our best chance to win a championship? Right now it’s re-integrating Ben Simmons to our time.”
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) October 21, 2021

Daryl Morey on @975TheFanatic: "Would you rather eliminate what people perceive to be a distraction, or would you rather have better playoff odds? I'll take playoff odds...Whatever we have to deal with that helps the Philadelphia 76ers win the title, we'll do it."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) October 21, 2021

Morey on his timeline: "You're going to think I'm kidding, I'm not. This could (go on for) 4 years. ... We're in the prime of Joel's career...Either Ben Simmons is playing for us, or we have to get back a difference maker."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) October 21, 2021

Simmons was suspended for Wednesday's regular-season opener at the New Orleans Pelicans after coach Doc Rivers sent him home from a practice earlier this week because the 25-year-old refused to participate in a drill. The three-time All-Star spent weeks away from the 76ers at the start of training camp and has reportedly been fined approximately $1.7 million, total, for missing games, workouts and meetings.

Simmons' status for Friday's home opener versus the Brooklyn Nets is, at best, up in the air:

All-Star guard Ben Simmons is expected to come early to the 76ers shootaround on Friday morning to discuss his playing status with organizational leadership, sources tell ESPN. Sixers play the Nets on ESPN and team is still hopeful that Simmons will participate in shootaround.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2021

By all accounts, Simmons doesn't want to spend another meaningful second with the 76ers, but Morey and company aren't willing to lose who remains a promising young talent and potential Most Valuable Player at a discount.

Stay tuned.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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