Ben Simmons is a great player, despite his mishaps in the Philadelphia 76ers' most recent playoff run. He has certainly played well enough in the past to earn himself a max-level rookie extension.
He is currently embroiled in a tug of war against the Philadelphia 76ers due to him wanting out of the franchise. However, Simmons' trade value dipped, and it seems as though the Philadelphia 76ers haven't yet found any trades that have piqued their interest. There have been prior reports that suggested that Ben Simmons might not show up to training camp if he isn't traded.
If Ben Simmons does end up sitting out, it might cost him a lot of money. Adrian Wojnarowski has recently reported that Ben Simmons could potentially be fined $227,613 for each game that he misses.
Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his max contract -- including $33 million for 2021-22 -- and clearly understands the potential financial implications of sitting out. The Sixers could test Simmons' willingness to stay away by fining him considerable salary.
At Simmons request, the Sixers have discussed trades throughout the league since the end of the playoffs, but they were disappointed in the offers and decided to hold onto him with hopes he would start the season and improve his trade value with his performance.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and coach Doc Rivers have told Simmons that they want him in training camp and on the floor to partner with All-NBA center Joel Embiid -- something that Simmons has told them he no longer wants to do, sources said.
Beyond the league's collective bargaining agreement, which provides the ability for the Sixers to withhold salary for a player's failure to provide services, the Sixers have their own set of rules that include fines for missing media day and each missed practice. The final resort for the Sixers could be to suspend Simmons for "failing to render services" once preseason games begin -- which could cost Simmons $227,613 for each missed game.
There's no question that losing $227K for each game that he doesn't play would hurt Ben Simmons financially, though it is stated by Wojnarowski that he does understand the financial implications of such a decision. It could definitely be a dicey situation, and perhaps it'd be best for both parties to move on from one another.
It looks as though a new era is going to be afoot for the Philadelphia 76ers, as it feels as if Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will be separated from one another this season. It's only a matter of a time before the 76ers pull the trigger, and we'll see where he goes soon enough.
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