Surprise suitor emerges in Simmons saga

Simmons made it clear in the off-season he wants to be traded away from the 76ers despite having four years and $200 million remaining on his contract, after he was made the fall-guy for the team’s season-ending loss to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference playoffs.Watch the 21/22 NBA Season with ESPN on Kayo. Live coverage every week plus every game of the NBA Finals. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >But the Sixers haven’t been able to secure an attractive enough trade package in return for their three-time All-Star so have kept him on the books — though he’s yet to be seen this season.Simmons boycotted part of pre-season camp before returning to Philly, but has not suited up in this campaign because of mental health reasons.As NBA fans wonder whether someone will eventually come calling for Simmons or if he’ll be stuck in basketball limbo, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports the Celtics have discussed making a play for the 25-year-old.However, talks are still in their infancy and Charania reports if Boston wants Simmons, it would have to offer up Jaylen Brown as trade bait. Brown was in the same draft class as Simmons — being taken with the No. 3 overall pick in 2016 — and has established himself as one of Boston’s most influential players.The Celtics are 4-6 to start the season and questions surrounding their on-court chemistry — and whether the team has the right blend of players — have been asked during the underwhelming start to the campaign.The link to Boston comes after a report on the weekend suggesting the 76ers are becoming increasingly frustrated with Simmons’ lack of communication around his mental health issues.The Australian is working with mental health professionals provided by the NBA Players’ Association rather than Philadelphia and the franchise is reportedly fed-up about not being kept in the loop when it comes to their point guard’s progress.Simmons was being fined for every game missed before revealing he was suffering from mental health issues, at which point the Sixers offered him support and reinstated his salary. However, in the latest twist, ESPN reported the team fined Simmons his $487,000 game salary for missing Thursday’s game against the Detroit Pistons and will continue fining him until he cooperates with team physicians and fulfils other basketball-related obligations.Last week it was reported Simmons knocked back several offers from the 76ers to provide him with mental health resources as he spent time off the court.“There is frustration mounting according to people close to the situation that Ben has not been accepting any other help the team has offered him in terms of helping him with his mental readiness,” ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne told NBA Today.“He has been working with mental health professionals through the Players’ Association. But thus far, he hasn’t really kept the team in the loop on that. There is frustration mounting there.“He’s not providing the team with any updates as far as what he’s doing to get back and get himself mentally ready to rejoin the team.”

from news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://ift.tt/3wu2trb

November 09, 2021 at 12:19AM
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Simmons made it clear in the off-season he wants to be traded away from the 76ers despite having four years and $200 million remaining on his contract, after he was made the fall-guy for the team’s season-ending loss to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference playoffs.Watch the 21/22 NBA Season with ESPN on Kayo. Live coverage every week plus every game of the NBA Finals. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >But the Sixers haven’t been able to secure an attractive enough trade package in return for their three-time All-Star so have kept him on the books — though he’s yet to be seen this season.Simmons boycotted part of pre-season camp before returning to Philly, but has not suited up in this campaign because of mental health reasons.As NBA fans wonder whether someone will eventually come calling for Simmons or if he’ll be stuck in basketball limbo, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports the Celtics have discussed making a play for the 25-year-old.However, talks are still in their infancy and Charania reports if Boston wants Simmons, it would have to offer up Jaylen Brown as trade bait. Brown was in the same draft class as Simmons — being taken with the No. 3 overall pick in 2016 — and has established himself as one of Boston’s most influential players.The Celtics are 4-6 to start the season and questions surrounding their on-court chemistry — and whether the team has the right blend of players — have been asked during the underwhelming start to the campaign.The link to Boston comes after a report on the weekend suggesting the 76ers are becoming increasingly frustrated with Simmons’ lack of communication around his mental health issues.The Australian is working with mental health professionals provided by the NBA Players’ Association rather than Philadelphia and the franchise is reportedly fed-up about not being kept in the loop when it comes to their point guard’s progress.Simmons was being fined for every game missed before revealing he was suffering from mental health issues, at which point the Sixers offered him support and reinstated his salary. However, in the latest twist, ESPN reported the team fined Simmons his $487,000 game salary for missing Thursday’s game against the Detroit Pistons and will continue fining him until he cooperates with team physicians and fulfils other basketball-related obligations.Last week it was reported Simmons knocked back several offers from the 76ers to provide him with mental health resources as he spent time off the court.“There is frustration mounting according to people close to the situation that Ben has not been accepting any other help the team has offered him in terms of helping him with his mental readiness,” ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne told NBA Today.“He has been working with mental health professionals through the Players’ Association. But thus far, he hasn’t really kept the team in the loop on that. There is frustration mounting there.“He’s not providing the team with any updates as far as what he’s doing to get back and get himself mentally ready to rejoin the team.”