Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons reportedly does not want to return to the team next season and won’t report to training camp.
“In a meeting with the 76ers last week in Los Angeles, Simmons told team co-managing partner Josh Harris, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, general manager Elton Brand and coach Doc Rivers that he no longer wants to remain a Sixer, according to multiple sources,” the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey wrote.
“Sources said the three-time All-Star also does not intend to report to training camp.”
Simmons has been brought up in trade talks this offseason, but the Sixers have not made a move to trade the former No. 1 overall pick.
The Sixers earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season, but they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks.
Simmons struggled mightily in the series, as he lacked any scoring aggression late in games.
Ben Simmons only attempted 3 shots in the 4th quarter in the 7 game series
Only other starting point guard for 7 game series in NBA playoffs over the last 25 years with that few attempts
Eric Snow in 2006
Ben is an All-Star and has a $180 million max contract pic.twitter.com/qb7GFxeaue
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 21, 2021
The Sixers will have to either smooth things over with their All-Star guard or prepare to deal him prior to the 2021-22 season.
