76ers Comfortable Waiting Until 2022 Offseason To Trade Ben Simmons

[RealGM Wiretap]

While some have speculated that the Philadelphia 76ers are operating under the February 10th trade deadline to find a deal involving Ben Simmons, some believe the front office is comfortable resuming discussions again next offseason when a new set of opportunities become available. 

By waiting that long, the 76ers' list of targets could expand due to sign-and-trade possibilities, stars finally requesting trades, or simply new management hires.

The downside of not trading Simmons by the deadline, however, is they will effectively lose a possible playoff run in which their roster is maximized. 

There could be some acceleration of talks beginning on December 15th when players signed to new contracts become eligible to be traded.

Via Kyle Neubeck/Philly Voice

[nedleeds]

[Lockdown504090]

this guys gonna need to get a job soon

[IWishIWasHarden]

If they were comfortable, they wouldn't be in the news every second day with something else to say.

They're very uncomfortable. No question.

[tigerae]

If they were comfortable, they wouldn't be in the news every second day with something else to say.

They're very uncomfortable. No question.

Exacty. They are in "win now" mode with their current roster makeup. If they were comfortable then it would be the same situation as Wall and the Rockets where there really hasn't been any rumors or news since they said they are no longer playing him. Except for that dumb article about the Heat being interested if he would be bought out. Just about every single team in the league would be interested in giving Wall a shot for the minimum.

[HotelVitale]

If they were comfortable, they wouldn't be in the news every second day with something else to say.

They're very uncomfortable. No question.

Exacty. They are in "win now" mode with their current roster makeup. If they were comfortable then it would be the same situation as Wall and the Rockets where there really hasn't been any rumors or news since they said they are no longer playing him. Except for that dumb article about the Heat being interested if he would be bought out. Just about every single team in the league would be interested in giving Wall a shot for the minimum.

It’s in the news because all of us keep reading, commenting, and needing to get out opinions about how we know what’s best or what’s really going on. This has been the number one nba story since the summertime, it’s still present everyday because folks are eating it up, not because the Sixers are desperately trying to make moves. This thread about something that’s not news—and the hundreds of comments it’ll get on the general board—is the only evidence you need of that.

[dougthonus]

I mean who am I to say they aren't comfortable waiting until 2022. Maybe they are, but a few caveats:

1: His value will go down/stay flat until he is on the court and playing well, so unless that happens, you will not get a better offer in the summer than at the trade deadline and based on other factors it would then be foolish to wait unless you think you can get him on the court and playing well.

2: Simmons mental health rationale for not playing will likely not hold up for a season unless he can provide significant evidence of treatment. The 76ers already presumably stopped paying him, but to win a suit to get his money back he will need real evidence that may or may not exist depending how much he's lying. Not sure he's really willing give up a seasons worth of money.

3: Simmons doesn't have to contribute meaningfully to get paid. You can't legislate effort. He can go in there, do everything that is asked of him and still tank his effort in a way that isn't provable. If he does so, he also won't raise his trade value over where it is now.

4: Both sides have probably tanked their reputations significantly with this idiocy.

[njknicks]

All really intriguing and valid points -- the longer this continues, Ben Simmons & his representatives will need to provide thorough / comprehensive / historical evidence of perceived mental illness. At the same time, 76'rs have also tanked their reputation across the league.

Also, while it may not be on the radar yet -- this fiasco is a preview of Joel Embiid's future. Regardless of the how this the Ben Simmons ( BS ) situations is resolved ( pun intended ) - Joel Embiid's tenure with the 76'rs will not end well. Once the BS is gone, the entire pressure / criticism / focus will purely be on Embiid.

And yet the third facet of this is the future of the 76'rs front office & coaching staff -- Brand / Morey / Rivers all have had massive contract extensions that were recently signed -- their collectively handling of this has been reprehensible. Will there be any re-percussions (i.e. buyout / firing)?

I mean who am I to say they aren't comfortable waiting until 2022. Maybe they are, but a few caveats:

1: His value will go down/stay flat until he is on the court and playing well, so unless that happens, you will not get a better offer in the summer than at the trade deadline and based on other factors it would then be foolish to wait unless you think you can get him on the court and playing well.

2: Simmons mental health rationale for not playing will likely not hold up for a season unless he can provide significant evidence of treatment. The 76ers already presumably stopped paying him, but to win a suit to get his money back he will need real evidence that may or may not exist depending how much he's lying. Not sure he's really willing give up a seasons worth of money.

3: Simmons doesn't have to contribute meaningfully to get paid. You can't legislate effort. He can go in there, do everything that is asked of him and still tank his effort in a way that isn't provable. If he does so, he also won't raise his trade value over where it is now.

4: Both sides have probably tanked their reputations significantly with this idiocy.

[sfballa13]

Morey is truly a piece of trash

Doc/Embiid threw Simmons under the bus and since then Simmons value has been plummeting

He thinks he is playing 4D chess but every GM around the league is laughing at him

As others have suggested, every NBA player and their agents are all looking at this situation very closely.

You can pretty much guarantee no one will be signing a deal with the Sixers as long as Morey is in charge.

The owners are either too proud or too cheap (since they signed Morey to a huge deal) to just fire the guy and get a new GM in place.

20% of the season has been played - the only people being hurt are Embiid and his teammates

30M+ of their cap space is being eaten up by someone who isnt even showing up to practice.

Players dont care about getting value back they want to get another guy that can contribute both on and off the court.

Morey built his reputation on the Harden deal, which never would have happened if the OKC ownership didnt cheap out.

His notoriously bad trade for Chris Paul and Westbrook set Houston back easily a decade.

What else has this guy done? He had Harden, one of the league's best players, and failed to surround him with the talent needed to win.

Morey out here acting like he is Jerry West when not one of his teams have ever reached the Finals.

Really hope he gets fired and Simmons gets traded so everyone can just move on with their lives.

Also God help Embiid if he wants out after realizing he will never win in Philly

[Tanks1]

If they were comfortable, they wouldn't be in the news every second day with something else to say.

They're very uncomfortable. No question.

the SIXERS are comfortable waiting...because the fans are comfortable.. WE understand the situation and are willing to ride it out with the team. They are not getting any pressure from the fanbase. again, WE understand the situation. This is what YOU don't understand being outside the city.'

10, 9, 8, 76ers !!!!

[TheBoi10]

If they were comfortable, they wouldn't be in the news every second day with something else to say.

They're very uncomfortable. No question.

Daryl thinks he's smarter than he is

[tigerae]

If they were comfortable, they wouldn't be in the news every second day with something else to say.

They're very uncomfortable. No question.

the SIXERS are comfortable waiting...because the fans are comfortable.. WE understand the situation and are willing to ride it out with the team. They are not getting any pressure from the fanbase. again, WE understand the situation. This is what YOU don't understand being outside the city.'

10, 9, 8, 76ers !!!!

Sure, you and the fans may understand it, but the handling of this situation is bad PR for agents, players and sponsors at the very least. Also, no matter how much the fans understand, the GMs around the league will not offer bigger and better deals as time goes on. The only way that would happen is if Ben starts playing and plays great. Which we all know is very unlikely to happen.

There is no motivation for him to do both. Sure, millions of reasons for him to come back and play, but the contract doesn't say anything about having to give 100% effort. Why would he anyway, if they have been shopping him around all this time, since last season. Not to mention throwing him under the bus. The team has been a 500 team where they won almost 70% of their games last season with Simmons.

[hyberx]

Sure, just like fine wine, it's always better to put your player in storage for years before trading him.

[hyberx]

In other news, every other team is comfortable waiting until 2023 offseason to consider trading for Ben Simmons.

[jlokine]

what else is morey going to say?

"i think at this point, we're pretty desperate for a deal right now. it's not in the best interest of our organization to have ben in the situation he is in, but it is the situation in which we find ourselves in. so please, if you're interested in Ben, offer us 3 1st round picks and 3 pick swaps, an all star and a role player and we can have a deal"

[Johnny Bball]

Morey should be fired if this takes all season for him to do and he wastes yet another year being stupid.

And every year closer to his free agency he's worth less.

[Wingy]

That ain’t cool with us, bro.

[GunnerWRX]

Is Emblid comfortable with the team playing this game and leaving $30+m of help on the table until 2022? Emblid knows he won’t be healthy every single season. I’m surprised if he is on board with jeopardizing his prime years so the 76ers can play this game.

[HotelVitale]

All really intriguing and valid points -- the longer this continues, Ben Simmons & his representatives will need to provide thorough / comprehensive / historical evidence of perceived mental illness. At the same time, 76'rs have also tanked their reputation across the league.

Also, while it may not be on the radar yet -- this fiasco is a preview of Joel Embiid's future. Regardless of the how this the Ben Simmons ( BS ) situations is resolved ( pun intended ) - Joel Embiid's tenure with the 76'rs will not end well. Once the BS is gone, the entire pressure / criticism / focus will purely be on Embiid.

And yet the third facet of this is the future of the 76'rs front office & coaching staff -- Brand / Morey / Rivers all have had massive contract extensions that were recently signed -- their collectively handling of this has been reprehensible. Will there be any re-percussions (i.e. buyout / firing)?t

Don’t know, man, kinda seems like you just want to be upset about something. The on the ground reality seems to be that everyone in Philly is totally on board with Moreys plan—wait to use Simmons as part of a star trade, maybe trade him later when that doesn’t materialize— even though they understand it might not work. And no one on other FOs has any issue with the Sixers for that, it’s not hurting your reputation to have trade conversations that don’t get that serious.

Embiid just signed a big extension in the middle of this Simmons drama so he doesn’t care. He’s also demonstrated that a) he doesn’t mind pressure or flak from fans and media and b) he’s actually really really good deep in the PO, unlike Ben.

The situation isn’t that exciting. Morey wants to hold out for a star trade, Simmons wants to get paid not to play, Sixers are trying to do their best to work around those facts. No more drama or hand wringing than that.

[kalel123]

I mean who am I to say they aren't comfortable waiting until 2022. Maybe they are, but a few caveats:

1: His value will go down/stay flat until he is on the court and playing well, so unless that happens, you will not get a better offer in the summer than at the trade deadline and based on other factors it would then be foolish to wait unless you think you can get him on the court and playing well.

2: Simmons mental health rationale for not playing will likely not hold up for a season unless he can provide significant evidence of treatment. The 76ers already presumably stopped paying him, but to win a suit to get his money back he will need real evidence that may or may not exist depending how much he's lying. Not sure he's really willing give up a seasons worth of money.

3: Simmons doesn't have to contribute meaningfully to get paid. You can't legislate effort. He can go in there, do everything that is asked of him and still tank his effort in a way that isn't provable. If he does so, he also won't raise his trade value over where it is now.

4: Both sides have probably tanked their reputations significantly with this idiocy.

Point #3 is what's baffling me. Simmons exit strategy is simple, sure, there are some things he has to endure to get through the season but he's gotta be out there and it shouldn't take much effort to make Sixers realize and accept reality. Just suck it up and go do it. I don't know how much validity there is to Simmons' claim to mental health issue but surely, he's at minimum not thinking straight.

On the other hand, Sixers have also dropped the ball on multiple occasions. Should've cut their losses and traded him much earlier. If they didn't want to do that, they should've swallowed their pride and went through the extensive process of salvaging Simmons value as much as they could and that starts with having him playing out there as happy as could be. That means making up with him right after Rivers and Embiid publicly threw him under the bus. Even if you want to trade him the first chance you get, pretend you want to keep him at all costs and start the mending process early. Instead, their attempt to make up was half-assed AFTER most of offseason has passed and they've entertained multiple trade offers. Since then all they've done is make things worse and things won't get any better with the posturing. It's not simple as just forcing him out there to play. His value won't improve if he's just going through the motions to get paid. I'm not sure why people in charge of that team, who should be very smart people, don't realize that. They've let their egos take charge.