[Woj] Teams have described Sixers asking price for Simmons' as growing...

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Kawhi Leonard was a finals MVP already at that point and was third in MVP voting, and led his team to a 67 win season. Ben Simmons on the other hand wasn't even the best player on his team.

Kawhi played 9 games and reportedly had a degenerative quad and showed a side of himself the public hadn't seen by refusing to play or use the Spurs team doctor. I literally said Ben isn't Kawhi, but he's still viewed as an impact player, hence all these teams interested in trading for him. The price will go up the closer we get to the deadline and someone who could lose their job may pull the trigger on a trade that blows away what some of you are expecting.

Yeah, but not at the price that the Spurs got when they traded away Kawhi. 76ers want more than what the Spurs got for Kawhi **** Leonard. They aren't getting that.

They may get more than that because the Spurs took DeMar just to stay competitive, who knows what else they could have gotten. I think you're really under estimating what someone will do to retain their job. How about we wait and see what they get? A month ago the Hawks weren't interested and now look, a month from now someone could panic.

[Larry_Russell]

He didn't take the lowball offers, and now better options are becoming realistic.

No, "you think" better options are becoming realistic. That's different. As a neutral fan, I have *no* idea why you think Beal (or a healthy Lillard???) would be the slightest bit realistic right now.

Neutral fan? I'm not a Philly or Simmons fan, and I'm not Australian, I'm just looking at the simple facts.
Hawks, Celtics, Wizards and Blazers are all stuck and need a major change to become relevant again, and they are all much more willing to make trades they weren't prepared to make in the offseason.

Speaking for the CEltics, Sure, agreed.

But we wouldnt pay anything NEAR what Philly is reportedly asking.

Want Horford (ng contract next year 14.5 mill cost) money to cover some of horford salary, Scroder, Nesmith and a 1st? Sure.

otherwise, no thanks.

We have enough poor shooters that collapse the floor on the jays.

[docholliday99]

The Sixers are targeting top 25-caliber players for trades, but those kinds of assets have yet to be made available to them in offers, sources said. Some teams have even described the Sixers' asking price for a Simmons' deal as growing in price - not declining, sources told ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33052865/sources-ben-simmons-agent-meets-philadelphia-76ers-sides-no-closer-resolution

"Daryl, teams are saying we're asking too much for Ben, what should we do?"

"Ask for more!"

You eye roll though it makes sense to me...if you're asking price for your product is 100 and everyone is coming in with offers at 70-80, then jack the price to 120-130 and see if you can get to 90-100.

For myself, Morey increasing his price for Simmons is suggesting multiple suitors are in play - or at the very least, the illusion of it. I'd be surprised, shocked really, if Simmons was still on the roster past the deadline - Embiid will be 28 soon and with his injury history I wouldn't be wasting his prime years.

[hauntedcomputer]

His team is now putting out stories that he’ll need weeks to get ready…lol. They are going to fight Morey to the end because they know Morey is in a losing position. The longer this goes, the worse for Morey. He knows that too but his ego is in the way now. He’d be smart to take the best deal next month, develop a PR campaign to justify it and move on.

Sounds to me like it's Simmons and his "team" (you know, the real people he cares about and wants to win for) are the ones pushing an agenda out of desperation. Both sides lose value. Simmons may regain his form but will he ever get superstar endorsement stuff again? Seems his whole career is now tarnished, and the best hope for them is a quick relocation and a chance to change their losing narrative. The 76ers will still be selling merchandise and tickets no matter what.

It's way too early to predict an outcome, but I suspect in the end Simmons will lose a lot more over the long run. I'm sure he'll be crying into his pile of tens of millions.

[Wolveswin]

If i was a GM considering a trade for Ben Simmons I would legitimately be concerned about whether he even wants to play basketball all that much anymore. Of course he will suit up for 30mill a year, but does he actually give a rats anymore?

He doesn't want to shoot from any distance because he's embarrassed to and it doesn't suit his vision of himself or the game, and really it's not much fun doing something that doesn't necessarily come naturally to you. Boo hoo. He's warning the league that he's not even in shape and will take weeks or a month to even get back on the court, purposely tanking his value even more.

If i were Sacramento or Atlanta I would be terrified that this is an Andrea Bargnani type of situation where all the talent is there, but in all honesty the guy would rather be somewhere else doing other things if it wasn't for the stupid amount of money he is being offered. In that case he will never improve, more likely regress a bit, and we've probably already seen the best that he's got at 25-6 years old.

This type of behaviour goes all the way back to his junior years in Australia. Buyer beware IMO.

It's obvious he doesn't give a **** about the game, he has basically added almost nothing to his game since being a rookie. Most great players improve over that period of time, the only thing that might be argued he added was he has improved his defense buy by every other metric he is the same player he was as a rookie.

I have a feeling if he wasn't being paid the big bucks he would have left the game a long time ago.

This break he is serving will confirm his love for the game or not. Whenever he returns, if doesn’t have a much improved shot and free throw game he doesn’t care.

No way, no how can a professional basketball player, now with the time and motivation to improve his worst craft trait - not do so. He should be taking 5000 shots and 5000 free throws a day. He should have shot specialists reforming his mechanics. A brain specialist working on his mental health.

If he comes back same old Simmons or worse, he doesn’t care about basketball.

[The Rebel]

That trade isn't something involving Ben Simmons, and there's no facts you can bring up to support that theory.

This is asinine, Hawks, Celtics, Wizards and Blazers record is pretty much a fact, Hawks GM saying they shouldn't have brought everyone again, is a fact, Celtics locker room issues is a fact, each one of these facts makes each one of these more and more willing to trade for Simmons.

Panic trades happen when General Managers are trying to save their jobs. The Celtics and Blazers both have new GMs, they aren't getting fired for 1 down year, especially in Boston where they have a rookie coach. The Hawks were in the Eastern Conference finals, Schlenk isn't getting fired by the Hawks anytime soon. The Wizards just promoted their GM to team president and gave him an extension. Not a single one of those guys is desperate enough to make a high risk deal.

Whether 76er fans can admit it or not, after half a season of sitting out with mental health issues while having a max contract makes Simmons is a very high risk deal even if all you are trading is prospects and picks. How many GMs want to stake their job on him at this point?

[dhsilv2]

The Sixers are targeting top 25-caliber players for trades, but those kinds of assets have yet to be made available to them in offers, sources said. Some teams have even described the Sixers' asking price for a Simmons' deal as growing in price - not declining, sources told ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33052865/sources-ben-simmons-agent-meets-philadelphia-76ers-sides-no-closer-resolution

"Daryl, teams are saying we're asking too much for Ben, what should we do?"

"Ask for more!"

What do you expect? He's likely getting sick of offers that don't involve top 25 players and he's asking for more not less if one isn't included because he's tried of being make stupid offers.

[dhsilv2]

I’m just curious when Philly thinks Ben’s value is going to increase till the point they get back what they want in return.

Because all off-season many were saying the thought process was, well come trade deadline time that is when teams will get more desperate and Philly can get the best return.

But now it seems like Philly is more than willing to just wait till the off-season to trade him. But we’ve already gone through an off-season of him being available for trades and they weren’t happy with the potential return then.

So I’m just curious, when is the time Philly is going to get that return? You can’t tell me Simmons this off-season will have more value than Simmons last off-season when he hasn’t played a second.

Are we just going to get a never ending

Summer time: Just wait till the start of the season, we might see a good return then
Start of season: Just wait till the trade deadline, we might see a good return then
Trade deadline: Just wait till the off-season, we’re might see a good return then

2 off seasons is the time line here...was from day one. And it remains. Simmons also didn't ask out at the start of the summer. He waited. They waited 2 years for Embiid to play his first game. No reason to stop waiting now.

[FrodoFraggins]

I like it. Teams are becoming desperate, and will become even more desperate as the playoffs near and some are on the cusp.

If that strategy doesn't work, there's always draft day and the off-season.

Ben was hoping to jet outta Philly. That ain't happenin, cuz. You gonna stay till the franchise is the benefactor, not you

Which? Which teams are becoming desperate?

In the East, the Wizards are 9th, Celtics are 10th, Hawks are 12th. All out of the playoffs currently and expected to make the playoffs before the season started. There's pressure to perform there and change things up.

In the West, the Timberwolves are 9th, Spurs are 10th, Kings are 12th and Pelicans are 13th. All teams that are performing less than expected before the season started, so the expectations were high and actual results are low.

That's 7 teams right there. And the number will grow the closer we get to the playoffs. Somebody will panac at the trade deadline, guaranteed.

How many of those teams are giving up a top 25 player for simmons? That's not what teams trying to compete do.

[jstross]

Morey is really about to waste an entire year of Embiid's prime. Disgraceful.

Last time I checked the Sixers were playing really well without the prima dona. All while getting their younger guards valuable experiece. Win win imo. If Moray were to cave to Simmons ridiculous demands after threatening holdout for the lucrative contract it would ruin the NBA.

[DroseReturnChi]

Morey might be one of the most overrated GMs I've seen.

huh? with dame injury and beals fa ofc his asking price is higher. im going to demand dame plus cj now both damaged goods.
2for 1. morey won in the end i apologize.

[HabsAndDubs]

At this point Ben is an nft. Charge people stupid price to make it seem like the value is there when in reality you aren’t getting anything practical. Smart

[The Rebel]

Morey is really about to waste an entire year of Embiid's prime. Disgraceful.

Last time I checked the Sixers were playing really well without the prima dona. All while getting their younger guards valuable experiece. Win win imo. If Moray were to cave to Simmons ridiculous demands after threatening holdout for the lucrative contract it would ruin the NBA.

Last I checked the 76ers are a 5th seed basically tied with 6th after being a 1st seed last year, that is not something to brag about if you ask me.

[kuclas]

My issue (from a Sixer's fan perspective) is why is Klutch saying "simmons prefers to be traded, but still not mentally ready". If he's not mentally ready to play, he's not mentally ready to play for any team. As if magically moving him to another team is going to clear his mental head. And of course they thought of this excuse already by saying Simmons will need "weeks to prepare to play again".

It's just bad. These excuses. No one feels sorry for Simmons. He's got guaranteed contract. He just doesn't want to be a sixer (which is fine). But at least be a professional and show up and play and than get traded. This issue would have been resolved a long time ago if Simmons had done that.

[kuclas]

Morey is really about to waste an entire year of Embiid's prime. Disgraceful.

Last time I checked the Sixers were playing really well without the prima dona. All while getting their younger guards valuable experiece. Win win imo. If Moray were to cave to Simmons ridiculous demands after threatening holdout for the lucrative contract it would ruin the NBA.

Last I checked the 76ers are a 5th seed basically tied with 6th after being a 1st seed last year, that is not something to brag about if you ask me.

Sixers first seed was kinda of fake, anyone who follows basketball knows that. If season had played itself out 82 games they likely end up 3rd seed.

As for them being 5th seed, there really isn't much seperation between seed 3-6.

Are the sixers worst than last season? Yes. But the difference is 3-4 games worst. Not a lot difference. Their defense and rebounding is a lot worst and that points to missing Ben Simmons for sure.

Look, the sixers aren't going past the 1st or second round max this season with this roster. We all know that. But they couldn't get pass the hawks with home court last season.

Acquiring other teams reject players they have overlapping talent already on their roster (CJ with powell/simons already), Minnesota junk, etc. Those players aren't getting the sixers past nets/bucks/heat.

[matt6715]

Sixers gonna **** around and waste another year of Joel Embiid's prime while he's reasonably healthy. That alone makes this strategy questionable IMO.

[beantownski]

Tht , 26 first rd pick , Westbrook should be good offer for morey

a first rounder 4 years away and two bad contracts don't get you an all nba player.

[greg4012]

They can ask all they want but only a fool gm would offer much... he is a cancer...

And yet the Sixers players say he’s not

Jimmy Butler would disagree

[SatchSanders]

That trade isn't something involving Ben Simmons, and there's no facts you can bring up to support that theory.

This is asinine, Hawks, Celtics, Wizards and Blazers record is pretty much a fact, Hawks GM saying they shouldn't have brought everyone again, is a fact, Celtics locker room issues is a fact, each one of these facts makes each one of these more and more willing to trade for Simmons.

Panic trades happen when General Managers are trying to save their jobs. The Celtics and Blazers both have new GMs, they aren't getting fired for 1 down year, especially in Boston where they have a rookie coach. The Hawks were in the Eastern Conference finals, Schlenk isn't getting fired by the Hawks anytime soon. The Wizards just promoted their GM to team president and gave him an extension. Not a single one of those guys is desperate enough to make a high risk deal.

Whether 76er fans can admit it or not, after half a season of sitting out with mental health issues while having a max contract makes Simmons is a very high risk deal even if all you are trading is prospects and picks. How many GMs want to stake their job on him at this point?

What's Kevin Pritchard's situation in Indiana, now that Rick Carlisle is there and things haven't come together? Pritchard's guy lost the team last year, but Carlisle hasn't fixed it. I don't follow the Pacers, but I would imagine after 10+ years that perhaps Pritchard starts feeling heat for the pieces not fitting.

It turns outa one-for-one trade for Simmons works without any other players involved. FurthermoreSabonis was miffed when Pritchard said Indiana doesn't have any stars:

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard, via Jared Weiss of The Athletic:

“At some point in time, we’ve got to figure out how to manufacture that real star,” Pritchard said. “We had it with Paul (George). He had an ‘it’ factor and so did Victor (Oladipo) and so we’re trying to get that. But we think that a couple of these players could become that too. We may have it already in the gym. But that’s the biggest challenge is, in this sort of marketplace, how do you get a star? It’s hard for us to sign one in free agency, that’s a challenge. But there are other ways to do it, and I think we can do it.”

I would think Indiana can extract at least one FRP from Philadelphia, since the Sixers have their picks this year and next available to deal or swap (note 2024 could also be designated with swap rights). Does Indiana improve if they ship out Sabonis so that Simmons can be the lead guard on offense and play the 4/5 on defense? Does Simmons maximize Myles Turner and Brogdon? In Philadelphia would Sabonis fit better next to Embiid, perhaps giving more options on offense to exploit? Is he protected better defensively? As for Morey, I would think he'd be pleased to pick up Sabonis at the end of all this.

[Jadoogar]

Well, Morey has been proven right, in the offseason, no one thought Brown or Beal for Simmons are realistic, I think both deals are totally realistic now, and if Lillard wasn't injured, he also would be realistic.

lol in no way is a Jaylen Brown for Ben Simmons deal "realistic"