76ers back to fining Ben Simmons

[bebopdeluxe]

I genuinely hope Embiid has many more years left at his prime otherwise it could be decades before sixers have this opportunity to win a trophy.

Beal would be a bad choice. Harden would be great, if that happens then I will tip my cap to Morey

The season's halfway gone now. I would be fine with playing lots of Maxey and Thybulle, and seeing what this team can do as is. If a good deal presents itself by the deadline, then go for it...but Morey is playing the long game here. There are a lot of impact players that aren't available right now but could potentially be available this summer - Beal, Harden, Lillard...maybe Jaylen Brown (depending on how the season ends for Boston). I would MUCH rather let this team - as is - do whatever it is going to do and revisit a trade this summer, rather than do some kind of Hield/Barnes-type ish.

Every team in the NBA has had a chance to procure Ben Simmons in this open market when no other stars are really available as competition. The best offer is out there. If Lillard and Harden are offered then another team will make a better offer than Simmons. It feels like Morey thinks if one of those guys becomes available then he's in the drivers seat, he's not. Teams can offer more for Simmons, they choose not to. They will offer more for Lillard and Harden.

As has been discussed on the board, it will be up to Harden where he wants to play. He obviously has a good relationship with Morey, and he has admired Embiid since Embiid's rookie season.

I am not sure that teams will be opening the vault for Dame this summer.

[Tacoma]

Do you think his value is going down now though? I think it would be.

I think it's the same as it was once it became clear he wasn't going to play, which is on Ben not Sixers.

They aren't falling on a sword by not negotiating a fair offer for the player.

As long as Ben is refusing to play there won't be a fair offer, so yes they'd be falling on the sword by trading him now.

What you're saying then is Ben's value is the same (i.e., not declined) since he sat out (your 1st point) and there won't he a fair offer until he plays again (your 2nd point), then that means the act of deciding not to play is the reason for his decline in value.

If that's what you mean, then I'm not following. Deciding to sit out in the first place point to a character flaw that isn't erased if you reverse that decision many months later because you want to get paid. Character flaw, among other things, means added risk.

I would also dispute your claim that his value hasn't declined since he declared he wasn't playing. By sitting out this long and forfeiting tens of millions, it also show he's extremely hard headed & stubborn and once he feels he's right, he's not changing. This is another serious character flaw that is more added risk for any team trading for him. Added risk means decreased value.

[SpreeChokeJob]

Do you think his value is going down now though? I think it would be.

I think it's the same as it was once it became clear he wasn't going to play, which is on Ben not Sixers.

They aren't falling on a sword by not negotiating a fair offer for the player.

As long as Ben is refusing to play there won't be a fair offer, so yes they'd be falling on the sword by trading him now.

What you're saying then is Ben's value is the same (i.e., not declined) since he sat out (your 1st point) and there won't he a fair offer until he plays again (your 2nd point), then that means the act of deciding not to play is the reason for his decline in value.

If that's what you mean, then I'm not following. Deciding to sit out in the first place point to a character flaw that isn't erased if you reverse that decision many months later because you want to get paid. Character flaw, among other things, means added risk.

I would also dispute your claim that his value hasn't declined since he declared he wasn't playing. By sitting out this long and forfeiting tens of millions, it also show he's extremely hard headed & stubborn and once he feels he's right, he's not changing. This is another serious character flaw that is more added risk for any team trading for him. Added risk means decreased value.

Sort of dumb on his part. But hey he has the freedom to act stupid. It also shows he doesn’t care much about basketball to other teams nor his teammates or anyone.

That’s the reason he doesn’t just retire. At this point it looks like he could lose one year’s salary. Given that, he could have retired for one year and came back. But who would hire him at the max with that attitude. Like the Chappelle skit when keeping it real goes wrong, he made his own problems. God given talent, he turned his blessings away with his pride.

[Tomjas]

I think it's the same as it was once it became clear he wasn't going to play, which is on Ben not Sixers.


As long as Ben is refusing to play there won't be a fair offer, so yes they'd be falling on the sword by trading him now.

What you're saying then is Ben's value is the same (i.e., not declined) since he sat out (your 1st point) and there won't he a fair offer until he plays again (your 2nd point), then that means the act of deciding not to play is the reason for his decline in value.

If that's what you mean, then I'm not following. Deciding to sit out in the first place point to a character flaw that isn't erased if you reverse that decision many months later because you want to get paid. Character flaw, among other things, means added risk.

I would also dispute your claim that his value hasn't declined since he declared he wasn't playing. By sitting out this long and forfeiting tens of millions, it also show he's extremely hard headed & stubborn and once he feels he's right, he's not changing. This is another serious character flaw that is more added risk for any team trading for him. Added risk means decreased value.

Sort of dumb on his part. But hey he has the freedom to act stupid. It also shows he doesn’t care much about basketball to other teams nor his teammates or anyone.

That’s the reason he doesn’t just retire. At this point it looks like he could lose one year’s salary. Given that, he could have retired for one year and came back. But who would hire him at the max with that attitude. Like the Chappelle skit when keeping it real goes wrong, he made his own problems. God given talent, he turned his blessings away with his pride.

Sixers retain his rights

[Canadafan]

Jerami Grant, Kelly Olynyk, Josh Jackson, Diallo future 1st for Simmons+filler. Waddya say Philly?
Or Grant, KO, Killian Hayes+1st

[Sixerscan]

Jerami Grant, Kelly Olynyk, Josh Jackson, Diallo future 1st for Simmons+filler. Waddya say Philly?
Or Grant, KO, Killian Hayes+1st

That would have happened months ago if the Sixers thought that was enough.

[Sixerscan]

I agree that Ben has had mental struggles, it's clear, and yet the 76ers have decided to dock his pay rather than help put him in a better situation.

So either Ben has mental health issues and had got no support from 76ers or the 76ers are that bad to play for that a right minded person would lose 100m just to not have to play there.

Either way, it looks deplorable on the sixers. Objectively I think you have to see that. Not saying sixers are always bad but they've handled this very poorly.

Or he has mental health issues and is refusing the help that's offered.
It's unfortunately pretty common for those that need help to refuse it.
Not saying that's the case here but the either/or scenario you layed out is not the only two possibilities.

Or he has legit mental health issues and doesn't trust the team doctors to keep it confidential. Now if he's offered NBAPA professionals and turns it down then sure.

The last I heard was that he was trying to skirt the rules that require a doctor to keep in touch with the team on strategy and timelines. He was skirting it by not using a Medical Doctor as they are the only ones with those requirements.

I figured his team would be suing but I haven't heard a peep. Maybe they expect to recoup fines by taking legal actions after a trade.

He talked to a Sixers recommended mental health clinician as of November 8 https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32586024/sources-76ers-ben-simmons-changes-course-meets-team-recommended-mental-health-clinician



If you believe spotrac he's been fined over $11 million. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ben-simmons-20206/fines/

Note that the fines started the game before November 8.

Reading between the lines it seems like he and Klutch have given up on that being the actual reason he isn't performing under the contract.

As I've been saying all along, he wants a trade, once he gets the trade he'll decide whatever legitimate mental health issues that he has are not the kind that stop him from doing his job, just like Demar Derozan, Kevin Love, and millions of other Americans do every day.

[SpreeChokeJob]

What you're saying then is Ben's value is the same (i.e., not declined) since he sat out (your 1st point) and there won't he a fair offer until he plays again (your 2nd point), then that means the act of deciding not to play is the reason for his decline in value.

If that's what you mean, then I'm not following. Deciding to sit out in the first place point to a character flaw that isn't erased if you reverse that decision many months later because you want to get paid. Character flaw, among other things, means added risk.

I would also dispute your claim that his value hasn't declined since he declared he wasn't playing. By sitting out this long and forfeiting tens of millions, it also show he's extremely hard headed & stubborn and once he feels he's right, he's not changing. This is another serious character flaw that is more added risk for any team trading for him. Added risk means decreased value.

Sort of dumb on his part. But hey he has the freedom to act stupid. It also shows he doesn’t care much about basketball to other teams nor his teammates or anyone.

That’s the reason he doesn’t just retire. At this point it looks like he could lose one year’s salary. Given that, he could have retired for one year and came back. But who would hire him at the max with that attitude. Like the Chappelle skit when keeping it real goes wrong, he made his own problems. God given talent, he turned his blessings away with his pride.

Sixers retain his rights

You’re right. Didn’t read that Jason Williams had one year contract with the Clippers when he tried to get reinstated.

[CIN-C-STAR]

Or he has mental health issues and is refusing the help that's offered.
It's unfortunately pretty common for those that need help to refuse it.
Not saying that's the case here but the either/or scenario you layed out is not the only two possibilities.

Or he has legit mental health issues and doesn't trust the team doctors to keep it confidential. Now if he's offered NBAPA professionals and turns it down then sure.

The last I heard was that he was trying to skirt the rules that require a doctor to keep in touch with the team on strategy and timelines. He was skirting it by not using a Medical Doctor as they are the only ones with those requirements.

I figured his team would be suing but I haven't heard a peep. Maybe they expect to recoup fines by taking legal actions after a trade.

He talked to a Sixers recommended mental health clinician as of November 8 https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32586024/sources-76ers-ben-simmons-changes-course-meets-team-recommended-mental-health-clinician



If you believe spotrac he's been fined over $11 million. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ben-simmons-20206/fines/

Note that the fines started the game before November 8.

Reading between the lines it seems like he and Klutch have given up on that being the actual reason he isn't performing under the contract.

As I've been saying all along, he wants a trade, once he gets the trade he'll decide whatever legitimate mental health issues that he has are not the kind that stop him from doing his job, just like Demar Derozan, Kevin Love, and millions of other Americans do every day.

Yeah it was always a very dubious excuse, particularly given the timing. They likely just wanted to violate the contract he signed but not be held financially accountable, and invoking mental health problems was the only thing they could come up with I guess.
Pretty disgusting of Rich Paul and Ben Simmons imo. Abusing the system like that just makes it more difficult for someone else with legitimate issues to get the help they need, smh.

[Tomjas]

Or he has legit mental health issues and doesn't trust the team doctors to keep it confidential. Now if he's offered NBAPA professionals and turns it down then sure.

The last I heard was that he was trying to skirt the rules that require a doctor to keep in touch with the team on strategy and timelines. He was skirting it by not using a Medical Doctor as they are the only ones with those requirements.

I figured his team would be suing but I haven't heard a peep. Maybe they expect to recoup fines by taking legal actions after a trade.

He talked to a Sixers recommended mental health clinician as of November 8 https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32586024/sources-76ers-ben-simmons-changes-course-meets-team-recommended-mental-health-clinician



If you believe spotrac he's been fined over $11 million. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ben-simmons-20206/fines/

Note that the fines started the game before November 8.

Reading between the lines it seems like he and Klutch have given up on that being the actual reason he isn't performing under the contract.

As I've been saying all along, he wants a trade, once he gets the trade he'll decide whatever legitimate mental health issues that he has are not the kind that stop him from doing his job, just like Demar Derozan, Kevin Love, and millions of other Americans do every day.

Yeah it was always a very dubious excuse, particularly given the timing. They likely just wanted to violate the contract he signed but not be held financially accountable, and invoking mental health problems was the only thing they could come up with I guess.
Pretty disgusting of Rich Paul and Ben Simmons imo. Abusing the system like that just makes it more difficult for someone else with legitimate issues to get the help they need, smh.

Last we heard, Simmons has consulted with mental healthcare professionals from both the players association & the Sixers

He’s also provided details of his therapists to Sixers

That was months ago and very little has been said about it since

He can’t just rip up his contract as the CBA doesn’t work that way

[sp6r=underrated]

The CBA is biased in favor of the owners. An important example is how no trade clauses are de facto impossible to get given the current arrangement. It takes 8 years of experience and 4 with a given team to even get a no trade clause. Not one player in the league has one. The owners like that because they want to be able to ship your behind out of town whenever they decide too. So I'm supposed to get offended that players demand trades? Give me a break.

And even among the players the CBA is designed to screw rookies and superstars. Statistical studies have shown every pick of the draft outperforms their rookie scale salary.
https://www.vox.com/2014/5/21/5736644/sports-drafts-are-exploitative-and-would-be-illegal-in-any-normal

Superstars salaries are also capped below their production.


__________________________________________________________________

Back to Simmons. What the 76ers wanted was for him to be a good soldier, show up this year play hard so they could trade to a team in the middle of nowhere going through a massive rebuild. If he did that he'd be trapped on a garbage franchise until he was 26-27 at least.

Simmons quite sensibly recognizes this is really bad for his career. So rather than allow the 76ers to have all the leverage he is sitting games out, their MOV is worse than last year by a good amount and well below title contender levels.

Morey seems dug in on his position so I don't see a trade this year. Next year I think Morey will have to reduce his asking price due to the other franchise stakeholders putting pressure.

[step]

And even among the players the CBA is designed to screw rookies and superstars. Statistical studies have shown every pick of the draft outperforms their rookie scale salary.

The vets in the PA wanted it this way... the less money rookies get leaves more for them. It's a way for them to earn their 'dues'.

Superstars salaries are also capped below their production.

/looks at Westbrook. Had to include that little jab (not at you, just in general)

The superstar aspect is basically a byproduct of Jordan's return and him earning $30M. Both parties didn't like where that was going and instituted that... and don't forget there are fewer superstars in general compared to the total player base.

[michaelm]

Or he has legit mental health issues and doesn't trust the team doctors to keep it confidential. Now if he's offered NBAPA professionals and turns it down then sure.

The last I heard was that he was trying to skirt the rules that require a doctor to keep in touch with the team on strategy and timelines. He was skirting it by not using a Medical Doctor as they are the only ones with those requirements.

I figured his team would be suing but I haven't heard a peep. Maybe they expect to recoup fines by taking legal actions after a trade.

He talked to a Sixers recommended mental health clinician as of November 8 https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32586024/sources-76ers-ben-simmons-changes-course-meets-team-recommended-mental-health-clinician



If you believe spotrac he's been fined over $11 million. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ben-simmons-20206/fines/

Note that the fines started the game before November 8.

Reading between the lines it seems like he and Klutch have given up on that being the actual reason he isn't performing under the contract.

As I've been saying all along, he wants a trade, once he gets the trade he'll decide whatever legitimate mental health issues that he has are not the kind that stop him from doing his job, just like Demar Derozan, Kevin Love, and millions of other Americans do every day.

Yeah it was always a very dubious excuse, particularly given the timing. They likely just wanted to violate the contract he signed but not be held financially accountable, and invoking mental health problems was the only thing they could come up with I guess.
Pretty disgusting of Rich Paul and Ben Simmons imo. Abusing the system like that just makes it more difficult for someone else with legitimate issues to get the help they need, smh.

Why does it have to be fraudulent ?. There is a history of such illness in a family member and he had a fairly horrendous family issue last season involving that family member and another family member who has been his manager and basically his mentor, quite likely not very good in either role, but in those roles nevertheless. His FT shooting has never been great, but wasn't as bad in the play-offs previously as it was last season. I don't/can't defend him for never engaging/accepting a professional shooting coach to address his fundamental flaw, but I don't think it is inconceivable he was fairly unhappy during the play-offs last year which affected his play, and that he didn't feel he got much in the way of support. The 76ers have him under contract, a contract he willingly signed, and can do whatever they like, but as I have said previously any suggestion of him playing with the Sixers again is a sham on the part of the Sixers imo. They are getting divorced on the basis of irreconcilable differences, there is no prospect of him briefly playing happy families, which I extremely doubt the rest of the roster would want in any case.

If Morey has a fairly definite trade of Simmons for Harden lined up for the off season then it all makes some sense.

[CIN-C-STAR]

He talked to a Sixers recommended mental health clinician as of November 8 https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32586024/sources-76ers-ben-simmons-changes-course-meets-team-recommended-mental-health-clinician



If you believe spotrac he's been fined over $11 million. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ben-simmons-20206/fines/

Note that the fines started the game before November 8.

Reading between the lines it seems like he and Klutch have given up on that being the actual reason he isn't performing under the contract.

As I've been saying all along, he wants a trade, once he gets the trade he'll decide whatever legitimate mental health issues that he has are not the kind that stop him from doing his job, just like Demar Derozan, Kevin Love, and millions of other Americans do every day.

Yeah it was always a very dubious excuse, particularly given the timing. They likely just wanted to violate the contract he signed but not be held financially accountable, and invoking mental health problems was the only thing they could come up with I guess.
Pretty disgusting of Rich Paul and Ben Simmons imo. Abusing the system like that just makes it more difficult for someone else with legitimate issues to get the help they need, smh.

Why does it have to be fraudulent ?. There is a history of such illness in a family member and he had a fairly horrendous family issue last season involving that family member and another family member who has been his manager and basically his mentor, quite likely not very good in either role, but in those roles nevertheless. His FT shooting has never been great, but wasn't as bad in the play-offs previously as it was last season. I don't/can't defend him for never engaging/accepting a professional shooting coach to address his fundamental flaw, but I don't think it is inconceivable he was fairly unhappy during the play-offs last year which affected his play, and that he didn't feel he got much in the way of support. The 76ers have him under contract, a contract he willingly signed, and can do whatever they like, but as I have said previously any suggestion of him playing with the Sixers again is a sham on the part of the Sixers imo. They are getting divorced on the basis of irreconcilable differences, there is no prospect of him briefly playing happy families, which I extremely doubt the rest of the roster would want in any case.

If Morey has a fairly definite trade of Simmons for Harden lined up for the off season then it all makes some sense.

It doesn't have to be fraudulent, but it sure appears that way given the timing.
He didn't come forward w his mental health story after the playoffs or after his family drama came out. He came up with it after he started losing money by getting fined by the team.
Believe what you want, but anyone objective would cast a doubtful eye at that claim.

[Sixerscan]

He talked to a Sixers recommended mental health clinician as of November 8 https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32586024/sources-76ers-ben-simmons-changes-course-meets-team-recommended-mental-health-clinician



If you believe spotrac he's been fined over $11 million. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/ben-simmons-20206/fines/

Note that the fines started the game before November 8.

Reading between the lines it seems like he and Klutch have given up on that being the actual reason he isn't performing under the contract.

As I've been saying all along, he wants a trade, once he gets the trade he'll decide whatever legitimate mental health issues that he has are not the kind that stop him from doing his job, just like Demar Derozan, Kevin Love, and millions of other Americans do every day.

Yeah it was always a very dubious excuse, particularly given the timing. They likely just wanted to violate the contract he signed but not be held financially accountable, and invoking mental health problems was the only thing they could come up with I guess.
Pretty disgusting of Rich Paul and Ben Simmons imo. Abusing the system like that just makes it more difficult for someone else with legitimate issues to get the help they need, smh.

Why does it have to be fraudulent ?. There is a history of such illness in a family member and he had a fairly horrendous family issue last season involving that family member and another family member who has been his manager and basically his mentor, quite likely not very good in either role, but in those roles nevertheless. His FT shooting has never been great, but wasn't as bad in the play-offs previously as it was last season. I don't/can't defend him for never engaging/accepting a professional shooting coach to address his fundamental flaw, but I don't think it is inconceivable he was fairly unhappy during the play-offs last year which affected his play, and that he didn't feel he got much in the way of support. The 76ers have him under contract, a contract he willingly signed, and can do whatever they like, but as I have said previously any suggestion of him playing with the Sixers again is a sham on the part of the Sixers imo. They are getting divorced on the basis of irreconcilable differences, there is no prospect of him briefly playing happy families, which I extremely doubt the rest of the roster would want in any case.

If Morey has a fairly definite trade of Simmons for Harden lined up for the off season then it all makes some sense.

I'm not sure if he's lied, but I'm also not sure if he's actually claimed that he's been diagnosed with a mental illness that makes it impossible for him to play basketball. The report was just that he said he was not mentally ready to play for the Sixers, that can be construed as just saying he doesn't want to play for them, with the "mentally" part added so people fill in the blanks the way you did here. Oh and that he's seeing a therapist, which again doesn't by itself mean anything (many people see therapists and do their jobs every day), but again the implication.

Regardless of whatever mental issues or illnesses he may or may not have, it just seems pretty obvious that the real core goal of this is he doesn't want to play for the Sixers and wants to play for another team, and he and Klutch are using the tools at their disposal (PR, the CBA, physical injuries, mental issues, and so on) to achieve that core goal. Maybe he has a diagnosed mental illness, I have no idea, but even if he does, does anyone actually believe that is the reason he hasn't played this year? Maybe that's the case but I feel like teams would not be at all interested in trading for him if it were. So I feel like this debate is mostly just a technicality more than anything.

[Ballerhogger]

Jerami Grant, Kelly Olynyk, Josh Jackson, Diallo future 1st for Simmons+filler. Waddya say Philly?
Or Grant, KO, Killian Hayes+1st

That would have happened months ago if the Sixers thought that was enough.

true that s too much for ben and doesn't even fit what sixers need.

[Ballerhogger]

Its hard to see teams willing unload assets when ben hasn't played all year. Not one game, or dribble on the court. Its like buying a brand new car for 100k but not being able to test drive it. Teams wont give anything close what morey thinks ben is worth until he gets on the court. He has to know that by now. If ben had 2 years or less on his deal then maybe but he has 3 years left after this year. Theres no need to invest heavy at this point.

[DelAbbot]

What is a recent ask from Morey for Simmons? I need a laugh to brighten my day

[step]

Yeah it was always a very dubious excuse, particularly given the timing. They likely just wanted to violate the contract he signed but not be held financially accountable, and invoking mental health problems was the only thing they could come up with I guess.
Pretty disgusting of Rich Paul and Ben Simmons imo. Abusing the system like that just makes it more difficult for someone else with legitimate issues to get the help they need, smh.

Why does it have to be fraudulent ?. There is a history of such illness in a family member and he had a fairly horrendous family issue last season involving that family member and another family member who has been his manager and basically his mentor, quite likely not very good in either role, but in those roles nevertheless. His FT shooting has never been great, but wasn't as bad in the play-offs previously as it was last season. I don't/can't defend him for never engaging/accepting a professional shooting coach to address his fundamental flaw, but I don't think it is inconceivable he was fairly unhappy during the play-offs last year which affected his play, and that he didn't feel he got much in the way of support. The 76ers have him under contract, a contract he willingly signed, and can do whatever they like, but as I have said previously any suggestion of him playing with the Sixers again is a sham on the part of the Sixers imo. They are getting divorced on the basis of irreconcilable differences, there is no prospect of him briefly playing happy families, which I extremely doubt the rest of the roster would want in any case.

If Morey has a fairly definite trade of Simmons for Harden lined up for the off season then it all makes some sense.

I'm not sure if he's lied, but I'm also not sure if he's actually claimed that he's been diagnosed with a mental illness that makes it impossible for him to play basketball. The report was just that he said he was not mentally ready to play for the Sixers, that can be construed as just saying he doesn't want to play for them, with the "mentally" part added so people fill in the blanks the way you did here. Oh and that he's seeing a therapist, which again doesn't by itself mean anything (many people see therapists and do their jobs every day), but again the implication.

Regardless of whatever mental issues or illnesses he may or may not have, it just seems pretty obvious that the real core goal of this is he doesn't want to play for the Sixers and wants to play for another team, and he and Klutch are using the tools at their disposal (PR, the CBA, physical injuries, mental issues, and so on) to achieve that core goal. Maybe he has a diagnosed mental illness, I have no idea, but even if he does, does anyone actually believe that is the reason he hasn't played this year? Maybe that's the case but I feel like teams would not be at all interested in trading for him if it were. So I feel like this debate is mostly just a technicality more than anything.

It's a very duplicitous game that Paul and Simmons are playing, which makes me really sad for the precedence this basically sets for the next player with mental health issues.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-are-worsening-ben-simmons-mental-health-issues-says-agent-rich-paul-this-is-no-longer-about-a-trade/

Simmons met with the 76ers' mental health specialist on Monday, but the team says it has yet to receive any information from the specialist or from Simmons that would preclude him from playing or practicing.

Paul also said that in the past few months, the focus has shifted from Simmons' trade request to simply offering support for his mental health.

"This is no longer about a trade. This is about finding a place where we can help Ben get back to his mental strength and get back on the floor. I want him on the floor playing the game that he loves," Paul told The Athletic. "I want Ben on the floor whether that's in a 76ers uniform or any other uniform. That's not up to me, but I want him in a state where he can resume play. We want to cooperate and want to work him back on the floor."

Obviously, it's hard to know what the actual truth is... but if he's unwilling to provide the team with any info on his issues, how can they really support him? While he may not be comfortable with the team's mental health professional, his psychologist could easily liaise for him. And he's only 'now' allowed him to do so. This is why I think this is all a farce.

[michaelm]

Why does it have to be fraudulent ?. There is a history of such illness in a family member and he had a fairly horrendous family issue last season involving that family member and another family member who has been his manager and basically his mentor, quite likely not very good in either role, but in those roles nevertheless. His FT shooting has never been great, but wasn't as bad in the play-offs previously as it was last season. I don't/can't defend him for never engaging/accepting a professional shooting coach to address his fundamental flaw, but I don't think it is inconceivable he was fairly unhappy during the play-offs last year which affected his play, and that he didn't feel he got much in the way of support. The 76ers have him under contract, a contract he willingly signed, and can do whatever they like, but as I have said previously any suggestion of him playing with the Sixers again is a sham on the part of the Sixers imo. They are getting divorced on the basis of irreconcilable differences, there is no prospect of him briefly playing happy families, which I extremely doubt the rest of the roster would want in any case.

If Morey has a fairly definite trade of Simmons for Harden lined up for the off season then it all makes some sense.

I'm not sure if he's lied, but I'm also not sure if he's actually claimed that he's been diagnosed with a mental illness that makes it impossible for him to play basketball. The report was just that he said he was not mentally ready to play for the Sixers, that can be construed as just saying he doesn't want to play for them, with the "mentally" part added so people fill in the blanks the way you did here. Oh and that he's seeing a therapist, which again doesn't by itself mean anything (many people see therapists and do their jobs every day), but again the implication.

Regardless of whatever mental issues or illnesses he may or may not have, it just seems pretty obvious that the real core goal of this is he doesn't want to play for the Sixers and wants to play for another team, and he and Klutch are using the tools at their disposal (PR, the CBA, physical injuries, mental issues, and so on) to achieve that core goal. Maybe he has a diagnosed mental illness, I have no idea, but even if he does, does anyone actually believe that is the reason he hasn't played this year? Maybe that's the case but I feel like teams would not be at all interested in trading for him if it were. So I feel like this debate is mostly just a technicality more than anything.

It's a very duplicitous game that Paul and Simmons are playing, which makes me really sad for the precedence this basically sets for the next player with mental health issues.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-are-worsening-ben-simmons-mental-health-issues-says-agent-rich-paul-this-is-no-longer-about-a-trade/

Simmons met with the 76ers' mental health specialist on Monday, but the team says it has yet to receive any information from the specialist or from Simmons that would preclude him from playing or practicing.

Paul also said that in the past few months, the focus has shifted from Simmons' trade request to simply offering support for his mental health.

"This is no longer about a trade. This is about finding a place where we can help Ben get back to his mental strength and get back on the floor. I want him on the floor playing the game that he loves," Paul told The Athletic. "I want Ben on the floor whether that's in a 76ers uniform or any other uniform. That's not up to me, but I want him in a state where he can resume play. We want to cooperate and want to work him back on the floor."

Obviously, it's hard to know what the actual truth is... but if he's unwilling to provide the team with any info on his issues, how can they really support him? While he may not be comfortable with the team's mental health professional, his psychologist could easily liaise for him. And he's only 'now' allowed him to do so. This is why I think this is all a farce.

If he does have a problem it is unlikely he is being advised to go back to a situation he found stressful (whatever his contribution to that situation being stressful) just to get his trade value up, particularly if the players have been using the situation as motivation. Unless he has something definite lined up I am not sure how pretending to be flaky which is pretty much what is being contented helps him going forward either. If a trade for Harden materialises as soon as the Nets are eliminated in the play-offs then that is probably what both parties have been waiting on all along and will perhaps indicate it has been a farce on both sides. What Harden will choose to do if the the Nets win it all is another question of course.