76ers back to fining Ben Simmons

[DB23]

Mental health issues, even if true, are not a license to act unprofessional and like a jerk.

[Zvaart]

I am fighting depression for a year and a half now, and you know how many days i missed at work?

Zero.

i went to a doctor, i am taking anti-depressants and i am fully functional. And i am getting better and on my way to fully remove all medication. I know it is a different situation and all, but there are ways to deal with a situation like this, and he refused all of them.

Frankly, i don't believe he is sick, i think he just wants his money and this pos Rich Paul is shameless in exploiting every opportunity he think he sees to force Philly's hand.

If he was sick and told this to Morey i think he would have get some common ground to find a solution.

But as a lot said so here, it is a little peculiar that his mental struggles begun just when we wasn't paid anymore.

[Tomjas]

I am fighting depression for a year and a half now, and you know how many days i missed at work?

Zero.

i went to a doctor, i am taking anti-depressants and i am fully functional. And i am getting better and on my way to fully remove all medication. I know it is a different situation and all, but there are ways to deal with a situation like this, and he refused all of them.

Frankly, i don't believe he is sick, i think he just wants his money and this pos Rich Paul is shameless in exploiting every opportunity he think he sees to force Philly's hand.

If he was sick and told this to Morey i think he would have get some common ground to find a solution.

But as a lot said so here, it is a little peculiar that his mental struggles begun just when we wasn't paid anymore.

He’s been getting therapy since July

[MrBigShot]

Rich Paul is about as morally corrupt as they come

[10giz]

I am fighting depression for a year and a half now, and you know how many days i missed at work?

Zero.

i went to a doctor, i am taking anti-depressants and i am fully functional. And i am getting better and on my way to fully remove all medication. I know it is a different situation and all, but there are ways to deal with a situation like this, and he refused all of them.

Frankly, i don't believe he is sick, i think he just wants his money and this pos Rich Paul is shameless in exploiting every opportunity he think he sees to force Philly's hand.

If he was sick and told this to Morey i think he would have get some common ground to find a solution.

But as a lot said so here, it is a little peculiar that his mental struggles begun just when we wasn't paid anymore.

Good on you man. It's a tough battle going through it myself but any step forward is a big step forward IMO. Appreciate you sharing that glad to hear you're getting better.

This is clearly some bull I don't think anybody believers otherwise.

[Pointgod]

Believe what you want, but if you believe Simmons than you should believe he should fire Rich Paul. He did just reveal some sensitive information about Ben’s therapy in the media to blast the Sixers… cause that’s what an agent should do for a client who’s dealing with “serious” mental health issues.

Don’t care about Rich Paul and let’s not paint the Sixers as some innocent bystander

They owe Simmons a duty of care and have been going out of their way to trash him

You can't claim to be sympathetic to Simmons' claim and then say you "don't care about Rich Paul" exposing Ben Simmons private mental state that should be between himself and his therapist.

Sixers and Morey have plenty of blame, but they aren't the ones currently abusing mental illness as a way to get money for not working.

Huh? What his Rich Paul said here that exposed Simmons’ mental state? He’s literally doing his job as an agent and standing up for his client’s best interests. Unless there’s some other information that you can point, I don’t know what’s the issue here.

These quotes don’t sound inflammatory.

“I truly believe the fines, the targeting, the negative publicity shined on the issue — that’s very unnecessary and has furthered the mental health issues for Ben,” Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said. “Either you help Ben, or come out and say he’s lying. Which one is it?”

“In this case, we have to get Ben help and not put finances above mental health,” Paul said. “As an agent, I understand contractual obligations and I hold myself accountable in this business. But if someone is telling you something, we can no longer turn a blind eye in today’s world.

“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. 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.”

Paul, however, says that Simmons is not yet prepared to play.

“He’s not there yet. How can a doctor, who has only met with Ben once, say, ‘Ben is mentally ready to play?’ So do we keep digging on him, or help him?” Paul said. “Now that we understand that reluctance from Ben, it all makes sense. There was a shying away from it. If Ben has repeatedly showed behavior that entails he isn’t mentally ready to play, embrace him. Support him. We have to remove our ego from it. We all have to take responsibility.”

Paul says he still respects the team’s upper management amid the current dispute. "I don’t think the 76ers are a bad organization. Josh Harris and David Blitzer are great governors, they’ve done a great job with the organization. I have respect for Daryl Morey,” Paul said. “Ben has a mental issue, let’s support him. I’m happy he got to a place where he realized and accepted help. I understand it’s a business, but even in business, you need humanity.

“I have a great level of respect and love for the city of Philadelphia, as someone who loves the game, but this isn’t about that. This is about Ben getting back to a place mentally where he can be back on the floor — and only Ben can tell us when that is. We have to allow him to do that.”

Simmons met with the 76ers’ mental health specialist on Monday for one hour, and team officials say more meetings are scheduled between the two and that Simmons must continue to show documentation of the steps he is taking as part of the process. In a team-issued questionnaire Simmons completed on Wednesday night, several inquiries centered around whether Simmons wants a trade — not his mental health status, a source said.

According to Paul, Simmons has allowed the team’s mental health professional to talk to his personal therapist and encouraged them to work together to help him find a path back to the floor. Simmons also made it clear to both sides that information from their talks was to be treated as confidential. Simmons expressed that he would allow the two therapists to continue to help him.

https://theathletic.com/news/ben-simmons-feels-76ers-want-to-force-him-to-play-team-responds-exclusive/Z33rajI00nWY/

[seren]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

[BullyKing]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

Why would it be the "best thing" for the Sixers to lose an asset for nothing in return?

[Tomjas]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

Why would it be the "best thing" for the Sixers to lose an asset for nothing in return?

Best thing would be for the Sixers not to devalue their asset with their leaks

But here we are

[BullyKing]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

Why would it be the "best thing" for the Sixers to lose an asset for nothing in return?

Best thing would be for the Sixers not to devalue their asset with their leaks

But here we are

Yes, we are here talking about it this morning because Shams just released an article that is nothing but things from the Simmons camp. But it's always the Sixers leaking... got it. You have such an objective take on everything Ben related that I really value your opinion.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

Why would it be the "best thing" for the Sixers to lose an asset for nothing in return?

Best thing would be for the Sixers not to devalue their asset with their leaks

But here we are

Not really

[ConstableChaos]

to be fair he's already said he's not playing for them again

[BullyKing]

The World According to Tomjas:

1. An employee can refuse to work
2. Months later, the employee can claim they can't work because of a mental illness.
3. The employee can refuse to provide any information about this or when they might be able to return to work.
4. The employer must still pay the employee all of his wages with no questions asked.

With that in mind, I have only one question.

TOMJAS, WILL YOU PLEASE HIRE ME????

[Doug_12]

The World According to Tomjas:

1. An employee can refuse to work
2. Months later, the employee can claim they can't work because of a mental illness.
3. The employee can refuse to provide any information about this or when they might be able to return to work.
4. The employer must still pay the employee all of his wages with no questions asked.

With that in mind, I have only one question.

TOMJAS, WILL YOU PLEASE HIRE ME????

I also agree w/ this. The employer has no business of knowing what my problem is. They only need to know that according to a qualified, government appointed, 3rd party doctor that I can work or not.

[KGtabake]

You knew he was a baby for years. You didn't learn that over the summer.
You knew it and you gave him the contract regardless.
Then, you tried to trade him for harden. It was all over the news, everywhere.
He played the season without creating any problems about it.
Then you threw him publicly to the lions because he was abysmal in the playoffs.
But you knew he would be like that. Unless you were expecting him to start shooting out of nowhere in the playoffs.....

You knew all this. You also knew who his agent is and how he rolls.

What exactly are you expecting now?
That he will change, he will forget everything and you will be one happy family again?
That he will come back, build value again so that you can trade him for equal replacement?

The whole thing is a testament of sixers organisation mismanagement of Simmons.
They pampered him, they clearly overvalued him and now they are surprised that a baby is acting like a baby.

Meanwhile, the team is clearly playing better without him(see...fit matters) but instead of focusing on that, we'll have to watch the Simmons saga all over the season.
What a mess.

[BullyKing]

The World According to Tomjas:

1. An employee can refuse to work
2. Months later, the employee can claim they can't work because of a mental illness.
3. The employee can refuse to provide any information about this or when they might be able to return to work.
4. The employer must still pay the employee all of his wages with no questions asked.

With that in mind, I have only one question.

TOMJAS, WILL YOU PLEASE HIRE ME????

I also agree w/ this. The employer has no business of knowing what my problem is. They only need to know that according to a qualified, government appointed, 3rd party doctor that I can work or not.

I agree with you except Tomjas is saying that the underlined is irrelevant. The Sixers apparently have not received an opinion from any doctor - contracted by the team or Simmons personally - that Simmons is unable to practice or play. It should all be on the honor system according to Tomjas.

[Zvaart]

I am fighting depression for a year and a half now, and you know how many days i missed at work?

Zero.

i went to a doctor, i am taking anti-depressants and i am fully functional. And i am getting better and on my way to fully remove all medication. I know it is a different situation and all, but there are ways to deal with a situation like this, and he refused all of them.

Frankly, i don't believe he is sick, i think he just wants his money and this pos Rich Paul is shameless in exploiting every opportunity he think he sees to force Philly's hand.

If he was sick and told this to Morey i think he would have get some common ground to find a solution.

But as a lot said so here, it is a little peculiar that his mental struggles begun just when we wasn't paid anymore.

He’s been getting therapy since July

dude, people are doing therapy on a regular basis without having real mental issues, just to release stress.

as i said, i don't buy it.

[Pointgod]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

Why would it be the "best thing" for the Sixers to lose an asset for nothing in return?

Right now since Ben is not playing the Sixers are getting nothing from an asset. Morey is waiting for some unicorn deal that’s going to get him a MVP player, multiple first round picks, ownership stake in the team Simmons is traded to and the chance to be President for a day. At least if they just get out of his contract the Sixers save money and Morey can soothe his ego with the fact that he didn’t “give in”. The problem is Morey wants it one way but it’s the other way.

[Synciere]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

This.

Holding on for what they deem is fair Morey value on a trade is only going to make this situation worse.

Trying to withhold his pay is only going to make the situation worse.

Trying to control these players only makes the situation worse!

This isn't worth it for the Sixers. It hasn't been worth it since his trade request. They would be better served taking the John Wall 'Just sit home until something is worked out' approach. But this is about power now.

I still think this can get uglier.

[Synciere]

Best thing for all sides is they come to some sort of financial agreement and let him go.

Why would it be the "best thing" for the Sixers to lose an asset for nothing in return?

Right now since Ben is not playing the Sixers are getting nothing from an asset. Morey is waiting for some unicorn deal that’s going to get him a MVP player, multiple first round picks, ownership stake in the team Simmons is traded to and the chance to be President for a day. At least if they just get out of his contract the Sixers save money and Morey can soothe his ego with the fact that he didn’t “give in”. The problem is Morey wants it one way but it’s the other way.

Morey failed to realize that Simmons no longer plays for the Sixers.

He's signed to them, but he's no longer a part of that team. I think they did a halfway decent job trying to clean it up with the players 'He's still our brother' speeches, but clearly for Ben that bridge burned. You're right. He wants it one way, but it's the other way.