Ben Simmons' Trade Believed To Be Inevitable But Could Wait Until Preseason

[RealGM Wiretap]

A trade of Ben Simmons by the Philadelphia 76ers is considered "inevitable" by sources, but it could drag out until the preseason.

The 76ers are seeking a package that includes a point guard for Simmons and more teams are interested than have been reported due to a weaker than usual free agency class.

Sources believe teams interested in Simmons will operate with more urgency closer to the season.

Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry and Bradley Beal are considered the most enticing trade options for the 76ers.

Via Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

[BigHustle]

Also: “PHL cannot get ahold of Ben for off-season workouts.”
Hustle Ben!

[Ackshun]

Time to take a page out of Harden's book and start on that cheeseburger diet.

That will get you shipped out in no time.

[Swagula]

Also: “PHL cannot get ahold of Ben for off-season workouts.”
Hustle Ben!

Not true

[DoctorDunc]

TRANSLATION: It will take until pre-season for Philly to figure out that this is 70% salary dump and 30% roster move!

[HotelVitale]

Not sure about this, this reads like a classic empty 'sources indicate/league sources say' articles. No one is named and this particular author is definitely not known to be plugged in with FOs around the league.

[HotelVitale]

TRANSLATION: It will take until pre-season for Philly to figure out that this is 70% salary dump and 30% roster move!

Yeah, no. That's not at all what the article says, plus the Sixers don't gain anything by salary dumping Simmons (not possible to get meaningful cap space either way) and he was unquestionably a huge part of their success the last couple years. I know realgm and trash talk shows like to dump on dudes when they're down, but the Sixers aren't trading Simmons to do it, got to be to make the team fit better and put them in a better position to win.

[DoctorDunc]

He’s a good piece at 15-18mm

[Simmons25]

Also: “PHL cannot get ahold of Ben for off-season workouts.”
Hustle Ben!

Not true

LOL Philly say not but they have to say that otherwise it hurts what they can get for him if he is a diva.

Andrew Bogut said on his podcast that prior to the previous Olympics he tried to get hold of Ben for a chat and gave up because he had to go through about 4 different people before they'd allow even another NBA player to speak to him. So it wouldn't surprise me one little bit if Ben's family and people around him are shutting people out from contacting him. The guy is so babied by Klutch and his family it's ridiculous.