GutUNC wrote:NW wrote:GutUNC wrote:
"All that's gone down" is Simmons played like crap against Atlanta, admitted he played like crap but had Embiid/Doc also gently say he played like crap publicly. I'm not naive enough to eliminate anything as a possibility, but that's hardly some insurmountable mountain that makes me assume that Simmons isn't going to report to camp or try to sabotage the team rather then just playing and rehabbing his value.
“ Embiid/Doc also gently say he played like crap publicly.”
Yeah, not sure Simmons sees it as “gently” saying it if he’s cut communication off with the two of them as reported.
I doubt it comes to the point of not showing up to camp, though that is an option, but I see no reason why Simmons would just play along to ensure Philly gets a good return at this point. It’s likely going to be an unwanted distraction the Sixers can’t afford until he’s dealt
It was reported that he cut out communication with the team entirely, then 4-5 guys casually said they've talked to him when asked. Which reinforces my original point that maybe we shouldn't treat every unsourced report as gospel.
There's certainly enough smoke to signify a strained relationship and a desire on all sides to move on, but that's quite a ways from the assurances that he's going to hold out, that he's not coming to camp, and/or that the Sixers are just going to have to accept whatever can be wheeled to their front door to get rid of him.
When it was mentioned he cut off communication with the team, it specifically said he wasn’t returning Embid’s calls and directing the FO to deal with Klutch. Because the second tier guys like Tyrone Maxey are like “hey, he talks to me” doesn’t exactly lighten the situation. If he ain’t talking to the star player, head coach or GM, he can talk to Maxey, Bassey or Ashy Larry and it won’t matter.
As far as the holding out of camp. That came from established Klutch mouthpiece Kendrick Perkins. Who do you think he’s speaking for when he goes on national TV and says it while the other Klutch mouthpiece, Rachel Nichols, makes sure he repeats it.
We’ll see if Klutch got it in them to see the threat through, but the current moves don’t scream someone that’s looking to play along with the team management to ensure they get a good return. Like I said before, we’ll all have to see who blinks first