he needs to ask to be traded to rockets because thats where great 3pt and FT shooting coaches abide...
https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/ben-simmons-loses-over-300-missing-preseason-opener-raptors Imagine losing 360k just for missing a PREseason game. A lump sum like that is life-changing money for so many people, lol.
I really do call Simmons' intelligence into question because anyone with average level intelligence would be LIVID at losing $8 million and now $350k per game due to some weirdass standoff that they had no business being in in the first place. I then want to call Rich Paul's intelligence into question because your job is to help your client make money so you can make money; not do the complete opposite. Of course this is all a moot point if Paul got paid his fee upfront when Simmons signed that extension and, if so, kudos to him though this whole thing is still not a good look. If there was a sensible reason for sitting out, sure, but you're not reporting because your coaches, teammates, fans, etc just want you to do more? What an idiot. With him basically plateauing as a player and now not being smart enough to just report to the damn team and play a couple of minutes in preseason...I don't know how some are still advocating for him to be in a Rockets uniform, even if it means getting rid of Wall.
How are you going to blame the 76ers' winning success as the reason you didn't bother honing your own craft?! I guess that's certainly one way to look at it. Accountability must be overrated.
Yeah, poor Ben. He was so unfortunate that a contending team drafted him and immediately gave him the starting PG job so that he could be selected to the all-star games for 3 straight years and get a max contract. Pity! If only the basketball gods were more merciful, sending him to a bottom feeder where his deficiency was quickly exposed and nobody would be deluded to think that he could be a max player...
Darnell Moorie coming to his senses. A league source told The Inquirer the Pacers were among a group of teams still inquiring about Simmons’ availability. Another source confirmed the Sixers have interest in Indiana’s Caris LeVert. The Pacers shooting guard along with point guard Malcolm Brogdon and at least one first-rounder should be enough to get a deal done. Simmons will make $33 million this season. Brogdon, who Indiana is open to moving, is set to receive $21.7M, while LeVert has $17.5M coming his way. Brogdon, LeVert and a first-round pick may not be the sexiest deal for a team that was holding out for an All-Star level player, multiple picks and pick swaps (The multiple picks were intended to go to an additional team in a three-team deal). But that might be the best deal they can get at the moment.
I think a deal like this was offered to him in June, but now the Pacers may actually balk.... One thing to keep in mind: Indianapolis is known as the sleepiest town in the NBA in terms of nightlife. With all the weird stuff that was leaked about Ben and his "social life" requirements, Indiana may be thinking twice...
That's not equal value for Ben Simmons, but honestly, it's pretty good. It solidifies the two weakest positions (PG, SG) on the team and removes the headache of dealing with Simmons the whole season. Neither Brogdon nor Levert are scrubs, and they're both still fairly young and can both grow with Embiid AND compete now. Brogdon / Maxey Levert / Curry Green / Milton Harris / Thybulle Embiid / Drummond Lamarcus Aldridge would have made this team even better, but oh well.
I don't know if that's a victory. He advised his client to sit out thereby losing about $8 million, lost another $350k for missing a preseason game, and now could possibly get traded to a team nowhere near their preferred destinations (e.g. either coast). Of course if the Pacers decided to hand Simmons another max extension when the time comes all of this is a moot point I guess but I don't think it's a win for any party involved if this trade comes into fruition.
If Levert don't miss time because of that fractured back I think the Sixers will be fine. If he does, it definitely puts a dent to their depth but I don't know if it's a huge loss. Embiid, Harris, Curry and Brogdon should be more than enough on the offensive side.
He came back from the kidney scare but the Woj reported last week he has a stress fracture in his back.
Great deal for the sixers if it materializes. Brogdon and a 1st makes this worthwhile even if Lavert flounders due to injury/illness. Added satisfaction making Ben move to Indianapolis lol
One more reminder to everyone here: Ben Simmons is refusing to report to the team and is now, apparently, packing up and selling his house all because he couldn't take criticisms of his performance after being coddled by the team and the city for the past 4 years. This isn't the same as when AD left New Orleans because AD, when healthy, is a Top 7 player who can contribute on both ends. This isn't the same as when Harden mailed it in last year because that Harden era pretty much peaked and the moves brainstormed both by he, the owner and the front office torpedoed the team's chances. This isn't even the same as when Jimmy Butler napalm'd his way out of Minnesota because his criticisms of that team were true. No, this is a situation where a player, whose production has plateaued over the past 3-4 seasons, is wanting out because he couldn't mange to look at himself in the mirror and realize that, maybe, he should work on his game.
