Ben Simmons trade ‘heating up’ with three-way offer

There is movement at the station in the Ben Simmons trade saga with a report revealing details of the complex offers on the table.

Ben Simmons. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP.

There is movement at the station in the Ben Simmons saga with trade talks reportedly “heating up”.

ESPN first revealed the talks between the Philadelphia 76ers and interested rival teams have been “gaining momentum” in recent days.

The situation appears to have been unlocked by the fast-approaching December 15 trade date where free agents signed this past off-season become eligible to be traded.

ESPN reporter Zach Lowe and NBA guru Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the Sixers are now in deep talks with several teams.

NBC Philadelphia sport presenter John Clark rote on Twitter the talks have been “heating up”.

Wojnarowski posted on Twitter: “Philadelphia’s trade conversations on Ben Simmons gathering momentum in recent days.

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“More teams engaged, more two and three-way deal structure talks ongoing as 76ers try to land a Top 25 player for Simmons.”

The report also killed off Philadelphia’s hopes of ever securing Damian Lillard from the Portland Trailblazers in a dream trade scenario.

“The Portland Trail Blazers have made clear to the 76ers that All-NBA guard Damian Lillard is not available to be discussed in trade talks and franchise has no interest in moving him,” Wojnarowski posted.

The news came just hours after it emerged Simmons has interest in playing for San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Simmons hasn’t been sighted with the Sixers since his surprise work-out at the team’s Wells Fargo Centre home stadium two weeks ago.

Simmons’ agent last month accused the team of contributing to the 25-year-old’s mental health problems.

Simmons skipped the entire pre-season and made it clear he wanted to be traded away from the 76ers, despite having four years and $200 million remaining on his contract, but a suitable trade has yet not been found.

He eventually ended his off-season exile and returned to Philadelphia but was then kicked out of practice, suspended and fined.

That was until the Australian said he was suffering from mental health issues, at which point the Sixers offered him support and reinstated his salary.

But that changed again when Simmons was reportedly fined $487,000 for missing a game against the Detroit Pistons. The team is reported to have fined him on other occasions since then.

Ben Simmons has not played this season. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

At the heart of the unpleasant Simmons-Sixers stand-off is suggestions from some within the team that Simmons is either faking his mental health condition — or the team is acting with absolute disrespect towards a player who needs help.

According to The Athletic, Simmons believes the 76ers’ recent actions are an attempt to force him to play, which has exacerbated his mental health issues.

“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,” Simmons’ agent, Klutch Sports chief executive Rich Paul, told The Athletic.

“Either you help Ben, or come out and say he’s lying. Which one is it?”

A 76ers team official denied the accusations, claiming they have been fully supportive of Simmons’ recovery process.

Originally published as Ben Simmons trade ‘heating up’ with three-way offer