‘Remarkable’ Simmons trade update has Sixers staring down ‘long and ugly road’

The Philadelphia 76ers are sliding and the chance of an imminent Ben Simmons trade fixing the situation appear slim.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 31: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers are sliding and the chance of an imminent Ben Simmons trade fixing the situation appear slim.

That is, if the latest report out of the States is anything to go by.

We always knew Philadelphia and president Daryl Morey were not in any rush to move Simmons on.

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In fact, Morey even said the Sixers were willing to wait four years if that was what it took to make the right move that capitalised on Joel Embiid’s prime.

The problem though is that at the rate it is going, this season will be a write-off without Simmons on the court.

The 76ers have now lost four of their last five games after a last-start 98-96 defeat to a severely undermanned Atlanta Hawks side.

It is true the Sixers were without Danny Green, Shake Milton, Georges Niang and Andre Drummond but Atlanta had seven players sidelined for health and safety protocols.

That included Trae Young, while Philadelphia had Embiid available and yet that was not enough.

The chances of a Simmons trade eventuating shortly and solving its woes appears slim too, with the league-wide Covid-19 outbreak complicating matters.

Speaking on NBA insider Marc Stein revealed on his Spotify Greenroom podcast he had heard “remarkably little” about Simmons while in Vegas for the G-League Showcase.

“I have to say, just having spent three days in the gym with lots of NBA executives, I heard so little about Ben Simmons in Vegas. Just remarkably little,” Stein said.

“That just illustrates, to me, just what a secondary thing trade pursuits are at the moment whereas normally, I think in that kind of environment, even if there was nothing happening with Ben, just kind of Ben predictions would have been flying around the gym and you just really didn’t get much of that.”

Ben Simmons at 76ers training

Sixers coach Doc Rivers said he had talked to Simmons “recently” and that “he’s doing good” but has “intentionally stayed out of” bringing up when he could return to the court.

“That’s the stuff that I’ve intentionally stayed out of,” Rivers said.

“I have enough on my plate. I don’t feel like I’ve needed to add that.”

Rivers certainly has plenty on his plate, with the offence and 3-point shooting in particular lacking in the defeat to Atlanta.

“I thought we approached the game very casual,” Rivers said post-game.

“And I thought we played that way. I thought they did what they wanted. … disappointing.”

Why the Sixers are smart to wait out and capitalise on Simmons’ true value in a trade, the stance is taking its toll according to PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck.

“This offence is in bad shape right now, and unless they can get a serious piece in here in return for Ben Simmons, there’s a long and ugly road ahead,” he wrote after the Atlanta loss.

“Everybody has to own their piece of responsibility in the problem.”

Originally published as ‘Remarkable’ Simmons trade update has Sixers staring down ‘long and ugly road’