‘No apology’: Two big Ben Simmons developments

Ben Simmons’ divorce from the 76ers has become even messier with the Aussie star refusing to help the team out of its backfiring strategy.

Ben Simmons. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP.

Ben Simmons’ is reportedly refusing to help the Sixers get a desirable trade package in response to letting him leave.

The Simmons saga has engulfed the Philadelphia 76ers this off-season after last years’ NBA playoff capitulation, which ended with the Aussie failing to shoot the ball in the Game 7 Eastern Conference semi-final series loss to Atlanta.

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It was reported this week Simmons is “prepared” to be fined up to $1.3m for skipping the team’s training camp as his looming exit from the franchise turns ugly.

As reported by NCA Newswire reporter Matt Logue, Simmons is so disillusioned and disappointed with the 76ers that he hasn’t answered calls from the franchise for weeks.

Simmons’ relationship with Philadelphia is broken despite having four years and a whopping $147m remaining on his deal.

Tobias Harris chest-bumps Ben Simmons. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images.

The public revelations further weaken Philadelphia’s bargaining hand where the team has reportedly already been asking rival clubs for a king’s ransom to entertain releasing Simmons from his deal.

Rival teams believe they can now snare Simmons more cheaply as a result, according to The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey

“There are teams that are interested in Ben Simmons, they just don’t want to pay the steep price,” Pompey said.

“Ben Simmons knows that, so they are saying why should we help the 76ers out when they feel like when Doc Rivers said what he said, nobody apologised, and Doc was never reprimanded.”

Pompey said on Philadelphia radio he has been told by a Western Conference chief executive:

“Think about three months ago when the Sixers are willing to give up Ben Simmons. You are like, ‘Let’s see what we have to do to get him’,” Pompey said.

“Now, the difference is Ben Simmons says he refuses to play for the Sixers. He wants to go to three California teams. There’s so much bad blood between him and the team.

Ben Simmons. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images.

“The kid said he’s not going back. I’m not giving you what you’re demanding. They really messed this up.”

The bad blood surrounds the fallout to the team’s loss to the Hawks and the public criticism from teammate Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers famously said “I don’t know the answer to that right now” when asked if Simmons could ever win an NBA Championship playing point guard.

It came to a head last month when details of a secret meeting emerged with the 25-year-old reportedly telling the team he wouldn’t turn up for pre-season training.

The report outlined Simmons has requested for the team to prioritise potential trades with the Lakers, Clippers, and Warriors.

While Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings have all been linked with interest in Simmons, a report now claims Cleveland remains in the hunt.

NBA reporter Marc Stein first revealed the Cavaliers are keeping their hat in the ring.

The report details that Simmons would also be prepared to play for Cleveland.

Simmons has been slammed for not taking his shot. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

NBA legend Charles Barkley this week tore Simmons a new one for the drama.

“This is total BS and if I’m the Sixers, we had our annual Sixers dinner the other night and I said to those guys I will call Ben Simmons,” Barkley said on The Mike Missanelli Show.

“If you want to be traded that is fine, we’re not giving you away. We’re not going to trade you to where you want to be traded. For someone who wants to give up the deal, we’re not taking 25 cents on the dollar. If we don’t get the deal we want, you are going to be playing right here in Philadelphia.”

Barkley also took aim at Rivers and Embiid’s comments after the game seven loss to Atlanta, which Simmons took as being thrown under the bus.

But Barkley said it was nowhere near as hard as they should have gone.

“That was the softest criticism, that is a fair criticism,” he said.

“First of all, I blame Ben number one because he’s already got one coach ran out of town because he wouldn’t shoot the ball but now he’s on the clock.”