Philadelphia 76ers reject Ben Simmons trade offer

Philadelphia has reportedly already rejected a mouth-watering trade proposition to keep Ben Simmons on its roster — for now, at least.

The Ben Simmons sweepstakes have officially started, but the Philadelphia struggling star is not going anywhere just yet.

According to KRON4 News in the US, the 76ers declined a trade offer from the Indiana Pacers. The reported trade would have sent a first-round pick — presumably No. 13 in this year’s draft — and Malcolm Brogdon to Philadelphia in exchange for Simmons.

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NBA reporter Jason Dumas tweeted: “The Sixers have already fielded offers for Ben Simmons but continue to hold a stance that they will only trade him for an all-star calibre player. They most recently turned down a deal with the Pacers that included Malcolm Brogdon and a 1st round pick.”

The trade rumours surrounding the 24-year-old have been flying around the league since Simmons’ agent, and CEO of Klutch Sports, Rich Paul met with the 76ers’ top brass at the NBA Combine to discuss trade possibilities.

However, it may be difficult for the 76ers to get the right trade for the 2016 first-overall draft pick. After a horrendous postseason, Simmons’ trade value is at an all-time low.

Simmons shot only 34.2 per cent from the free-throw line this postseason. He now owns the record for the lowest playoff free-throw percentage in NBA history for a player with 70 attempts.

Simmons also let his team down by only scoring only five points in a crucial Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Head coach Doc Rivers, however, wants Simmons in Philadelphia long-term, and he has the game plan to try and break his shooting slump.

“I’m very bullish on Ben still,” Rivers said. “But there’s work. There is. And Ben will be willing to do it, and that’s the key. Sometimes you have to go through stuff to see it, and to be honest with it.”

Simmons and Brogdon won’t be trading places.

Meanwhile, Brogdon is coming off a breakout year for the Pacers and has been an integral part of Indiana’s success since being acquired from the Bucks in 2019. The 2016 second-round pick, the same draft as Simmons, averaged career-highs in points (21.2) and rebounds (5.3) while averaging 5.9 assists per game this season.

Throughout his career, Brogdon has averaged 15.1 points and 4.7 assists, while shooting 38.6 per cent from the three-point line. He’s a poised floor general, sharpshooter and tenacious defender. He would have been a strong fit for Philadelphia.

The Pacers are not the only team vying for the Simmons services. The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly want the three-time All-Star.

The 76ers could also look to include him in a potential trade deal for the disgruntled Damian Lillard, according to The Ringer.

This story first appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission