Simmons pulls trigger on 76ers divorce, tells team he’s out

Ben Simmons has secretly met with his team’s powerbrokers and reportedly dropped the bomb that he is never coming back.

Ben Simmons is out.

Ben Simmons has reportedly told 76ers officials in a secret meeting that he wants out and won’t be showing up for pre-season training.

In the biggest development of the Simmons trade sage so far, a local report from Philadelphia claims the Aussie has made his request official, leaving the team in limbo.

He is reportedly willing to be fined by the team for failing to show up to practice in order to force his trade demand.

It has all gone spectacularly wrong.

Following Simmons’ lacklustre performance in the 76ers’ loss to Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Philly head coach Doc Rivers memorably said he couldn’t answer a question about whether the 25-year-old could be the point guard on a championship-calibre team. In the space of a couple days, Simmons’ relationship with the team broke apart.

Star teammate Joel Embiid also publicly criticised Simmons over what is now infamously known as “The Pass” – when Simmons opted to dump it to Matisse Thybulle under the rim rather than shoot at the end of the Game 7 loss.

Shortly after the Sixers’ season ended, ESPN reported that discussions regarding Simmons’ future with the organisation had begun almost immediately after Game 7.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported this week the 76ers are continuing to demand a king’s ransom from any team looking to trade for Simmons and the team was reportedly comfortable in bringing Simmons back for the 2021-22 NBA season.

Ben Simmons is taking his talents elsewhere.

However, that strategy appeared to be blown out of the water on Tuesday when The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported Simmons had told the team at a meeting last week that he won’t be there for pre-season if the team fails to grant his trade request.

The report revealed Simmons met with co-managing partner Josh Harris, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, general manager Elton Brand and coach Doc Rivers to tell them he won’t be returning at all.

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

The situation was further amplified last week by Embiid finalising a four-year, fully guaranteed $US196 million ($AUD270m) supermax contract extension with the 76ers.