Sixers coach Doc Rivers desperately wanted to cut Ben Simmons loose

Ben Simmons’ exit from Philadelphia couldn’t come soon enough as the 76ers coach revealed why he badly wanted the Aussie gone.

Doc Rivers wanted to rid of Ben Simmons-related distractions. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers was ready to move on from Ben Simmons long before the 76ers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in a package for NBA All-Star guard James Harden.

“The guys were just over it,” Rivers told Sports Illustrated about the Joel Embiid-led team that experienced morale issues leading up to the trade.

“We were winning games and every town we went to, we were talking about Ben. I don’t know if we could have gotten through the second half of the season with that hanging over our heads. I was praying something happened.”

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The New York Post reports the Sixers made the move to acquire Harden just hours before the trade deadline in February, in a package that included sharpshooter Seth Curry, big man Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks.

The blockbuster deal came after Simmons requested a trade out of Philadelphia last year and distanced himself from the team. At one point, he informed the Sixers he was not mentally ready to play and skipped training camp in September.

Simmons’ break-up with Philadelphia was a messy one. (Photo by Christian Petersen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Simmons arrived at the Sixers’ facility the next month after getting hit with a number of fines by the team.

Just days before the Sixers traded Simmons to the Nets, Yahoo Sports reported Philadelphia had fined Simmons more than $AUD25 million for missing 50 regular-season games — adding that his total fines could top $40 million.

“He was losing a lot of money,” Embiid told Sports Illustrated. “At some point I started to feel bad for him.”

Embiid, who’s currently in the MVP race amid a stellar season, said he has not spoken to Simmons since the trade — let alone in the months leading up to the move.

“We never saw him (around the Sixers facility),” said Embiid, who is apparently still unsure about what caused the Sixers-Simmons split. “I don’t have any hard feelings. I don’t have any hate toward him. I wouldn’t mind being friends. That’s just me. I don’t care. Honestly.

“I respect the decision he made. I think it’s unfortunate what happened, but to me it’s whatever.”

Embiid, who is averaging 29.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game this season, said he is focused on winning. The 46-29 Sixers entered Thursday in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Doc Rivers wants to drive Philadelphia deep into the playoffs. Photo: Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

Simmons, meanwhile, has yet to play this season. He is currently rehabbing a herniated disc in his back that he previously dealt with during his Sixers tenure.

The Nets entered Thursday in eighth place in the East, a game above the Charlotte Hornets, which would qualify Brooklyn for the play-in tournament at playoff time. The play-in round begins April 12 and concludes April 15.

Things could change rather quickly for the Nets, as star guard Kyrie Irving became a full-time player after Mayor Eric Adams revised New York City’s private-sector vaccine mandate last week.

The Nets host the Bucks on Friday, while the Sixers play the Pistons in Detroit.

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