‘Unbelievable’: Ben Simmons could miss entire NBA season amid stubborn trade stand-off

Time is running out for Ben Simmons to be traded this NBA season and the stubborn Philadelphia 76ers aren’t helping his cause.

Ben Simmons is reportedly willing to sit out the entire NBA season if he does not escape from the Philadelphia 76ers by the mid-season trade deadline in a few weeks time.

Simmons hasn’t played at all for the Sixers this season citing mental health reasons.

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After he was criticised for his performance in last year’s playoffs by teammate Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers, the Australian star has refused to suit up for Philadelphia.

But as the NBA campaign reaches its halfway mark, the Sixers are running out of time to trade Simmons before the mid-season trade window ends on February 10.

General manager Daryl Morey has been determined on getting a bona fide superstar in return for Simmons, but that appears extremely unlikely.

Such is Morey’s stubbornness on landing a big fish, he has reportedly rejected a blockbuster trade package from the Detroit Pistons.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Pistons offered Jerami Grant, rising star Saddiq Bey, Kelly Olynyk and a first-round pick for Simmons, but even that generous deal didn’t garner much enthusiasm from the Sixers.

Philly wants a big fish at the trade table in return for Ben Simmons.

However even if Simmons is not traded by the February 10 deadline, the 25-year-old is said to be at peace with the fact he could go the whole season without playing a single game.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne told NBA Today: “He does want to move on of course and restart his life and his career. He’s been going very diligently to work with his therapist.

“I think the sense is, if it takes the entire season to trade him, if it takes all year for the Sixers to find a trade that’s acceptable for them, he’s prepared for that.”

There are conflicting reports about whether Simmons is still being fined by the 76ers.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported earlier this month the Sixers had stopped fining him for missing games and training sessions, while ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said Simmons is continuing to rack up fines.

Sheldburne said: “It sounds unbelievable to think a guy that’s still getting fined for every game, for every practice, for every weightlifting session that he’s missing.

“As of the January 15th paycheck that he got, there’s still heavy fines being laid on him every single time.

“He’s OK if it goes the whole season if that’s how it goes.”

Philadelphia is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference standings and risks wasting an MVP-calibre season by Embiid if they don’t get something in return for Simmons soon.

Simmons could go the whole NBA season without playing a game. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP

Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley, who played for Philadelphia, believes since Simmons isn’t going to play for the Sixers again, they need to bite the bullet and trade him now.

“He’s never going to play another game in Philly,” Barkley said.

“The fans won’t forgive him. I know those fans very well. I thought my name was Charles Barkley son of a b***h for a long time when I was there.”

“They have to make a trade. You have to move on from a bad relationship.

“They’re not using him and Joel Embiid has been playing great this year, so they’re wasting his talents.”

With under a month left until the trade deadline, the teams most likely to be involved in a potential Simmons trade include the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.