As the NBA trade deadline draws near, the complicated issue of Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers remains as it is.
And based on the recent report, Philly looks stiff on their lucrative demands if ever the disgruntled star will be shipped away.
Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, the 76ers are demanding huge assets in return for trading Simmons — which makes several suitors frustrated to orchestrate a discussion. In lieu of this, Amick further noted that several league executives believe that the franchise is still patient about the availability of the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards.
Still, sources say the Sixers — who have been on the lookout for an All-Star in return for Simmons for so long now — have continued to ask for a massive haul in return while frustrating some suitors along the way. As such, some team executives remain convinced that Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is still waiting for Portland’s Damian Lillard or Washington’s Bradley Beal to be made available down the line (i.e. this summer at the earliest).
– The Athletic’s Sam Amick about 76ers and Simmons, via HoopsHype
From the past few weeks, insider Marc Stein detailed that Philadelphia will be committed to their asking price, and they are convinced of it even if they cannot land a trade centering around Simmons until the upcoming offseason.
With this newest update, the story between both sides is inclined to extend for such a long time. The 76ers are still on the radar of giving franchise man Joel Embiid its reliable right-hand man. Simmons, while still on a hiatus to address his needs, might seem focused to leave the Sixers hub.
Indeed, more to come.
