Home NBA Philadelphia 76ers reportedly prefer to ‘save’ Ben Simmons for potential deal in...

Philadelphia 76ers reportedly prefer to ‘save’ Ben Simmons for potential deal in offseason

Philadelphia 76ers prefer to play the ‘waiting game’ in the Ben Simmons sweepstakes, as the All-Star forward remains away from the team due to personal reasons.

According to Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sixers want to ‘save’ Simmons for a potential trade in the offseason, as Daryl Morey seems to have set his sights on Brooklyn Nets’ superstar James Harden.

“The 76ers continue to engage in trade talks around Simmons, who requested a trade and informed the franchise in October that he is not mentally ready to play again for the franchise and needs professional help for his mental health.

But multiple sources, including people with direct knowledge of the team’s thinking and also from rival teams involved on the Simmons front, tell The Athletic that the 76ers are believed to prefer to wait in order to pursue Harden or another superstar in the offseason and thus want to save Simmons for that potential sign-and-trade rather than take what’s available on the current market.”

Shams Charania, The Athletic

The Sixers were interested, and they reportedly made an offer to Houston for Harden, before he ends up in Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last year.

Ben Simmons has yet to make an appearance this season after informing the franchise that he’s not mentally ready to return to court. Prior to that, he demanded a trade, however, Philadelphia wants to receive back a top-40 player in a potential deal.

As a result, they hope they could snatch a superstar player like James Harden or Damian Lillard, and, obviously, the best time to do that is the offseason.

The Sixers are hanging sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 27-19 record. They had the best record in the East last season with Simmons as their starting guard.

Exit mobile version