Ben Simmons may be gone from Philadelphia, but it seems there are still hard feelings from the falling out that led to his departure.
Sixers star Joel Embiid has expressed frustration several times over the Simmons situation, and now veteran wing Danny Green has reportedly joined Embiid in venting his disappointment at his former teammate.
Green was asked during a recent podcast appearance about the prospect of Simmons suiting up for his new team, the Nets, when Brooklyn visits the Sixers on March 10.
The 34-year-old three-time NBA champion didn't mince words.
"Will we shake hands to start? Probably not," Green said.
Simmons, 25, has joined his new team for workouts, but it's unclear when he'll appear in game action. A recent report by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne indicated Simmons was still "weeks" away from taking the floor for the Nets.
Green seemed to suggest Simmons would probably prefer to avoid playing at Wells Fargo Center if he can help it.
"I'd be surprised if he played in the game," Green told Adam W. Herman of NBC Sports Philly, per Legion Hoops. "We all know he doesn't like to play in Philly."
Simmons of course famously requested a trade from the Sixers following his brutal performance in last year's Eastern Conference playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick appeared to lose confidence in himself as his well-documented shooting woes increasingly came under scrutiny, with Simmons at one point even passing up a wide-open dunk.
After a brief, reportedly half-hearted showing at Sixers camp in the summer, Simmons held out all season, citing mental health issues, while the Sixers withheld his game checks, with some reports saying the holdout cost Simmons roughly $20 million.
Sixers brass reportedly fielded a variety of trade packages for Simmons, but held out for a top player in return for the three-time All-Star. Their patience was seemingly rewarded when they struck a blockbuster deal with the Nets shortly before the trade deadline that brought James Harden to Philly.
The trade brought the speculation and constant distractions surrounding Simmons to a merciful end, but the Nets-Sixers rivalry is sure to see renewed intensity when the teams face off with Harden and Simmons in their new threads.
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