It didn't take long after the 76ers' playoff exit for the Ben Simmons trade rumors to start swirling — in fact, they started well before then. Though he ultimately stayed with the team throughout the season, his name was one of the most intriguing to discuss around the deadline, and this offseason should be no different.
The first major report regarding Simmons and his future in trade talks, however, seems to pour cold water on the idea that the team will actively be shopping him.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Ben Simmons' agent, Rich Paul, and Sixers management entered discussions regarding the future of the polarizing 24-year-old guard. Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, reportedly engaged the team on whether or not it made sense to find a trade prior to the beginning of the 2021-22 season, though no official request was made and talks are expected to be ongoing. However, Woj also added a fairly important line: "The 76ers are committed to keeping Simmons as a central piece of their franchise."
It would then seem like a request from Simmons would have to be the impetus for a trade, and his answer in a press conference after the loss to the Hawks doesn't indicate that a request is imminent.
Woj also says that the Chicago pre-draft camp, where talks between Paul and the team started, is being used by other teams to gauge the Sixers' interest in certain trade packages for Simmons. However, the Sixers don't seem to be interested in entertaining ideas that don't blow them away.
"...Philadelphia remains reluctant to break up the tandem of Joel Embiid and Simmons without maximizing a return and exhausting all possibilities to improve Simmons' offense, sources said," wrote Woj.
Improving Simmons' offense has been a focal point for years, but drastic measures such as changing his shooting hand have been rumored already as we enter what looks to be a tumultuous offseason. One also has to wonder how the aforementioned Embiid feels about Simmons' future with the team, especially given the social media frenzy that flared up as a result of his interesting press conference answer.
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