Morey’s Ever-Shrinking Leverage

[cpg29]

Let's roll as is and see what we have. As much as I like Simmons, the way he is handling this is not a good look. So if KAT calls him out one day is he going to go home and cry for a trade (I know they are friends just making a point). KAT vented about all the change. Ant and McDaniels both grew like weeds. Add that to the list of reasons to be optimistic I posted in another thread.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Let's roll as is and see what we have. As much as I like Simmons, the way he is handling this is not a good look. So if KAT calls him out one day is he going to go home and cry for a trade (I know they are friends just making a point). KAT vented about all the change. Ant and McDaniels both grew like weeds. Add that to the list of reasons to be optimistic I posted in another thread.

Not sure KAT has the right to call anyone out given his track record of losing and poor defense. If anything, Simmons has earned the right to call KAT out! But yeah, I get your point....Simmons is definitely a bit of a risk.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Let's roll as is and see what we have. As much as I like Simmons, the way he is handling this is not a good look. So if KAT calls him out one day is he going to go home and cry for a trade (I know they are friends just making a point). KAT vented about all the change. Ant and McDaniels both grew like weeds. Add that to the list of reasons to be optimistic I posted in another thread.

I think I understand the point you're making in regards to Ben Simmons, but it's not really a fair one, in my opinion.

Let's rewind. James Harden was traded to Brooklyn back in January, prior to the All-Star break. Simmons and his agent were publicly rumored in trades for Harden and privately convinced they were on the move to Houston, as well as Matisse Thybulle and his agent. This went as serious as Simmons looking at real estate in Houston. We know now that Philadelphia's offer fell through because of Houston's ownership resenting Daryl Morey, but Simmons continued the season like the consummate professional. Not once did he complain to the media. He didn't throw the organization under the bus. He helped lead his team to the top seed in the conference.

Following the playoff series loss to Atlanta, it was his organization that threw him under the bus. Doc Rivers questioned -- or at least failed to support -- if their team could win a championship with Simmons leading the way. Joel Embiid specifically mentioned Simmons' blunder as the "turning point" of their loss. Danny Green went on various TV shows/podcasts talking about Simmons' struggles in the post-season. Enough is enough for the guy. What happened to win as a team and lose as a team?

Simmons still doesn't blow up on the team. He quietly and professionally requests a trade before the draft (and free agency) providing the Sixers ample time to find suitable compensation for him without further diminishing his trade value. Fast forward a few months and Morey has misplayed his hand completely by asking for the moon and the stars in return for Simmons. His stubborn and insulting approach to the rest of the league has contributed to the paltry (relatively) return they'll eventually get for a 25-year old All-NBA player. Now they're acting as if the situation will blow over seamlessly and that Simmons should return to the team. A source close to Simmons said that "it's all bullshit." That relationship is completely dead.

If anything at all, Simmons should probably be commended for how he's handled his business dating back to the Harden situation. None of this has been easy to deal with, I'm sure, and Simmons has kept most of his business quiet until his hand was forced. He gave the franchise an opportunity to trade him for decent value. Now he doesn't care at all what they get for him -- just get him out of Philadelphia.

Remember how Glen Taylor and David Kahn handled Kevin Love? I'd say this fiasco with Philadelphia isn't too far off and the player involved isn't to blame.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think Morey is likely to wait until December 15th when every player in the league is available for trade. Several good players are eligible to be traded after that date.

[cpg29]

Let's roll as is and see what we have. As much as I like Simmons, the way he is handling this is not a good look. So if KAT calls him out one day is he going to go home and cry for a trade (I know they are friends just making a point). KAT vented about all the change. Ant and McDaniels both grew like weeds. Add that to the list of reasons to be optimistic I posted in another thread.

I think I understand the point you're making in regards to Ben Simmons, but it's not really a fair one, in my opinion.

Let's rewind. James Harden was traded to Brooklyn back in January, prior to the All-Star break. Simmons and his agent were publicly rumored in trades for Harden and privately convinced they were on the move to Houston, as well as Matisse Thybulle and his agent. This went as serious as Simmons looking at real estate in Houston. We know now that Philadelphia's offer fell through because of Houston's ownership resenting Daryl Morey, but Simmons continued the season like the consummate professional. Not once did he complain to the media. He didn't throw the organization under the bus. He helped lead his team to the top seed in the conference.

Following the playoff series loss to Atlanta, it was his organization that threw him under the bus. Doc Rivers questioned -- or at least failed to support -- if their team could win a championship with Simmons leading the way. Joel Embiid specifically mentioned Simmons' blunder as the "turning point" of their loss. Danny Green went on various TV shows/podcasts talking about Simmons' struggles in the post-season. Enough is enough for the guy. What happened to win as a team and lose as a team?

Simmons still doesn't blow up on the team. He quietly and professionally requests a trade before the draft (and free agency) providing the Sixers ample time to find suitable compensation for him without further diminishing his trade value. Fast forward a few months and Morey has misplayed his hand completely by asking for the moon and the stars in return for Simmons. His stubborn and insulting approach to the rest of the league has contributed to the paltry (relatively) return they'll eventually get for a 25-year old All-NBA player. Now they're acting as if the situation will blow over seamlessly and that Simmons should return to the team. A source close to Simmons said that "it's all bullshit." That relationship is completely dead.

If anything at all, Simmons should probably be commended for how he's handled his business dating back to the Harden situation. None of this has been easy to deal with, I'm sure, and Simmons has kept most of his business quiet until his hand was forced. He gave the franchise an opportunity to trade him for decent value. Now he doesn't care at all what they get for him -- just get him out of Philadelphia.

Remember how Glen Taylor and David Kahn handled Kevin Love? I'd say this fiasco with Philadelphia isn't too far off and the player involved isn't to blame.

I see where you are coming from here. At the end of the day he is getting paid a crap ton of money to play basketball. In his situation you can either cry about it or suck it up and prove people wrong. I like guys that are wired to do the latter in the trenches with me when sh** gets hard as it surely will on the road to a championship.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I can see this thing both ways.

Cam, you are absolutely correct. He handled himself fine last season despite circumstances. Kudos to him for not airing issues in media.....which is certainly the way it is handled most often these days.

But I also agree with cpg. In fact, it pains me at times the seriousness given to men playing a kids game. And when money comes into play....especially the amounts given to players like Simmons....I just can't feel too bad for them. It's either this, or he makes peanuts like the rest of us. The idea of "loyalty" in team sports is long gone. These guys are assets, and nothing more in today's game.

[BloopOracle]

I don't think CJ McCollum and sweeteners will be traded for Simmons, I believe Morey is going to take whatever assets he can get and continue to wait for Lilllard and Beal to get antsy. I don't they're going to want to take McCollum back if the day does ever come.

[Lipoli390]

Ben's value continues to plummet. Check out this latest report:

I've talked to people who say Portland's been hesitant to move (CJ McCollum) for Ben Simmons because they think CJ is a better, more polished adult player than Ben Simmons, who was a bit of a mystery right now.
Source: Spotify

[Lipoli390]

I don't think CJ McCollum and sweeteners will be traded for Simmons, I believe Morey is going to take whatever assets he can get and continue to wait for Lilllard and Beal to get antsy. I don't they're going to want to take McCollum back if the day does ever come.

Bloop - Morey might wait for for Lillard or Beal to become available. I don't think ownership or Embiid will let that happen. But if Morey does wait, hell will freeze over before Lillard or Beal becomes available - in spite of global warming. :). At this point, I think the Sixers would be fortunate to get McCollum as the centerpiece of an incoming package for Simmons. And I think Morey now understands that. However, the latest report I posted above suggests that even McCollum may no longer be on the table.

[Lipoli390]

Here's how much money Ben Simmons will lose if he doesn't rejoin the 76ers (via @Bobby Marks)
#NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/1uSvJlOEyF - 3:08 PM
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAjjo7LXIAE5Na8.jpg

If Simmons sits out the entire season, all 82 games plus training camp, he can be fined a total of just under $23 million. That would mean he'd net about $10 million in salary for the season without playing a single game. As of the end of the day tomorrow, Simmons will have already been paid half of his annual salary - i.e., slightly over $16 million. I suspect he has some other endorsement money coming this season as well. Moreover, the Sixers would have to officially suspend Simmons before they can fine him a penny. If you think Ben's trade value is low now, imagine what it would be after a suspension.

But honestly, the question isn't whether Simmons will return and play any games for the Sixers this season. Clearly he won't. He's not going to completely jettison his pride and self-respect for another $10M that he probably doesn't need. More importantly, he knows the Sixers can't afford to play a significant number of games, much less the entire season, without Simmons or without at least some reasonable value in return that can help the team on the court or facilitate another deal during the season. The only questions are how many days (not weeks) into the season Morey will wait before trading Simmons and who/what the Sixers will ultimately get in return.