Simmons Prediction Thread

[FNG]

Simmons showed up unexpectedly last night (they thought he might show up later in the week) and will begin practicing after his Covid test. It's anyone's guess what will happen next. We have two recent situations where an athlete said he wanted to be traded, but then reluctantly showed up at camp anyway. Jimmy Butler and Aaron Rodgers. So the question is will this turn out more like the Rodgers situation or Butler's. Two months ago, all the sports pundits were saying Rodgers would never play for the Packers again, but look where we are now. Rodgers is back, and the Pack is 4-1.

Personally, I see this as more of a Rodgers situation than a Butler. Like Green Bay, Philly is already a contender...both athletes wanted out for reasons other than winning. In contrast, Butler looked at our roster and had decided we weren't good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs. And since he's much more of a dick than Rodgers or Simmons, he created a totally disruptive environment and gave Minnesota no choice but to take a bad deal. Simmons seems much more like Rodgers than Butler and isn't likely to throw tantrums like Jimmy did. He still wants to be traded, but he also wants to win, so he's playing his best despite not getting what he wants. So my guess is Simmons will give in to Morey, just like Rodgers did, and play through the 2021-22 season.

Two things could change my conclusion:

1) An offer for Simmons much better than what is currently out there. I don't see this happening, unless an Irving for Simmons deal happens. It makes a lot of sense, because both teams are better tomorrow than today if that deal gets done.

2) The Philly fans could refuse to accept Simmons. Rodgers is still popular in GB, but if you read the Philly message boards, the fan base is mixed on Simmons. If he comes back and plays like he normally does and the team wins (which it will if he and Embiid are healthy), I think the fans will embrace him. But they will likely turn on him if he plays like he did in Game 7 or if the 76ers start the season slow.

We'll have to wait and see...

[Wolvesfan21]

Simmons showed up unexpectedly last night (they thought he might show up later in the week) and will begin practicing after his Covid test. It's anyone's guess what will happen next. We have two recent situations where an athlete said he wanted to be traded, but then reluctantly showed up at camp anyway. Jimmy Butler and Aaron Rodgers. So the question is will this turn out more like the Rodgers situation or Butler's. Two months ago, all the sports pundits were saying Rodgers would never play for the Packers again, but look where we are now. Rodgers is back, and the Pack is 4-1.

Personally, I see this as more of a Rodgers situation than a Butler. Like Green Bay, Philly is already a contender...both athletes wanted out for reasons other than winning. In contrast, Butler looked at our roster and had decided we weren't good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs. And since he's much more of a dick than Rodgers or Simmons, he created a totally disruptive environment and gave Minnesota no choice but to take a bad deal. Simmons seems much more like Rodgers than Butler and isn't likely to throw tantrums like Jimmy did. He still wants to be traded, but he also wants to win, so he's playing his best despite not getting what he wants. So my guess is Simmons will give in to Morey, just like Rodgers did, and play through the 2021-22 season.

Two things could change my conclusion:

1) An offer for Simmons much better than what is currently out there. I don't see this happening, unless an Irving for Simmons deal happens. It makes a lot of sense, because both teams are better tomorrow than today if that deal gets done.

2) The Philly fans could refuse to accept Simmons. Rodgers is still popular in GB, but if you read the Philly message boards, the fan base is mixed on Simmons. If he comes back and plays like he normally does and the team wins (which it will if he and Embiid are healthy), I think the fans will embrace him. But they will likely turn on him if he plays like he did in Game 7 or if the 76ers start the season slow.

We'll have to wait and see...

I think that GB compromised though for Rodgers. Isn't he getting let out of his deal after this season, they cut a season off his deal or something. So he is going to get what he wants eventually. He's kind of a diva as well and enjoys having people talk about him.

I don't think Simmons is a diva, he would rather I think not have people talk about him all the time. So I don't think his trade request wasn't done just for show to speak or to be in the headlines. He really wants out of Philly and so do the fans want him gone. They don't want him there either.

So I think as soon as he is booed, which he will by Philly fans he is going to put more pressure on the Sixers to get a deal done. Maybe a mysterious leg injury shows up, maybe a little back pain, maybe he can't play because of it and sits down.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Ben Simmons returned because he wanted his money -- nothing more, nothing less. Both the Sixers and Simmons still want to part ways. Nothing has changed except for Simmons is at the facility more. Don't be surprised though if the regular season starts and we see DNP's logged for "lower leg soreness" or "back pain" for Simmons. Philadelphia can't refuse to pay him nor can their team doctors tell Simmons what pain he does or doesn't have. Keep getting them checks, Ben.

[FNG]

Simmons showed up unexpectedly last night (they thought he might show up later in the week) and will begin practicing after his Covid test. It's anyone's guess what will happen next. We have two recent situations where an athlete said he wanted to be traded, but then reluctantly showed up at camp anyway. Jimmy Butler and Aaron Rodgers. So the question is will this turn out more like the Rodgers situation or Butler's. Two months ago, all the sports pundits were saying Rodgers would never play for the Packers again, but look where we are now. Rodgers is back, and the Pack is 4-1.

Personally, I see this as more of a Rodgers situation than a Butler. Like Green Bay, Philly is already a contender...both athletes wanted out for reasons other than winning. In contrast, Butler looked at our roster and had decided we weren't good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs. And since he's much more of a dick than Rodgers or Simmons, he created a totally disruptive environment and gave Minnesota no choice but to take a bad deal. Simmons seems much more like Rodgers than Butler and isn't likely to throw tantrums like Jimmy did. He still wants to be traded, but he also wants to win, so he's playing his best despite not getting what he wants. So my guess is Simmons will give in to Morey, just like Rodgers did, and play through the 2021-22 season.

Two things could change my conclusion:

1) An offer for Simmons much better than what is currently out there. I don't see this happening, unless an Irving for Simmons deal happens. It makes a lot of sense, because both teams are better tomorrow than today if that deal gets done.

2) The Philly fans could refuse to accept Simmons. Rodgers is still popular in GB, but if you read the Philly message boards, the fan base is mixed on Simmons. If he comes back and plays like he normally does and the team wins (which it will if he and Embiid are healthy), I think the fans will embrace him. But they will likely turn on him if he plays like he did in Game 7 or if the 76ers start the season slow.

We'll have to wait and see...

I think that GB compromised though for Rodgers. Isn't he getting let out of his deal after this season, they cut a season off his deal or something. So he is going to get what he wants eventually. He's kind of a diva as well and enjoys having people talk about him.

I don't think Simmons is a diva, he would rather I think not have people talk about him all the time. So I don't think his trade request wasn't done just for show to speak or to be in the headlines. He really wants out of Philly and so do the fans want him gone. They don't want him there either.

So I think as soon as he is booed, which he will by Philly fans he is going to put more pressure on the Sixers to get a deal done. Maybe a mysterious leg injury shows up, maybe a little back pain, maybe he can't play because of it and sits down.

There was a "compromise", but ultimately GB got what they wanted and Rodgers didn't. Essentially GB voided the third year of his contract (leaving just 2 more) and agreed to review the situation at the end of the year. Maybe Philly gives Simmons a similarly inconsequential concession in order to allow him to save some face while Embiid and other teammates talk publicly about how much they need him. But you're right...the Philly fans are not as forgiving as Packer fans, and they will boo if things go south. My gut though tells me this team (when healthy) is too talented to lose many games, and they will start the season at the same 50+ win pace they do every season. Heck, they might even be better because Simmons has a chip on his shoulder and wants to show them. We've all seen him drain jump shots in practice...maybe he gets pissed off enough to start taking open shots in games. Like I said, we don't know...but this smells much more like Rodgers 2.0 than Butler 2.0

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

FNG, this situation is much closer to James Harden's last year than it is Aaron Rodgers' situation in Green Bay. Keep in mind that's a different sport where player empowerment isn't as demanding on the league as it is in the NBA. Harden wanted out of Houston, reluctantly showed up to the team, and sandbagged the first couple weeks before getting what he wanted. Simmons' future looks more like that.

Rodgers is a franchise icon and on the last few years of his career in which he played them all for the Packers. He's won a Super Bowl. He's been a fan favorite. He's a sure Hall of Famer on the first ballot. None of these apply to Simmons in Philadelphia and his best years are likely ahead of him. He wants them to be somewhere else. It's just a bad comparison and feels like a reach to me.

[FNG]

Ben Simmons returned because he wanted his money -- nothing more, nothing less. Both the Sixers and Simmons still want to part ways. Nothing has changed except for Simmons is at the facility more. Don't be surprised though if the regular season starts and we see DNP's logged for "lower leg soreness" or "back pain" for Simmons. Philadelphia can't refuse to pay him nor can their team doctors tell Simmons what pain he does or doesn't have. Keep getting them checks, Ben.

I don't think Rodgers came back because of the world famous Green Bay nightlife and cuisine and tropical climate! No, like Simmons he came back because he's not stupid and wanted the money, and he realized Green Bay was more stubborn than he was and wasn't about to give in to his demands. Either Rodgers or Simmons could pull a Butler and decide to childishly disrupt the franchise-that's really the only card they have to play here. But the 76er message boards tell me they don't think Ben has that in him. Yeah, Morey still wants Simmons gone, but only if he can get back an All-Star in return. And we all know that isn't going to happen...at least not right now.

We'll have to see if Simmons plays the second Butler card and fakes injuries. He may, but I kind of doubt it. These guys love their paychecks, but they also love the limelight...and that doesn't happen when you're out with general soreness. Ben missed about 20% of the games last year, so if he starts missing games at a pace faster than that for odd reasons, we'll know something is up. My guess though is they will be at least 7-3 after 10, and the 76er fans will be talking playoffs again.

I'll be watching closely to see how Simmons handles this. I've been on the "trade for Simmons" train since that fateful Game 7 when he suddenly became available. But if he handles his return poorly or fakes injuries, I'll lose all interest in giving up anything for him...character has to count for something, and I wouldn't want a guy who would do that.

[FNG]

FNG, this situation is much closer to James Harden's last year than it is Aaron Rodgers' situation in Green Bay. Keep in mind that's a different sport where player empowerment isn't as demanding on the league as it is in the NBA. Harden wanted out of Houston, reluctantly showed up to the team, and sandbagged the first couple weeks before getting what he wanted. Simmons' future looks more like that.

Rodgers is a franchise icon and on the last few years of his career in which he played them all for the Packers. He's won a Super Bowl. He's been a fan favorite. He's a sure Hall of Famer on the first ballot. None of these apply to Simmons in Philadelphia and his best years are likely ahead of him. He wants them to be somewhere else. It's just a bad comparison and feels like a reach to me.

We'll have to see, Cam. I agree there are some differences in the situations. But at least right now I see more similarities. 2 key players whose teams were in the running for a championship announce in the offseason they don't want to play for their team anymore. They cut off communication, and the pundits all say they're not coming back. But then training camp starts and...surprise, surprise...here they are. Now, we are going to find out if Simmons is more Harden (or Butler) or more Rodgers. I think we'll find out in the next week or so.

[Leado01]

Wait? The Packers are contenders? Have we waived the drug screening on this board?

[FNG]

Wait? The Packers are contenders? Have we waived the drug screening on this board?

Oh, oh, I might fail that screening :oops: .

But all kidding aside, unlike the Wolves team that Butler deserted, the Packers had the best record in the NFC and the 76ers had the best record in the Eastern Conference. It's unusual for players to leave teams at the top of their leagues. Harden's Rockets didn't stink, but there weren't at the top of the league like the Pack and Philly. Simmons and Rodgers left for more petty reasons, and played hard ball until they realized neither of their teams would blink. And then they caved...for the Benjamins (pardon the pun).

The more I think about this, the more I realize I have to give up the "Simmons to the Wolves" dream. Because if he does a Harden tank, I don't want him anymore. And if he doesn't, Morey won't get anything close to what he wants in order to let him go.. Simmons showing up last night was very bad news for the Simmons dream IMO.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Sam Amick

Sources: The Sixers are not currently interested in Kyrie Irving as a solution to their Ben Simmons problem.