Ben Simmons remains missing in action at the moment. As he and the Philadelphia 76ers have broken ties with one another, Simmons has opted not to play until his trade request was granted. As a result of his decision, the team has fined him periodically for skipping out on games and other team practices. That trend began a few months ago. Today, reports confirm that the Sixers fines of Ben Simmons have tallied up past $10 million.
As long as he chooses to keep away from the organization, that number should only increase. With the team unwilling to part with him without what they would deem an equal return, this could drag itself out into the offseason. If that becomes the case, it leaves to question whether the higher authorities would involve themselves.
As it is, Ben Simmons’ leave of absence has already cost the Sixers both on and off the court. The team has played well below their standard in seasons past. Moreover, potential suitors have denied the 76ers in trade talks, in part, because of Ben’s actions. With the latest news suggesting that no deal is near, we can only sit by and wait for a solution to present itself.
The Sixers without Ben Simmons
At 19-16 on the year, the Philadelphia 76ers have maintained their playoff status thus far. However, coming off a season that saw them rank as the top seed in the East, this result presents a clear step back for the team. Even so, the remaining group can still perform as advertised. They most recently took the Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets to task in their last game.
Players like Tyrese Maxey and Georges Niang have stepped up to compensate for Simmons’s missing production. Typical standouts Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, and Joel Embiid led the team forward. With what they’ve accomplished, it ought to make us wonder how much better they could be with who they get back for Ben Simmons.
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