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Ben Simmons is still a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. For now, it looks like the enigmatic star will start the season in Philly as training camp opens September 28. The summer has been one where Ben Simmons' name was on everyone's lips that follows the NBA.
Many have an opinion on Ben Simmons, so let's dissect why the All-NBA defender is still in the City of Brotherly Love.
#5 No one wants Ben Simmons
After relentless reports that Ben Simmons will be traded, he's still a Sixer. You'd think by now a transaction would have taken place, yet nothing has transpired. Ben Simmons' self-inflicted, metaphorical wounds continue to be ripped open amidst a myriad of reports. However, the fact that he is still in Philadelphia is a shock given Philly's history of trades.
Are teams passing on Ben Simmons because of all the drama swirling in Philadelphia? Do teams consider Ben Simmons to be way too much of a problem to bring into an organization?
Maybe.
#4 Trade demands are too high
Ben Simmons, 25, and a 3-time all-star, has been shopped around in exhorbitant trade scenarios. It appears that the Philadelphia 76ers are attempting to fleece teams out of their stars -- which is an intelligent move considering not many pro sports trades return equal value.
The Sixers are holding out in hopes some teams will be desperate enough to pull the trigger on a young talent who has all the tools to become great in the NBA.
#3 The Sixers don't want to deal with Clutch Sports
Rich Paul of Clutch Sports, Ben Simmons' agent, has reportedly threatened Philadelphia with wanting 2nd-year standout Tyrese Maxey out of Philadelphia as hotter heads have seemingly prevailed.
The thing is, wanting Maxey out of Philadelphia doesn't make sense. I don't think this was ever the case being that Maxey is a talented player who could help the Sixers tremendously by simply growing into his Philadelphia skin.
Clutch Sports has become an influential force in the NBA, and its ties to LeBron James given he's still playing are somewhat of a conflict of interest for fans not understanding that Clutch Sports may be a paradox.
In my estimation, this is all about damage control on both sides, with Ben Simmons holding the gasoline -- and the match.
#2 Is something deeper is going on with Ben Simmons?
Questions must be asked. Athletes playing professional sports go through things the same as anyone else - they just have more money than the average sports fan. In April during the NBA season, Ben Simmons' sister was in the news, and no one knows how her situation affected her younger brother.
Fans do not care about issues affecting athletes off the court, yet that reality does in no way say that something isn't going on with Ben Simmons. Personal issues rarely see the light of day and are usually handled in-house by teams. Yet nothing is absolute, and only time will tell if Ben Simmons is in fact going through something so deep it's dramatically affecting his play.
If Ben Simmons is having mental health issues, surely the NBPA would become involved if Simmons is traded with prior knowledge of mental distress. This could all be nothing, yet to dismiss the possibility given Ben Simmons' uncommon behavior in those fourth quarters vs. Atlanta would obviously be erroneous.
#1 Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia
Before Ben Simmons was drafted number one overall in 2016, it was widely known Simmons wanted to play on the West Coast. Did that ever change?
Could the workout vids showing Ben Simmons as a capable shooter from deep tell another story of an athlete with so many gifts is suppressing those gifts simply to get out of Philadelphia?
That he is forcing the Sixers' hand by inexplicably sabotaging the Sixers' efforts to win ball games by essentially not doing anything offensively that would positively affect the outcome?
Weirder things have happened.
Guess the Lakers players!
