76ers’ Ben Simmons no longer wants to play alongside Joel Embiid due to big man’s playing style, per report

The Philadelphia 76ers‘ Media Day on Monday was centered on one matter: Ben Simmons. The All-Star guard made it identified that he would not be exhibiting as much as Media Day or coaching camp, and is selecting to steer clear of the group till a commerce is made for him. Whereas Simmons wasn’t there to reply a bunch of questions on all of the commerce rumors and pressure that transpired inside the Sixers group over the summer time, everybody was requested about him.

Crew president Daryl Morey mentioned the group had “a lot of hope” that issues would get smoothed over with Simmons. Head coach Doc Rivers cleared the air about his feedback following the Recreation 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, and confused he was not saying Simmons is not a championship-caliber level guard. Franchise centerpiece Joel Embiid spoke fondly of Simmons, saying he and Simmons have been closer last season than ever before. Embiid additionally mentioned he hopes the All-Defensive guard changes his mind and rejoins the group.

As heartfelt as the entire feedback could have appeared to everybody else, Simmons apparently is not feeling it. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the messages by the group “fell flat,” and Morey’s particular instance of evaluating Simmons’ state of affairs to Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was seen as “laughable and out of contact.”

Nicely that actually is not what the Sixers wish to hear, however much more, Amick studies that Simmons does not wish to play with Embiid anymore:

“Individuals who have intimate information of how he sees this case proceed to insist that he is achieved taking part in with Embiid. There’s nothing private about this alternative, it appears, however the 25-year-old Simmons has clearly determined that his profession is best off with out Embiid blocking the runways within the paint that he so badly must succeed.

As he sees it, sources say, the group’s option to construct its basketball ecosystem round Embiid’s model merely is not conducive to the best way he must play. So whereas Embiid insisted to reporters on Monday that he desires Simmons again, this a lot is evident: The sensation isn’t mutual.”

It makes all of the sense on the planet for Simmons to not wish to play with Embiid from a stylistic standpoint. Simmons notoriously is not comfy taking leap pictures of any sort, and is elite at attacking the rim. That may’t occur with Embiid clogging the paint. We noticed simply how a lot of an issue that grew to become towards the Hawks when Simmons turned away open leap pictures, and even a vital wide-open dunk in Recreation 7 towards the Atlanta Hawks, the latter of which was identified by Embiid after the loss. 

The match between Embiid and Simmons has been a speaking level for the final couple seasons, and it appears like as an alternative of constant to run it again with the identical outcomes, Simmons would like to hitch a group higher fitted to his skills. Now the Sixers and Simmons play the ready recreation to see which facet caves first. It appears fairly clear that Simmons has no intentions on re-joining the group, however Philadelphia’s asking value for a commerce hasn’t been met by anybody within the league. This might be a difficulty that drags out into the common season if it is not resolved quickly.