Sources told ESPN that the Philadelphia 76ers had not paid Ben Simmons the $8.25 million — 25% of his contract — that it owed on Friday and kept that money in an escrow account.
Going forward, the 76ers will deduct any fines Simmons earned as the season progresses. Sources told ESPN that if, or when, Simmons shows up, he'll be given the money that's left of him.
The next line of demarcation in the saga will come on Monday, when the 76ers play their first pre-season game against the Raptors in Toronto. If Simmons does not return to the team before that game, he will be fined approximately $227, 000 – Simmons will be fined for every game he does not skip ahead.
Sources told ESPN that at a meeting between Simmons and Philadelphia's leadership last month, the team made Simmons aware that it was a possibility — and, at the time, Simmons responded by saying that he understood it, and This will not change their attitude. either upon reporting to Philadelphia or upon cancellation of your business request.
"We're in this for the long haul," a source close to Simmons told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne this week.
When asked about the possibility of getting the money back from Simmons – who had already received $8.25 million on August 2, as stated in his contract – he had to pay two 25% of his contract before the start of the season. % Share - Daryl Morey, Philadelphia's president of basketball operations, declined to say exactly what would happen but left the possibility open.
"I would say we're not going to talk about fines or the specifics of things like that, but I would say it's clearly spelled out in the CBA and its contract," Morey said during the Precision press conference on Monday. " .
As 76 people return to court this week - and not Simmons - the temperature has only risen over the situation.
Morey tried to steer it in a positive direction during his news conference on Monday, comparing it to the turmoil between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers—only for Rodgers to return and, one night from that news conference. First, Green Bay headed. Last-second win over the San Francisco 49ers.
"I think there's a lot of hope," Morey said. "I will say that last night I saw a player lead his team to victory when a thousand pounds of digital ink is spilled on the fact that he will never play for that team again.
"Look, every situation is different, but we have a lot of optimism that we can make it work here."
Superstar center Joel Embiid also initially expressed optimism about reuniting with Simmons, saying he was disappointed that the situation had turned between the two sides, but he still believed That he might win with Simmons as his co-star.
"Honestly, I'd probably say I'm disappointed," Embiid said. "Because I - look, obviously we won't do anything but what's been said through the media and you guys are tweeting on your sources and content, I'll look at it like what we see' ...we've been so good, and so impressive, in the regular season, that we know it's working. ... I'm disappointed that we're in this position. ... I me Just disappointed that he's not here, because he knows that too. He knows we can win together."
In the wake of a later report by The Athletic that Simmons had decided he couldn't really win with Embiid, the big man shot back during a lengthy reply when asked by reporters after practice Thursday afternoon. killed.
"The situation is depressing, humiliating for all those who are here fighting for their lives," Embiid told reporters at the team's practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. Building his team around Simmons was also wrong.
"I think our teams are built, whether it's shooting needs or Vibe 5 and all that stuff, I feel like [Simmons] was always here. And we still have," Embiid told All 3- Said before listing. Point shooter on the roster. "... our team has always been tailored to his needs."
Embiid quoted the report as saying, "It was amazing to see." “We would say that, even because of signing Al [Al Horford]. We got rid of Jimmy [Butler], which I still think was a mistake, just to be sure. That [Simmons] needed the ball in his hands. That's the decision he made. Like I said, it's amazing."