AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Philadelphia 76ers point guard BenSimmons has reportedly placed one of his properties in the city—alocation within The Ritz-Carlton Residences of Philadelphia—onthe market amid trade rumors and has also discussed selling his homein the suburb of Moorestown, New Jersey.
Keith Pompey of the PhiladelphiaInquirer reported Tuesday that Simmons is asking $3.1 million for hisplace at The Ritz and would seek $4.9 million for the New Jerseyhouse.
The 25-year-old LSU product didn’treport for Sixers’ training camp while awaiting a trade.
Philadelphia’s front office respondedby placing $8.25 million owed to Simmons on Friday into an escrowinstead, and the team is planning to take roughly $360,000 from thataccount as a fine for each game he doesn’t show up for throughout thepreseason and regular season if a trade doesn’t happen, per ESPN’sTim Bontemps and Bobby Marks.
Pompey reported Friday the ClevelandCavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and MinnesotaTimberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors were among theteams that have recently checked in on Simmons’ availability.
The point guard came under fire afterthe Sixers were eliminated from the 2021 NBA playoffs in the secondround by the Atlanta Hawks. He scored just 19 points over the series’final three games and infamously passed up a wide-open layup in thefinal minutes of Game 7.
Sixers teammate Joel Embiid said lastweek he felt the franchise did everything in its power to build aroster to help Simmons, who’s a strong all-around contributor asidefrom struggles with his shooting.
“I feel like our teams have beenbuilt, whether it’s the shooting need or stretch 5 and all thatstuff, I feel like always had it here. And we still haveit,” Embiid told reporters. “… Our teams have always beenbuilt around his needs.”
The superstar center added: “Thesituation is disappointing, borderline kind of disrespectful to allthe guys that are out here fighting for their lives.”
Meanwhile, Philly’s front office hasmade it clear it’s not just going to dump him to end the saga andwill wait for what they feel is a fair-market offer, per Pompey.
“The team’s position that it won’ttrade him just to make a trade has been consistent,” Pompey wrote Tuesday. “The Sixers are trying to win a championship and believe they’re ina better position to win one with him on the roster.”
It doesn’t appear that stance has movedSimmons any closer to returning to the team as he put up a home for sale and is working toward potentially listing the other one.
The 76ers are scheduled to open theregular season Oct. 20 when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans.
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