Bogut of a similar opinion to me. Thinks Ben has shown up to practice simply to try and get told to go home by the team on paid leave until he gets moved on by Philly…
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I’m sure that’s what he’s done. But it’s the behaviour of a child who doesn’t realise such behaviour is counter productive to his objective (get a good contract somewhere else from someone prepared to offer more than minimum chips in trade).
No one in the league will want to build a side around him now and pay him what he wants.
I don’t remember ever seeing anything like this in professional team Sports before
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Is it that far removed from Harden turning up fat and phoning it in at Houston last year?
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Nope, but you know, one’s Ben Simmons and one’s James Harden.
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Harden was in a more impenetrable position than Ben. Because he was the franchise player at Houston and knew the Rockets would do everything to appease him, he showed up out of shape, didn’t turn up to some practices, went to strip clubs knowing they wouldn’t punish him. He had them over a barrel. He played well to begin with to show everyone he’s still James Harden, but then downed tools to force a move. But at least he did show up and play some games.
Also at play here is the trade kicker, as explained below:
Seems as if he’s got a 15% trade kicker in his current contract. So if Ben gets traded, he gets paid an extra sum of money, which is 15% of his current salary. He’s been fined by the Sixers, which is taken out of the 25% that they have withheld, but if he gets traded he will make that money back and also get paid the difference of his withheld salary less the amount he’s been fined.
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Harden is one of the best offensive threats in NBA history and has shown that he can take teams deep into the playoffs. He was the best player on his team and only wanted to leave because he wanted a roster he could win with.
Simmons plays second fiddle to Embiid, can’t shoot beyond about 8 feet, has statistically plateaued since his rookie season, needs to hide in the dunker spot on offence if he’s not handling the ball, is the only point guard in history who you could effectively play hack-a-shaq on, and goes to absolute water in the playoffs.
And he wants to leave because it’s too tough and he’s in the spotlight.
Apples and oranges
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How the ■■■■ is Simmons anything like LBJ!
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Knicks - Celtics this morning.
Do you reckon I can sneaky watch it while in participating in this work teleconference?
(Edit, got asked a question while typing this. Hahahah)
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Only early but Celtics looks like hot trash. Grant Williams starting, Smart running the point… 
How’s the Kemba footage at the start. Could there be more hugs?
Man the Knicks have sucked for such a long time, but there is something about the sound of the crowd in that building that you would love to see them do well. It has an energy about it most stadiums don’t.
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Watching the Sixers through the first quarters and they are missing Ben’s ball handling. Maxey is fun but not ready yet. Drummond is a very nice pick up though and settles the second team.
Not to mention his defensive efforts. The new rule interpretations work for Thybulle
Robinson has been strong so far
Holy ■■■■ the Knicks just choked so hard at the end of regulation. Up 6 with the ball, turned it over twice and then gave up 2 3’s in the last 6 seconds to let Celtics force overtime.
WTF!
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The most Knicks thing you will ever see
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Lol, brick after brick in OT
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Yeah that was a tale of two halves at the start of it they couldn’t miss!