Philadelphia 76ers fans have marked March 10 in their calendars since the team traded Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden. They’re hoping for a chance to boo the two-time All-Star who stopped wanting to play for them.
Simmons cited mental health issues as the reason he was not a good fit for the Sixers this season. While Nets fans are looking forward to Simmons’ on-court debut while he recovers from past trouble, it looks like he’ll at least be out of the frantic vibe.
But the question is why? Is this for Simmons to acclimate to the wild or something to do with his salary? Let’s unpack the latest version because the answer could be both.
Speaking to reporters at the Carole Hoefener Center shootout Tuesday, Nets coach Steve Nash said he thought Simmons would do well to get used to being interrupted by fans. Alex Schiffer of The Athletic.
Steve Nash said he was ready to talk if Ben Simmons needed it before he returned to Philadelphia. Thinks it’s good for him to get rid of the squabble, even if he’s not playing.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex_Schiffer) March 8, 2022
Remember, there is always a chance that the Nets will return to Philadelphia during the playoffs. If that happens, Simmons could get an idea of what to expect if he even plays Thursday’s game in person.
The Nets don’t want Simmons to get used to being scolded ruthlessly for the first time in the postseason, so he may be exposing himself to extreme conditions this way.
However, there may be another reason he will be present: he wants $20 million that his rep might think he still owes.
Per Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice:
There’s Kevin Durant vs. Joel Embiid, James Harden vs. his former teammates, and Ben Simmons vs. pretty much everyone. This is the last part that many are focused on, and league sources expect Simmons and his rep to file a formal complaint against the Sixers at some point in the coming days.
It has been speculated in league circles that Simmons, who showed up for Thursday’s game, is simply setting the stage for Simmons and Klutch Sports’ argument when a complaint is filed. Reports of a beefed up security presence at Thursday’s game circulated Tuesday morning in what a cynical observer would say is designed to counter a poison aimed specifically at Simmons.
Simmons, Neubeck pointed out, forfeited a salary of about $20 million this season due to not meeting his contractual obligations with the Sixers. But it looks like he’s hoping to recoup some of that in a pending arbitration case. So maybe Klutch founder and Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, thinks a contentious guard who tolerates a lot of hooting will help his cause in some way.
You see, you can’t expect someone with mental health to struggle in these conditions. Look what he went through just sitting there, so imagine him playing night after night. Give him back his salary!
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles recently came out boldly about her mental health issues, and the issue came into the spotlight last summer. Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers also recently spoke about how the fight is affecting him and his family:
Russell Westbrook opens last few days and this Lakers season:
“I support my wife in how she feels. She and my family have reached a point where it’s really weighing on them… My family doesn’t even want to go to home games.”pic.twitter.com/LFQ2uy1zAz
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 8, 2022
This is, of course, a difficult question. Beyond that, there is a player empowerment angle. Contender owners and NBA commissioner Adam Silver will likely be paying close attention as well. If Simmons can get back the money he lost, it could set a bad precedent for small-market teams that already have trouble keeping their stars happy. Can a player sign a long-term contract, then find a way to not play until they are traded, and then still get paid for everything? There is something to see.
This is being watched by the grandmasters of the league’s star players. If Simmons gets his dollars back, it will set a precedent that will scare a lot of them (and for good reason). https://t.co/Tug4GjSVVw
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) March 8, 2022
Simmons did not participate in the Nets’ current journey. He wasn’t with the team in Boston, and he doesn’t appear to be in Charlotte for Tuesday’s game. At the very least, it’s curious why the team invited him to the 66ers game.
Isn’t it, as Nash said, so he can get familiar with what might seem like LeBron James’ villainous return to Cleveland for the first time since leaving for the Miami Heat? Is this to fit Simmons into his future legal pursuits? Some of both, how win-win?
Neubeck continues:
Put Simmons in the middle of this storm, the argument goes, and it’s considered Proof A for why Simmons couldn’t and didn’t meet his obligations to the Sixers before he was traded, why he wasn’t willing to work for this franchise before it was sold. And the debate over Simmons’ commitment to the franchise is what will eventually take center stage, even if Simmons’ side of the dispute appears to be fighting an uphill battle in their quest to recoup their lost money.
This is a wild story.
Nets fans are used to Kyrie Irving making headlines outside of the basketball court. Fans now routinely turn on CNN for city and state updates on COVID-19 protocols and for the latest on their local basketball team. Now, they’re likely to see more national coverage outside of ESPN exploring this delicate aspect of mental health.
The more things change on this Nets team, the more they stay the same.
They have trouble getting their Big Three on the court and regularly make news about other things. The mere presence of Simmons on the bench in Philadelphia would create quite a spectacle among fans with a certain reputation for throwing snowballs at Santa Claus.
It’s a nascent rivalry waiting to explode. Let’s see if this scene helps Simmons wring some lost paycheck out of the Sixers. Fans of both teams and the league as a whole will be watching with popcorn ready.
