Report: Ben Simmons-76ers drama could be nearing an end

The Ben Simmons-Philadelphia 76ers saga may soon come to a close, and it’s not because the 76ers are nearing a trade destination; instead, it’s because Simmons could reportedly make his return to Philadelphia’s camp as soon as this week.

ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that discussions regarding Simmons’ return to Philadelphia have gained momentum in recent days, as the 76ers management team has been in contact with Simmons’ agents. Wojnarowski said that the 76ers front office and head coach Doc Rivers had conversations with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul that “progressed” over the weekend, bringing Simmons closer to a resolution.

Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his max contract, including a $33 million salary for the 2021-22 season. He first requested a trade away from Philadelphia after the 76ers’ Game 7 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks, a game in which the star guard was criticized by Philadelphia fans and media alike. In crunch time of that Game 7, Simmons received a pass right next to the basket, and proceeded to pass out of what looked like a wide-open dunk with less than four minutes remaining. The two-point swing would have tied the game, something the 76ers were unable to do for the rest of the game.

Simmons hasn’t spoken with team officials directly since late August, when he met with 76ers brass in Los Angeles and reiterated his desire to be traded, Wojnarowski reported.

The LSU product has held out of preseason practices and preseason games during his hold out. After the 76ers’ Monday night preseason matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons will have lost $1 million in salary due to the holdout, according to ESPN.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Simmons later moved to Montverde, Florida for high school, where he attended Montverde Academy. Recruited as a small forward, Simmons was ranked a consensus five-star recruit and was tabbed the top recruit in the class of 2015. He later committed to LSU, where he played just one season in which the LSU Tigers went 11-7. Although Simmons played for a middle-of-the-pack LSU team, he still shined in his one collegiate season; he was named the SEC Freshman of the Year, a first team All-SEC selection and a consensus All-American, prompting the Philadelphia 76ers to select Simmons with the first-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Since his selection, Simmons has proven his worth as a versatile, unique talent, capable of playing multiple different positions. He won NBA Rookie of the Year, and since then he has blossomed into a three-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA All-Defensive first team selection and one-time All-NBA third team selection.