76ers star Ben Simmons posted a cryptic message on Instagram as NBA free agency began yesterday.
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As free agency kicks off, the mystery around Simmons’ future is getting more intriguing as the days pass. The 76ers point guard has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons.
Simmons had a very disappointing playoff run this year. The 25-year old was heavily criticized, for his inability to shoot the ball, especially from the free-throw line.
The Philly team, who were the top seed in the eastern conference during the regular season, were heavily favored to win the chip going into the post-season. However, they lost to the 5th seed Atlanta Hawks in the conference semi-finals.
One of the major reasons for Philly’s poor performance in the playoffs was Simmons. The point guard seemed to have succumbed to the pressure in the playoffs, averaging 11.9 PPG as he attempted only 1 shot from beyond the arc.
However, it was his poor free-throw shooting that led to his downfall. The 3x NBA All-Star shot a dismal 34.2% from the free-throw line, leading to opposing teams exploiting this area of weakness.
Post the disappointing exit in the playoffs, rumors of Simmons being traded have constantly been doing the rounds. As per reports, the 76ers have been engaging in several trade talks regarding Simmons.
What is Ben Simmons’ future with the Philidelphia 76ers?
Simmons signed a 5 year $177M contract with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2020-21 season. This makes the point guard a free agent in 2025.
According to ESPN senior writer Brian Windhorst, the demands that the 76ers have put forward for a Simmons trade seem extremely unreasonable.
“(They’ve been) so aggressive and outlandish that it makes you walk away saying, ‘They’re not really trying to trade him.”
There were reports in the media about the 76ers wanting a similar deal to what the Houston Rockets had during the James Harden trade.
Though, there have been reports of the Golden State Warriors being interested in Simmons. However, the Dubs were not willing to part ways with their draft picks and James Wiseman.
Meanwhile, Simmons, who has been difficult to trace lately, posted a perplexing message on Instagram as free agency kicked off.
Ben Simmons just out here trolling at this point pic.twitter.com/n9qALUVWno
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) August 3, 2021
If reports are to go by, it looks like Simmons will be starting his 2021-22 season with the 76ers. The Philly team might want to test the 25-year old’s performance to increase his trade value.
