An Unnecessary Reaction to the First Preseason Game and A Few Other Things
Sixers played their first preseason game, Ben Simmons not getting fines back, the perfect Ben Simmons trade, and maybe some more.
First preseason game
The Sixers played the Toronto Raptors, in Toronto, for their first preseason game on Monday night. They lost 123-107. It wasn’t particularly close at all. Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and of course Ben Simmons did not play. NBC Sports didn’t even broadcast the game.
It was the first preseason game so I don’t want to take much away. Somethings I did notice though:
They ran a small ball line up with Niang at the 5 for a little and got absolutely torched. That kind of line up needs Ben to be effective and it’s still not always effective. Not sure why that’s still in the playbook at this point, Ben is not part of the future.
Maxey look to be pressing a little. He wasn’t great but I think it was just preseason game 1, trying to learn a whole new role which maybe he overcompensated for. He should settle in.
Isiah Joe balled out in garbage time. I get it’s garbage time but the kid has range. Doesn’t need to toe the line, has great range, and can shoot the lights out. The kid needs to see playing time this season.
Drummond had 19 and 14 with some blocks. But also had 5 turnovers and seemingly played the Joel Embiid role in the starting line up. For preseason games, who cares, try to run your system. But, that wont work in the regular season. Please don’t try it.
That was my main take away, other than that they looked like a team playing their first preseason game minus 2 starters and a major component of both the offense and defense is disgruntled and holding out. So, not really wanting to put a ton of stock or thought into the game.
Ben Simmons won’t get fines back
Ben lost 360k for not making the Monday night’s preseason game. He received 25% of his pay on July 1, approximately 8 million. His 8.25 million dollar paycheck, that he was due on Oct 1 was withheld and put into Escrow account and the fines are being taken out of that. According, to Bobby Marks on the Lowe Post he is set to get 1.3 million dollars on November 15th and there are 12 installments of that. It doesn’t look like Ben will receive any of what is left until he reports or is traded. It seems as if Klutch thought they could recoup some of the fines but according to Kyle Neubek of Philly Voice, when they talked to the NBAPA they found out the money could not be recovered.
He won’t necessarily lose all 8.25 million though. Marks mentioned that the 8.25 million won’t run out until January 15th. So, if Ben were to report or is traded prior to that date he will recoup anything that is left. However, as of yesterday it would appear that anything he loses leading up to him coming back he will not get back. And that really makes the most sense.
Does this mean a hold out is coming to an end. If Ben reports for a pay check does he buy in? Or does he have the ability in him to go full Jimmy Butler or James Harden heel turn and make his return uncomfortable enough to a point the Sixers say fuck this and trade him? Who the fuck knows, this situation is nothing but a mess.
For Fun: My perfect Ben Simmons trade
I am not a trade machine guy. However, it makes it 1000x easier to make sure the salary matching works and players are eligible to be traded. Yesterday, Ian Bagley of SNY tv, reported that the Sixers and Pacers have had talks about trading for Ben and Caris Levert was mentioned but stated that “It is unknown if talks between Philadelphia and Indiana have progressed beyond run-of-the-mill contact.”
League sources confirm that the Pacers are among the teams who have talked to the Philadelphia 76ers about a potential Simmons trade. Caris LeVert was among the players brought up in those communications, per SNY sources.
I am going to make an argument for why each team should make this trade. Let’s lay the ground work now.
76ers get Bradley Beal
Indiana gets Ben Simmons
Wizards get Domantas Sabonis, Caris LaVert, and multiple first round draft picks from the Sixers and Indy
If the teams wanted they can add stuff too. Maybe second round picks or a young player like Isiah Joe, Paul Reed, or even Tyrese Maxey, if say Indiana would want to another piece.
Here is the argument for each team.
76ers: This is the easiest argument. They move on from a disgruntled Ben Simmons and get a Star they long for in Bradley Beal. Simple.
Pacers: The Pacers are a middling small market team. They haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2013 and finished 4 games under .500 last season. They made a huge splash this offseason hiring offensive minded ex Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. Teams like the Pacers don’t usually have the opportunity to sign or land big name, star power guys. Ben is under team control for four years. This is a rare opportunity for non contending small market team to land a young potential superstar with team control. Losing Sabonis would hurt, and LaVert (minus injury concern) has some potential, but they it may be worth it for the Pacers to take a risk given their circumstances.
Wizards: Washington is the hold up here in my opinion. The Wizards seem to have no interest in trade Beal and Brad is saying all the right things right now. He says he wants to be there, he says he is only worried about basketball, but he also isn’t in a rush to sign an extension which is is eligible for. So, there is obviously some thought there that Beal isn’t 100% sure he is going to stay in Washington.
Ok Wizards, here is my argument, it’s time to come to the realization that this isn’t working. Beal has been there 9 years. They have made the playoffs 5 times including last season needing to win a play in game just to make it. They’ve never made it out the second round.
It’s time to blow it up, and Beal is your best chip. The Wizards would get an All Star caliber talent at center in Sabonis and a young promising wing scorer to add to young promising guard Spencer Dinwiddie, multiple first round picks and their own picks. That is a great place to start a rebuild.
The Wizards and Beal need to come to a realization they aren’t winning together at this point. Time to blow it up, and this in my opinion would be a great move to set themselves up at a reasonable spot to rebuild.
All three teams would benefit from this trade. I don’t know if the Wizards would be willing to move Beal or how much the Pacers really want Ben and what they are wiling to actually give up. but it makes sense to me.
I plan on tweeting and talking this into reality lol.
Final Thought
I don’t know how Ben comes back after this. It would take a massive show of maturity to tuck his tail, come back, and play nice. This thing is too toxic, too public, and just an incredibly bad situation to come back to at this point, I don’t know how anyone can thrive afterwards. If he does come back I only see 2 routes for Ben to actually come back: firing Rich Paul, blaming everything on him and Klutch and not saying anything else about it. Put his head down and get to work. The second I think Ben would need to go full heel. Come back, talk shit, embrace the boo’ing, talk shit back to the fans, and ball out screaming trade me until they do.
I can’t see anyway he comes back and they move on for the next 4 years with him on the team as a well oiled machine you need to be to win a chip. Maybe I am wrong, but no matter how it plays out over the next few months, even if he comes back for a few games, the Ben Simmons era of Sixers’ basketball is over.