No. 1 pick Simmons won’t play this season
76ers say fractured right foot is not sufficiently healed.
Ben Simmons won’t make his NBA debut this season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
His surgically repaired right foot hasn’t healed sufficiently for the No. 1 overall pick to play in the final 26 games, the team said Friday.
Simmons fractured the fifth metatarsal bone during the final training camp scrimmage in October and hasn’t played a game. A CT scan Thursday revealed his foot hasn’t fully healed.
“Unfortunately, Ben is going to sit out. That’s the bad news. The good news is one day he’ll put on a uniform,” 76ers President Bryan Colangelo said. “It’s not the way you want to start your career, but it happens. We’re not excited about the news today. Ben is heartbroken.”
The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Australian was Philadelphia’s first No. 1 overall pick since Allen Iverson in 1996. Simmons was going to play point forward.
Colangelo also said star center Joel Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick in 2014, will miss at least four games because of a bruised left knee.
Kings: After being told by Sacramento that he wouldn’t be traded, then was sent to the Pelicans for three players and two draft picks after Sunday’s All-Star Game, DeMarcus Cousins said he has no desire to talk to Kings owner Vivek Ranadive or general manager Vlade Divac. “Nah. For what?” Cousins told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears on Thursday, as reported by ESPN.com. “It was a coward move, so I’m pretty sure I will get a coward response. For what? And I’ve seen this happen before. I’ve been there through all same types ... I was there with (coach) Mike Malone’s (firing). I’ve seen how they operate. I know what kind of answer I will get anyway. So, what is the point?”
Hawks: Starting point guard Dennis Schroder was suspended by the team for Friday night’s home game against the Heat for failing to return on time following the All-Star break. Schroder returned to his native Germany for the break and posted a photo on his Twitter feed on Thursday in which he was holding his visa. Schroder posted under the photo “FINALLY GOT MY VISA & CAN GET BACK TO WORK!!!” The Hawks apparently were not satisfied with the explanation for his late return. Coach Mike Budenholzer said Schroder will rejoin the team in Orlando tonight.
Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis said doctors detected no structural damage to his sprained right ankle and that it’s possible he could play as soon as Monday against the Raptors. “Feeling better,” the 7-foot-3 forward said. “There’s a lot of swelling, but I can walk around (with) no problem and the swelling is going down, too.” Porzingis left Thursday’s loss to the Cavaliers right before halftime and did not return. He appeared with a walking boot after. Porzingis is averaging 18.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks this season.
Cavaliers: Kevin Love expects to be ready for the playoffs in April after left knee surgery Feb. 14. Doctors told the All-Star forward he will need six weeks to recover. Love expects to have the stitches taken out this weekend, and he believes he’s on schedule to return in late March. “There’s definitely enough time to where I can get into a good rhythm,” he said Friday after practice. Love is averaging 20 points and 11.1 rebounds this season.