Simmons, club hurt in trade row, says Gaze
AUSTRALIAN great Andrew Gaze has urged the Philadelphia 76ers to end the Ben Simmons trade saga, declaring the messy standoff is damaging both parties’ reputations.
Simmons’ NBA future remains in limbo after he told 76ers officials he no longer wanted to be part of the franchise despite having four seasons and $147m left on his contract.
The Melbourne-born guard is so frustrated with the club he is willing
to pay daily fines of $308,000 to miss training camp. Philadelphia had been trying to find a suitable trade for Simmons, but the club has reportedly accepted it will not receive what they want for him.
As a result, the 76ers now expect the Aussie star to play in the blue and white for the 2021-22 season.
Gaze said the standoff was doing more damage than good.
“I would like to see a way in which the club and the player can move on where it is in everyone’s best interests,” he said.