Costly times for Ben
MISSING PRE-SEASON CLASH WILL COST AUSSIE
BEN Simmons is resigned to losing all the money he’s being fined for missing Philadelphia’s pre-season game after his management spoke to the players’ association and was told the money could not be recovered.
Simmons sat out the 76ers’ opening pre-season game against Toronto on Tuesday, costing him approximately $A494,000.
This prompted the guard’s management to contact the players’ association, which confirmed it would be unable to recoup the money being deducted from the $8.25m sitting in escrow.
That same penalty will be extended for every game Simmons misses from here on – in the pre-season and when the campaign proper gets under way later this month.
Simmons won’t be able to get this money back even if he eventually secures the trade he so desperately wants.
It comes as the Aussie superstar has put his house in Philadelphia on the market as his ugly exit continues.
In a sign Simmons has no interest in remaining at the 76ers, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the 25-year-old has listed one of his residences in the city for sale.
According to the report, Simmons has listed his home at the Ritz-Carlton Residence for sale for $A4.3m.
That suggests he’s already committed to shipping out, although he is no closer to being traded as Philadelphia struggle to find a suitable trade, with the Aussie’s value on the market dropping following his poor playoff campaign.
Sixers star Joel Embiid (pictured) has fuelled talk of Simmons leaving, and reputedly called Simmons a ‘softie’ at training, as well as recently making pointed remarks about the Australian on social media. Speaking on SEN’s Breakfast with Garry and Tim on Monday, Bobby Marks of ESPN said the saga could drag on into “early December”. “He’s (Simmons) gonna be home (in Philadelphia when the season starts),” Marks said.