Toronto Star

Simmons price still too high

- Doug Smith

I know you say it’s unlikely to happen, but I can’t help thinking that Masai Ujiri remains intrigued by the idea of trying to add a talent like Ben Simmons to the team. Daryl Morey might be asking for the world right now, but as the season gets closer, I’m guessing that he’ll get a bit more realistic in terms of the return he might secure and, at that point perhaps a player like Pascal Siakam will look more interestin­g to him? Still, I don’t know if a one-forone deal would work for Philly, even if the salaries roughly matched up. — Marshall A. Every indication I’ve gotten from a lot of conversati­ons with people about Simmons and Toronto is that Masai and Bobby Webster really want to see how this group grows and see it as a two- or three-year project. And I know that the asking price is at least two of Fred VanVleet, Siakam, OG Anunoby and two more draft picks, and that’s too exorbitant. Maybe if Philly comes to its senses and stops asking for the moon they might revisit it, but honestly I am not getting that sense at all, and I don’t think it’s worth pursuing. But we’re about two weeks to camp and I cannot see Simmons showing up in Philly, so push is going to quickly come to shove.

Send your questions on any sport to askdoug@thestar.ca.

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