Sixers felt like they understood Ben Simmons after meeting with him
At this point, the saga surrounding Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers is understood. Simmons wants out and the Sixers would be happy to fulfill his trade request, but they also want fair value in return for him and at the moment, it’s not there so they want him back playing with the team.
However, there clearly is something that is blocking him from returning to the team. Simmons is reportedly not yet mentally ready to return to the Sixers and that is something that is going to be a big thing for him to overcome before he can get back out on the floor. At this point, he should take all of the time he needs in order to make sure that he is at his best out on the floor when and if he does make his return.
Simmons did meet with the Sixers before morning shootaround on Friday before their matchup with the Brooklyn Nets and he expressed a desire to return to play, but he still needs more time. It was a message that his team has heard and they understand him a bit more.
“I think we left the meeting understanding what he had to say and we came out and got ready for Brooklyn,” said Georges Niang.
As far as the specifics of the meeting goes, Niang wouldn’t go into those, as he shouldn’t, but the team felt good about the meeting.
“The locker room is a sacred place and I don’t really feel comfortable sharing team business especially when it’s being addressed in the locker room,” he explained. “Obviously, Ben addressed us today and you guys know that. I heard there’s a statement put out, but the locker room has always been a sacred place to me. What’s said and done in there, I don’t feel comfortable revealing and that’s how I’ve always been since day 1.”
Tobias Harris also took to Twitter to show his support for Simmons during this time.
And we’ll respect his privacy and space during this time. When he’s ready, we will embrace our brother with love and handle our business on the court. That's it, that's all. https://t.co/eardjmQbz8
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) October 22, 2021
As far as Simmons coming back to actually play in any games for the Sixers, there is still no clear answer to that, but Niang is deciding to remain optimistic in all of that.
“If you know me, I’m always optimistic,” he finished. “I’m a positive person so I’m taking the best out of every situation.”
In the meantime, the Sixers will take on the Nets at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Friday in their home opener.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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