Since the start of the season, Simmons has lost almost $19 million in fines (each missed game costs him $360,000).
Follow Us
How much is Ben Simmons worth to NBA franchise the Philadelphia 76ers? This appears to be the most concrete report among a slew of contradictory stories.
On July 1, Philadelphia paid Simmons $8,250,984 (about one-fourth of his salary). The 76ers reportedly withheld the second lump sum payment due to him on Oct. 1, owing him another $8,250,984 installment.
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:
“SIMMONS HAS LOST over $19 million in fines since the season began (each missed game costs him $360,000). He hasn’t cleared a paycheck since the $8.25 million (25% of his $33 million salary) that was due to him Oct. 1. Every two weeks the team sends a notice with an explanation of all the fines he has accumulated for failing to render services, instead of a $1.375 million paycheck. By the end of the season, if he does not play for the Sixers or any other team, Simmons could lose another $12 million.
It is a staggering amount of money. The people involved assume that this matter will eventually be decided in arbitration. However, those close to Simmons, who has earned upwards of $60 million over his career, insist he is not using money to pressure teams into trading him. He wants a fresh start, away from a franchise he doesn’t feel comfortable playing for anymore.”
“We don’t give a f— about the money,” one source close to Simmons says. “That’s not what this is. It’s hard for people to understand. But if you believe in what you’re doing and that this is not the right situation for you, and you’re trying to get to a better place, the money doesn’t matter. Obviously it’s a financial hit. But you adjust.”
Said another source close to Simmons, “It’s easy to tell when someone is hurt when they have a cast on their arm. But this is mental health. You can’t always see it. But ask yourself, how many people would lose a dollar over this? That should tell you everything.”
READ MORE: Kings pull out of trade talks with 76ers
Simmons might lose considerably more than $12 million if the 76ers – particularly Joel Embiid – continue to struggle without him. That would be $11,529,760 with 30 regular-season games remaining and Philadelphia paying him $360,305 every game missed. Simmons, on the other hand, would face sanctions for each postseason game he missed. The 76ers (31-19) are in third place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the first-place team.
Simmons claims that he isn’t psychologically prepared to play. There are grounds to doubt Simmons’ claim that he’s only saying that to preserve his money as he holds out in an attempt to compel a deal. In terms of mental health, it is hard to tell where a basketball-related desire for trade ends and real difficulties begin. Players with mental-health concerns, like those suffering physical injuries, should be given time to recover.
It’s harder to disbelieve Simmons’ sincerity when he loses so much money. Perhaps he thinks he’ll be able to recuperate part of the money through arbitration. But there’s a good chance he won’t. Simmons wants to escape Philadelphia, and he’s willing to pay a high price to do it.
Simmons has earned a total of $65,430,634 in his career. However, he is risking a salary of $33,003,936 this season and $113,680,224 over the following three years of his maximum deal. Though it may seem exaggerated, this tale appears to have no conclusion in sight.
In addition, 76ers president Daryl Morey said trading Ben before the deadline is unlikely. That may be an understatement for teams who have dealt with Philadelphia.
“According to sources close to Simmons, he’s upset that Embiid seemed to blame him for last season’s playoff loss, when Simmons did not blame Embiid for Embiid’s poor showing in the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors in 2019.” ?
– @ramonashelburne on Ben Simmons pic.twitter.com/lpmfVLqPN4
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) February 1, 2022
As a result, a stalemate exists, with Simmons demonstrating his resolve as the checks come to a halt.
