Ben Simmons sat down with the 76ers brass in Los Angeles last summer and demanded a trade, letting the front office know he had no intention of attending training camp or playing in the 2021-22 season.
The embattled point guard made good on that threat, only briefly joining the team for practice during the preseason. In response, the Sixers withheld his salary, fined him for failing to show up to training camp, practices, and games, and placed the money in an escrow account.
Simmons’ representatives, including his Klutch Sports agent Rich Paul, disagreed with the Sixers’ course of action. They contended that Simmons’ brief stint with the team ended because he needed to focus on his mental health. The Sixers traded Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets in the blockbuster deal for James Harden on Feb. 10.
