Philadelphia 76ers & Ben Simmons Settle Salary Dispute
Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly come to a settlement regarding last season’s salary that Simmons filed a grievance over. Approximately $20 million was withheld from Simmons last season due to Simmons refusing to play for the team. Simmons was aiming to obtain a portion of that salary.
The former no. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft was part of a blockbuster trade package that took place back in February. The 76ers traded Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two 1st-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for James Harden & Paul Millsap.
The Nets gained Philadelphia’s unprotected 1st-round pick for 2022 with the option to defer it to 2023. The other 1st-round pick is a protected top-8, which would turn into two 2nd-round picks and $2 million if it does not convey in either season. DeAndre’ Bembry was waived by the Nets in order to make room to facilitate the trade.
Simmons requested a trade from the team days later, after the Atlanta Hawks pulled an upset victory over the 76ers by winning the series in Game 7 of the 2021 2nd-round Eastern Conference Playoffs. During a press conference, Simmons claimed the reason he sat out the entire year was due to mental health. He also stated that the mental health issues contributed to his decision to ask for a trade.
“I think that was part of it. I think I just wasn’t in a place there to do that, and a lot of things had happened over that summer to where I didn’t feel like I was getting that help.”
Simmons then stated that it was something he was dealing with prior to the season beginning, not the comments he was receiving from coaches or fans on social media. “It wasn’t about the fans or coaches or comments made by anybody. It was just a personal thing for me that was earlier than that series or even that season that I was dealing with.”
Simmons reportedly missed the entire season with the Nets due to a back injury he was dealing with since the time of the trade. Simmons received an epidural in order to relieve pain caused by the herniated disc in his back. A herniated disc refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) that sit between the bones (vertebrae) that stack to make one’s spine.
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