KEY POINTS

  • Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly in talks to bring him back
  • Sixers coach Doc Rivers said the team would be welcoming him with open arms
  • Simmons is currently bleeding money due to his holdout

The never-ending Ben Simmons saga may finally be coming to a close after recent developments.

According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Philadelphia 76ers and head coach Doc Rivers are open to having Simmons return to the team.

“We'd love to get him back. Other than that, honestly, there's nothing to report. Our position hasn't changed at all,” said Rivers as quoted by Bontemps.

“Players don't get involved in business. That is the one thing that I think is probably overplayed more than anything. I've been a player and this has happened before, and I was the player that has done it before.”

ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski first reported that the Sixers and Simmons--via Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul--are working on a resolution to get Simmons to report to the team.

The whole Simmons storyline started after Sixers personnel, which include Rivers and four-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, shared their sentiments after losing to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games during the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Fans have also joined in berating the Australian point-forward for his performance during that series.

Simmons has since been keen to move out of Philadelphia and was linked to teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and even the Sacramento Kings as of late just to leave the city.

However, it looks more likely that Simmons and the Sixers are set to look past their differences and go back to playing basketball.

"Guys want to win. They do. I'm telling you. Especially if you're on that type of team where you have a chance to win. They want to win, and they look at Ben [Simmons] as a guy who can help them win,” Rivers remarked.

To his credit, Simmons has proven that he can be a great asset to the team, thanks to his length and ability to slash into the paint for an easy bucket.

But even then, he needs to work his way back into the good graces of Philly fans by shooting the ball with more confidence and not just relying on his athleticism to score in the paint.

Simmons has been bleeding out money due to his holdout, and he may finally be coming to terms that the Sixers are not going to trade him anytime soon.

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