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Ben Simmons’ exit from Philadelphia couldn’t come quickly sufficient because the 76ers coach revealed why he badly needed the Aussie gone.
Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers was prepared to maneuver on from Ben Simmons lengthy earlier than the 76ers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in a package deal for NBA All-Star guard James Harden.
“The fellows had been simply over it,” Rivers instructed Sports activities Illustrated in regards to the Joel Embiid-led group that skilled morale points main as much as the commerce.
“We had been profitable video games and each city we went to, we had been speaking about Ben. I don’t know if we might have gotten by means of the second half of the season with that hanging over our heads. I used to be praying one thing occurred.”
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The New York Publish experiences the Sixers made the transfer to amass Harden simply hours earlier than the commerce deadline in February, in a package deal that included sharpshooter Seth Curry, massive man Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks.
The blockbuster deal got here after Simmons requested a commerce out of Philadelphia final yr and distanced himself from the group. At one level, he knowledgeable the Sixers he was not mentally able to play and skipped coaching camp in September.
Simmons arrived on the Sixers’ facility the subsequent month after getting hit with numerous fines by the group.
Simply days earlier than the Sixers traded Simmons to the Nets, Yahoo Sports activities reported Philadelphia had fined Simmons greater than $AUD25 million for lacking 50 regular-season video games — including that his whole fines might high $40 million.
“He was dropping some huge cash,” Embiid instructed Sports activities Illustrated. “Sooner or later I began to really feel dangerous for him.”
Embiid, who’s presently within the MVP race amid a stellar season, mentioned he has not spoken to Simmons for the reason that commerce — not to mention within the months main as much as the transfer.
“We by no means noticed him (across the Sixers facility),” mentioned Embiid, who is outwardly nonetheless uncertain about what induced the Sixers-Simmons cut up. “I don’t have any onerous emotions. I don’t have any hate towards him. I wouldn’t thoughts being associates. That’s simply me. I don’t care. Actually.
“I respect the choice he made. I feel it’s unlucky what occurred, however to me it’s no matter.”
Embiid, who’s averaging 29.9 factors, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per sport this season, mentioned he’s centered on profitable. The 46-29 Sixers entered Thursday in fourth place within the Jap Convention.
Simmons, in the meantime, has but to play this season. He’s presently rehabbing a herniated disc in his again that he beforehand handled throughout his Sixers tenure.
The Nets entered Thursday in eighth place within the East, a sport above the Charlotte Hornets, which might qualify Brooklyn for the play-in match at playoff time. The play-in spherical begins April 12 and concludes April 15.
Issues might change quite shortly for the Nets, as star guard Kyrie Irving grew to become a full-time participant after Mayor Eric Adams revised New York Metropolis’s private-sector vaccine mandate final week.
The Nets host the Bucks on Friday, whereas the Sixers play the Pistons in Detroit.
This text first appeared on the New York Publish and was reproduced with permission
Initially printed as Sixers coach Doc Rivers desperately needed to chop Ben Simmons free
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