Latest On Ben Simmons: 76ers, Warriors, Kings, Cavs

With all the talk that Ben Simmons would like a trade, and that the 76ers want to trade him, there are bound to come endless rumors.

But facts? As of now, we don’t have any.

Simmons has been linked to everyone from the Warriors to Kings to Cavaliers to Trail Blazers and Timberwolves, and now even the Celtics.

And in situations such as these, doesn’t it always seem like the player ends up somewhere other than what’s been projected?

Plus, as several reports suggest, teams that have been linked to Simmons haven’t really been that engaged in talks, anyway. As Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, at least part of that is a result of what the Sixers are demanding in return.

“There are teams that are interested in Ben Simmons, they just don’t want to pay the steep price,” Pompey said during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic Monday morning. “Ben Simmons knows that, so they are saying why should we help the 76ers out when they feel like when Doc Rivers said what he said, nobody apologized, and Doc was never reprimanded.”

Pompey is referring to Rivers’ comments after the 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs. When asked if Simmons could be a point guard on a championship-caliber team, Rivers said, “I don’t know the answer to that right now.”

Simmons reportedly met with Rivers, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, general manager Elton Brand and team owner Josh Harris in Los Angeles recently. Apparently, he was still stirring over Rivers’ comments because word is, Simmons told the Sixers he won’t be reporting to training camp.

He also knows they are trying to trade him. And players tend to stop wanting to be somewhere when they feel unappreciated.

As for the Warriors, Kings, Cavs and others … well, there doesn’t appear to be anything new on those fronts.

Per Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors haven’t held any talks with the 76ers since before the draft. And when they did talk, Slater relayed, the 76ers were seeking center James Wiseman, forward Andrew Wiggins and four first-round picks, including the Warriors’ lottery selections in July.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Sam Amick suggested talks between the Sixers and Kings are on life support — at best.

“There are no current conversations between the two teams and, barring a drastic change in demands, it appears the Kings are an unlikely landing spot for Simmons,” Amick wrote.

As for the Cavs, there is undoubtedly some interest. As one rival executive told Hoops Wire, “They’re interested and you cannot count them out.”

But like most everyone else, the Cavs are finding the asking price to be incredibly steep.

Until that comes down, it seems, the rumors involving Simmons will be just that — rumors. And Simmons, the 76ers and everyone else will continue to be in limbo.