Ben Simmons’ bad performance in the second-round set of this Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff matchup from the Atlanta Hawks instantly ignited trade rumors Monday.
Simmons completed Game 7 with five tips on 2-of-4 shooting in the area. Shaquille O’Neal was among the loudest critics following the match but Simmons had acknowledged his bad play at the 103-97 reduction.
“I ai not shoot well from the lineup this show,” he told reporters, through ESPN. “Offensively, I was not there. I didn’t do enough to my own teammates. … There is a great deal of things I want to operate on.”
Simmons’ foul shooting was not much to be envied either. He had been 15-for-43 in the free-throw lineup in the show from the Hawks and ended the playoffs by 34.2percent from the line. Based on ESPN, it had been the single-worst free-throw shooting portion in playoff history using a participant who had 70 efforts from the line. He had been 25-for-73 at the initial two rounds of this sequence.
Simmons, that the 76ers paid $177.2 million over five years beginning in 2019, was instantly thrust into commerce rumors shortly after the reduction.
The New York Times reported the 76ers could”clearly” research the transaction market for Simmons that offseason because he was traded to the Houston Rockets to get James Harden. Sixers coach Doc Rivers did not back Simmons if he had been asked if the point guard may be a part of a championship team.
It is uncertain if there could be an ideal game for Simmons. His gift noted.
He’s still a workable participant for any team along with the recently sparked trade rumors might only be a prisoner-of-the-moment kind of deal. Additionally, the quantity of cash Simmons is owed on his contract will flip off teams off anyhow.
From 2024-25, Simmons is set to make $40.3 million. He is an unrestricted free agent by 2025 and he’d just be 29 years old.