We have less than 10 days before the NBA trade deadline is here and the likely hood of a Ben Simmons trade seems to be about 50/50 at this point, with signs pointing to the team holding on to him and trying to move him in the offseason.

While teams around the league currently believe Daryl Morey's asking price for Simmons was way too high, they have their sights set on guys like Dame Lillard, James Harden and Bradley Beal, not secondary role players.

From David Aldridge and Josh Robbins at The Athletic:

Philadelphia has made no secret that Beal is on its short list of players for whom it would trade disgruntled guard Ben Simmons, who has sat out all season. But the 76ers won’t include an additional piece, such as exciting young guard Tyrese Maxey, along with Simmons in a potential trade for Beal, per league sources. Philly has similarly held firm that it won’t put third-year forward Matisse Thybulle, a terrific wing defender, in a Simmons package.

While the Sixers are willing to move Simmons, they don't appear to be interested in including Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle in any deal that would involve Simmons.

Its been seven months since Simmons requested to be traded, but he is still in Philadelphia and there is plenty of frustration from both sides.

The Sixers have had hopes that Simmons would return, but there is simply no indication that he has any intention to come back and play for the team. It was reported earlier this season that Simmons believes the partnership with Embiid has run its course.

The team has suspended and fined Simmons, but they still haven't been willing to trade him, just to trade him.

So what should the Sixers do?  How should they handle this situation?

 

"The Sixers aren't going to trade him right now, and they shouldn't," Kendrick Perkins said on SportsCenter on Wednesday. If I'm the Sixers I'm holding pat until I get something I think is fair."

It looks like that's exactly how Daryl Morey is thinking.

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