Sixers planning to send training staff to LA to work with Ben Simmons
The drama surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers since their Game 7 loss at home to the Atlanta Hawks has been focused on 25-year old star Ben Simmons. The 3-time All-Star had a tough postseason where he shot only 34.2% from the free-throw line and he came up short in the deciding game scoring only five points on four shots.
Afterward, coach Doc Rivers expressed his belief in Simmons and explained that he and the coaching staff have a plan for the young guard going forward. It is obvious that he needs to get back in the gym and he needs to continue to add to his offensive game.
On Monday morning, a report came out from Liberty Ballers on their podcast “The Gastroentinitis Blues” as they had Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer on with them. Fischer then reported this about Simmons and his relationship with the Sixers:
I’m not gonna write this in the story, but I’ll tell this to you guys and you guys can do what you want with it. They haven’t been able to really even get in touch with Ben since the season ended. Like, there was an intent to have a workout plan or whatever — like in any offseason. That’s always kind of been the case, that the Sixers haven’t been able to align with a development plan [for Ben] — that’s kind of what Yaron Weitzman wrote at Fox Sports in that big story. It just doesn’t sound like there’s ever been movement to come together on the same page to do that, and it hasn’t really worked this summer either. I think that’s not something that’s an encouraging sign for him being in Philadelphia in the future.
At the outset, this is not a good sign for the Sixers as they try and move forward as a team. However, amidst this report, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark then reported that the Sixers are sending some of their training staff to Los Angeles to work out with Simmons.
As for the report about Sixers not being able to get in touch with Ben Simmons this offseason, I’m told members of the Sixers were in touch with Ben for his birthday last week
I’m told Sixers are putting together plans for some of their training staff to go to LA where Ben is pic.twitter.com/aO0hEUFxUB
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) July 26, 2021
Considering that it is draft week, there will be rumors flying from everywhere and it is known that the Sixers are willing to take trade calls on Simmons at the moment. In terms of whether they have not been able to get in contact with the embattled star, it could be true due to the nature of how Philadelphia’s season ended and Simmons maybe needing to decompress, but it also could be just a rumor with everything going on.
With the Sixers sending out trainers to LA to work with Simmons, it does show that they have some type of plan with him in the case that he is on the roster in October. For the Sixers to move forward, they will need Simmons to continue to progress on the offensive end of the floor in a big way.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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