Report: Philadelphia 76ers still hope to have Ben Simmons in the training camp / News - Basketnews.com

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According to a report from Marc Stein, the Philadelphia 76ers are still hoping to have Ben Simmons in the training camp. The Australian forward has asked to be traded a few weeks ago and he's willing to skip the training camp if a deal doesn't materialize.

Sixers top executive Daryl Morey is trying to smooth the relationship with the player and his entourage but the expectation is that Simmons won't report to the training camp, Stein added in his report.

Simmons was involved in trade rumors last season when the Sixers were among the teams eager to make a move for James Harden. The downfall of the relationship between Philadelphia and Simmons, though, started right after Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Hawks. After that loss, both Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid weren't satisfied with Simmons' performance during the series and took shots at him in the post-game press conference.

Since that moment, Simmons has basically cut down communication with the Sixers' front office and, ultimately, asked to be traded. A deal, though, remains difficult at this point. Sixers' asking price for Simmons has been steep so far and the player is still under contract for another four years, thus, possessing very little bargaining power.

Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Indiana Pacers are all reportedly interested in trading for Simmons.

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