'Run its course': Ben Simmons' harsh reality amid 76ers NBA feud

Australian NBA star Ben Simmons is simply waiting to hear where in the US he will need to start looking for a home as his protracted trade saga extends into the Philadelphia 76ers training camp.

Simmons has so far made good on his vow not to attend training camp or even play for the team again, after he was fiercely criticised in the wake of the 76ers' loss in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

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According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, Simmons has been left disillusioned by both last season's playoffs, as well as a potential trade to Houston mid-season which ultimately fell through.

Importantly, Simmons also believes that the experiment of playing him alongside the similarly paint-dominant Joel Embiid has played out for long enough.

While according to Amick, Simmons' views on his basketball fit next to Embiid aren't a personal feud, the report will nonetheless come as a huge blow to 76ers management, who are holding out hope the former no.1 draft pick will return to the franchise this season.

"As he sees it, sources say, the organisation’s choice to build its basketball ecosystem around Embiid’s style simply isn’t conducive to the way he needs to play," Amick reported.

"So while Embiid insisted to reporters on Monday that he wants Simmons back, this much is clear: The feeling is not mutual. “It has run its course,” the source said of their pairing."

Embiid doesn't see it that way. He — and other 76ers teammates — reportedly wanted to meet with Simmons to discuss his return, but Simmons turned them down.

Embiid, 27, wasn't deterred by that, saying on Monday he still wanted Simmons to return to the 76ers.

"It's a tough situation, but I'll focus on winning and making the team better," he said.

"It's not where we want to be, but I'll focus on the guys that are here, hopefully that situation gets resolved fast because I love playing with him.

"We obviously have a lot of potential, we got close a couple of times, we need to be better and I need to be better for my team."

Philadelphia 76ers pressing on without Ben Simmons

Simmons was absent Tuesday from training camp as expected as he tries to persuade the Sixers to trade him, even with $147 million and four years left on his contract.

The only trace of the former franchise guard was an oversized framed photo of Simmons on the cover of 'Slam' magazine with the headline 'Kingdom Come.'

In Sixers-land, kingdom come, kingdom go, all at the whim of an unhappy star.

Coach Doc Rivers clings to the belief, however improbable, that Simmons may show up at training camp or at some point this season to try to lead the Sixers back to the top of the Eastern Conference.

"I do believe at some point he will be,"Rivers said Tuesday.

"Right now, I'm going to focus on the guys that are on the floor. I think that's more important."

Simmons believes his partnership with Embiid has run its course and it is another reason why he wants out from the team.

After the team finished up practice on Tuesday, coach Doc Rivers brushed off the latest report.

“I don’t have a reaction to that because Ben’s not here,” Rivers told reporters.

“I do believe at some point, he will be and if he isn’t, you got another story. I don’t get caught up in that.

"Right now I’m going to focus on the guys that are on the floor. I think that’s more important.”

With AP

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