Report: 76ers Opening Up Trade Talks Involving Ben Simmons

The 76ers have opened up trade conversations surrounding guard Ben Simmons and have engaged with other teams about a possible deal, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Per The Athletic, teams that have engaged with Philadelphia have been met with a high threshold in terms of a return for the three-time All-Star.

At least once since the conclusion of the season, Simmons's agent, Rich Paul, has met with 76ers management to discuss the guard's future with the team. 

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons and coach Doc Rivers have also met to discuss a plan of improvement moving forward.

Much of the conversation surrounding Philadelphia's second-round postseason exit to the Hawks was about Simmons, who averaged just 9.9 points per game and shot 15-for-45 (33.3%) in the series. 

He attempted only 14 shots in the final three games and had just three fourth-quarter field goal attempts in the entire series. 

In late June, ESPN reported that the 76ers remained committed to keeping Simmons as a central piece of their franchise. 

Simmons, 24, has four years and $147 million left on his contract. 

Opposing teams are reportedly still trying to gauge the 76ers' interest in trade packages.

"You won’t get another ‘star’ for him,” an Eastern Conference team executive told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix in late June. “They might have to attach a young player just to move him.”

“People can say he is good in all these other areas, but with today’s game, shooting is the most important skill," another executive told SI. "Are teams going to take a chance to build around a guy that is scared to shoot?”

Following Philadelphia's exit from the postseason, Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was asked if Simmons would return to the team next season.

"We have a very strong group we believe in," he said. "None of us can predict the future of what is going to happen. … We love what Ben brings. We love what Joel [Embiid] brings. We love what Tobias [Harris] brings. In terms of what’s next, we’ll do what is best for the 76ers to give us the best chance to win a championship with every single player on the roster.”