76ers quiet on Simmons partying report, dysfunction at Philadelphia
Philadelphia: The 76ers have had little to say about a New York Daily News report that said there was dysfunction in the organisation, and suggested Brett Brown was coaching for his job and the club had discussed trading Australian star Ben Simmons.
The story said Sixers GM Elton Brand had told team ownership that it needed to consider trading Ben Simmons (ownership shot the idea down). The Sixers, according to the report, denied that the suggestion occurred.
It also said Simmons missed the Sixers' March 25 game in Orlando because he was out partying the night before. The Sixers had announced Simmons was out with a stomach virus.
Simmons, when asked about the report, didn't say anything.
"I am not worried about it; are you talking about the regular season?" he said.
"We are talking about the play-offs.
"Unless you want to talk about something else, [go] somewhere else with it. [It's] The play-offs right now."
Brown was asked if he had a comment on the entire story.
"I am aware of it," Brown said.
"I have not read it, and I won't. I have nothing to say about it."
The article also addressed incidents that were previously reported in The Philadelphia Inquirer, such as a pre-game speech from former NBA player Bruce Bowen in San Antonio that upset Joel Embiid.
On January 28, The Inquirer reported, through a source, that the Sixers would consider trading Simmons for a player the calibre of New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis. That came after Davis made a trade demand.
A Sixers spokesperson said there would be no comment.
On Tuesday evening, Dave Sholler, the Sixers' vice-president of communications, replied to the author of the story on Twitter, refuting what was reported.
"This is one of the most irresponsible hack jobs I've ever seen in more than a decade of working in sports," Sholler replied.
"Factual inaccuracies, made-up stories, and references to convos that never happened. This is a steaming pile of trash. Steaming. Pile."
The Sixers return to action for game three of their eastern conference opening-round series against the Nets on Friday (AEST) in Brooklyn.
The series is tied at one game apiece.
Philadelphia Inquirer