After a rocky departure from the 76ers, <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/anthony-davis-has-preference-for-different-position-at-lakers-despite-showing-willingness-to-play-center-20221014-SPD-2966.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Simmons</a> is gearing up for a comeback season with the Nets. The forward was part of the arrangement that moved James Harden from the Nets to the Sixers in exchange for Harden, who was unhappy in Brooklyn.



In the four years between 2016 and 2022, Ben Simmons and <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-james-harden-gets-real-on-the-importance-of-his-own-performances-for-sixers-20221012-SPD-2953.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joel Embiid</a> played together for the 76ers, but it seems that their friendship never went beyond the court. Ugly circumstances surrounded the conclusion of the Embiid-Simmons period.



Speaking to ESPN for an interview, Simmons has now spoken out about the lack of chemistry between himself and Joel Embiid, the talented center for the Philadelphia 76ers. The new star of the Brooklyn Nets was candid when questioned about his relationship with Joel Embiid and whether or not the two had communicated since the deal that brought Simmons to Brooklyn.



<h2>What Ben Simmons said of relationship with Joel Embiid</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I don’t talk to Jo. We never really spoke. I don’t think there was really a relationship there. Like in terms of a friendship? You can try as hard as you want to try to be close to somebody, be their friend, whatever it is, but everyone is different as people, so for me, it’s never personal. “I don’t have any anger or hate towards him. He is who he is and I am who I am. And we’ve got our personal lives. And work is basketball, so in that moment, my goal is to win and I got to win with Jo. He’s a great player, we just didn’t get it done,” Simmons added.</blockquote>

"We never really spoke" - Ben Simmons opens up on relationship with ex-teammate Joel Embiid - thesportsdrops NEWS

"We never really spoke" – Ben Simmons opens up on relationship with ex-teammate Joel Embiid

miniaturas

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a>, the standout guard for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-nets-acquire-ex-pacers-duo-t-j-warren-and-edmond-sumner-2038-20220706-SPD-2038.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooklyn Nets</a>, sought a trade late last month, shortly before the opening of free agency. More than a week after the deadline, there has been no movement toward a deal and the Nets’ search for a deal they like seems to be going on indefinitely.



Many variables are at play, but <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-and-nets-actively-exploring-russell-westbrook-kyrie-irving-trade-1969-20220703-SPD-1969.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Simmons</a>‘ contract predicament stands out. He signed a new five-year, $177 million contract with the team in 2019 despite not playing in the 2022 season.



Teams are prohibited by league regulations from trading for more than one player under such a deal. As long as Simmons remains on the team, the Nets will be unable to acquire other young players like Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins.



<h2>Ben Simmons expected to stay in Brooklyn</h2>



Any deal for Kevin Durant that involves All-Star level players and draft selections is understandable from the standpoint of the New York Knicks. To put it another way, only a few clubs are in the position to make an offer that would tempt Durant while still keeping the team competitive. 



More than a dozen of the league’s greatest young players are ineligible to be dealt to Brooklyn, making the situation even more difficult. As a result, the next natural issue is whether the Brooklyn side will move the 25-year-old, either as part of a Durant deal or in a separate transaction. According to the New York Post, the answer looks to be no for the time being, at least for now.

Ben Simmons

"We never really spoke" – Ben Simmons opens up on relationship with ex-teammate Joel Embiid

NBA Rumors: Nets rule out possible trade for Ben Simmons

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