Doc Rivers says the 76ers 'would love to get Ben [Simmons] back' but it's far too late for that

Doc Rivers is trying to patch things up with Ben Simmons but it's too late

The Ben Simmons saga with the 76ers is beginning to reach a point of no return.

Training camp starts for the 76ers in just a few days on September 28. Yet, the 76ers point guard who is still under contract for the next four seasons reportedly has no intention of showing up to camp or playing a game for Philadelphia this season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The 76ers are currently in damage control mode. Doc Rivers made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take to clarify the situation with Simmons from the team’s point of view.

Rivers said Simmons did meet with the team and made his intentions clear about wanting to move on, but he also said the team “would love to get Ben back.”

Doc Rivers on Ben Simmons informing the 76ers that he wants to be traded;

"I can tell you up front, we would love to get Ben back. And if we can, we're going to try to do that. pic.twitter.com/JeWoIE3W7U

— First Take (@FirstTake) September 22, 2021

“We’re going to always do what’s best for the team. But I can tell you up front, we would love to get Ben back. And if we can, we’re going to try to do that. Ben has a long contract. It’s in our hands, and we want him back.”

Yet, still, Simmons seems fixed on moving on from the 76ers. And who can really blame him? Simmons was the scapegoat for the team after the Hawks loss.

Rivers, himself, seemed to be down on his point guard at the time. He said he didn’t know if Simmons could be the point guard of a championship team. Stephen A. Smith asked him about that moment after he declared the 76ers wanted Simmons back and Rivers claims to have never said that.

“I never said what was reported. The question was asked about Ben, it was the first question after we just lost the game 7. My answer was ‘I’m not answering any of that right now, guys. I don’t even know how to answer that.’ That had nothing to do about Ben.” 

But he actually did say it. Here’s the moment in question.

Doc Rivers answers a question whether Ben Simmons can be the point guard of a championship team pic.twitter.com/8xL35u98RC

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 21, 2021

“Yeah, David, I don’t know that question or the answer to that right now. You know, so I don’t know the answer to that.” 

Rivers said he later clarified his words to Simmons and reiterated that he does think the 76ers can win a championship with him. But that’s absolutely not what he said after the loss.

This is just a perfect reflection of the 76ers situation as it stands. It’s just chaos. Everything is chaos. And Simmons seems to just not want any parts of it anymore.

Rivers, Joel Embiid and the 76ers can talk about how much they want him back as much as they want. But the damage seems to be done. This will be tough to repair.