Sixers to not pay Ben Simmons 25% of his salary due Friday

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and confirmed to Liberty Ballers by a source, the Philadelphia 76ers will not pay Ben Simmons the 25 percent of his salary owed to him Friday, per the terms of his contract. Simmons previously received the initial 25 percent of his salary for the 2021-22 season. Oct. 1 is the day he’s due the second 25 percent, which is roughly $8.25 million.

Fischer writes, “Philadelphia views Simmons’ refusal to report to training camp as not fulfilling the terms of his contract. In dialogue with league-office personnel and players union officials, the Sixers appear to be within their rights to withhold that lucrative check.”

Fischer also reports that Simmons’ response to this move from the Sixers could be to return to Philadelphia as soon as before their first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 4, while continuing to hold out on the basis of an injury.

However, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports, “Simmons still is not showing up to Philadelphia and has understood the ramifications of his holdout.”

At Monday’s Media Day, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey did not disclose whether the team planned to financially penalize Simmons for his absence, but said “it’s very clearly spelled out in the CBA and his contract what happens.”

The report from Fischer aligns with those comments.