Recent news on the NBA Draft 2016 revealed that Ben Simmons will not be working out for the Philadelphia 76ers. The team's managers are working on it but the former LSU star does not appear eager to join.
Fox Sports reported that the Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 1 pick for this month's NBA Draft. It was expected that they would take former LSU star Ben Simmons.
However, it seems that Simmons is not excited to play for the team. He will not be working out for Philly prior to the Jun. 23 draft.
According to NJ.com, Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo has revealed that they have tried to schedule a workout with Simmons to no avail. They may continue to reach out to Simmons and his agent, though.
"As of this moment, not yet," Colangelo said, "but we are working on it."
"His agent has decided that is the process they are undertaking [sic]. Why don't you call (Simmons' agent) Rich Paul and ask him. It has nothing to do with us, and nothing to do with Philadelphia. Everybody goes about it a little differently. Sometimes players decide to workout, sometimes they decide not to workout."
Colangelo added that Simmons was expecting to be selected No. 1. Brandon Ingram, Simmons' closest competition for the NBA Draft 2016, also said the same thing.
Moreover, Colangelo has admitted that having Ingram workout with them was a great experience. "Brandon is everything we thought he was," he said.
"Obviously in a one-on-none workout you aren't going to learn everything about a player, but that is why we scouted a lot of basketball games, watched a lot of tape," Colangelo said. "He is a versatile forward that was handle the ball, shoot the ball... He is a silky-smooth small forward."
Philly Inquirer writer Keith Pompey tweeted that Colangelo and the Sixers are not concerned about Ben Simmons' refusal to work out with them.
