Brooklyn NetsGuard Ben SimmonsA grievance was filed to contest the almost $20 million in salary withheld by the Philadelphia 76ersThis season will see a potential showdown, ESPN sources said on Saturday.
In the future, there could be more implications for the league due to the grievance.
Philadelphia has repeatedly said that Simmons was not in compliance with his contract under NBA/NBPA’s collective negotiation agreement. Simmons had the right to recoup any money he borrowed before the season. This dispute has been a contentious one between the NBA and NBPA. Arbitration could be a precedent for future contracts and mental health issues.
Sources said that the filing was done with the team, NBA, and National Basketball Players Association in late this week.
Simmons was not present at training camp to begin, and he refused to play in the regular and preseason. The 76ers claim that Simmons violated his player contract. Simmons arrived in Philadelphia after the conclusion of the preseason. However, Simmons cited mental issues as the reason for his limited participation in team activities.
Simmons and the 76ers disagreed about the access the team and its doctors had to Simmons in order to diagnose and confirm mental health concerns.
Simmons’ representatives spoke with many Sixers after the blockbuster Brooklyn trade. James HardenSources said that the talks ended without a resolution on February 10. Sources said that the talks did not result in a solution, and the grievance was filed.
Simmons and Rich Paul, Klutch Sports’ agent, requested a trade during a postseason meeting. This was after Simmons had an argument with the team following a disappointing performance in the Eastern Conference Finals loss. Simmons, the No. 1 pick in 2016 NBA Draft, was one of the league’s top defenders. Simmons, the No. 1 draft pick in 2016, was one of the top league defenders. He signed a five year, $170 million maximum contract for 2019.
Starting with Simmons’ November 15th paycheck, Philadelphia began to recover the $360,000 per-game salary for every game Simmons missed during this season. Simmons was able to get a $16.5million advance on his $33 million salary during the offseason. However, each paycheck didn’t have enough money to pay the per-game deductions.
The 76ers withheld nearly $1.3 million from Simmons’ salary each paycheck, minus the amount for escrow withheld by NBA. This has continued since Simmons was traded to the Nets. Sources said that Simmons is required to deduct salary from Simmons’ pay in order to wire the 76ers. Since Simmons last paycheck was April 30, the deductions should carry forward to the offseason. Again. Simmons will receive an $8.25 million increase on July 1st and October 1.
According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, a grievance must not be filed more than 30 days after the occurrence on which it is based. Or within 30 days of the date that the facts of the matter are known to initiate the grievance.
Simmons was traded from Philadelphia, Brooklyn six weeks ago. However, Simmons’ representatives claim that the trade did no trigger a 30-day grievance window because the issue has been ongoing throughout the season.
Simmons has not played a single game for the Nets so far this season. His back injury from a prior season flared up as he tried to get stronger to make his debut with the Nets. Simmons, who had not played since June’s Sixers’ Eastern Conference Finals defeat to Atlanta, was given an epidural injection last month to treat a herniated disk in his back. Sources said that Simmons’ back issue, and the relevant scans, were revealed during trade discussions. They did not pose any long-term problems for the Nets.
Simmons suffered the injury for the first time in the spring of 2020, when the pandemic-interrupted seasons began. On October 6, Simmons reported feeling discomfort in his back after reporting to Sixers training camp. Sixers team physicians assessed and treated the injury, and he was able to resume basketball activities within a few hours. According to sources, Simmons was not found in breach of contract for this time period by Philadelphia.