Another day, another cycle of the Ben Simmons news in Philadelphia. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early yesterday that Simmons had no plans to report to training camp with the 76ers, nor does he intend to play for them at all this season in spite of their ability to withhold his salary and fine him 1/45th of his contract per day. To see a player with virtually no leverage – Simmons is locked in contract for another 4 years with no player option – take this kind of stand is one of the downfalls of the player empowerment era around the NBA.

Obviously, the Warriors were mentioned as a possible trade destination for Simmons, with pundits such as Stephen A. Smith saying that they’d like to see him in Golden State. The Dubs and Simmons have been connected all throughout this saga, but when asked about it, owner Joe Lacob seemed to cast a hefty amount of doubt on the possibility of the team putting together a package for the young All-star point guard. Lacob cited Simmons’ questionable ability to close games, his contract, and his fit alongside perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Draymond Green as a non-shooting playmaker and anchor on the other end.

While Ben Simmons is certainly a gifted player, being an effective 1-through-4 defender and excellent driving threat, the question about his fit is obviously a concern the Warriors are have placed at the forefront. Ben Simmons flat-out refuses to shoot, whether it’s a confidence issue or an inability or just stubbornness, he has shown no growth aside from a few offseason workout videos showcasing his perimeter shooting. Lacob’s comments suggest the Warriors don’t think he would make a good part of their future, especially if the rumors about Philly’s asking price for Simmons being astronomical are true.

Ben Simmons presents a myriad of issues to the Warriors, but not only on the floor. Reports earlier this month indicated that Simmons placed the blame on the Sixers for his trade value being so low… in spite of the fact that he just came off a playoffs where he shot 40% from the field and made several critical turnovers towards the end of the game against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round. Trae Young and company played him off the floor, which is something that you should not be able to do to a perennial All-star and former #1 overall pick if he’s really all that. His attitude is clearly a problem and would provide a locker room presence that could cause issues for the Warriors, assuming the rumors over the years about him being a diva are true.

At the right price, Simmons would be an excellent pickup. But there are too many questions the Warriors need to answer which would tell them how they should value him once answered: How close to 100% can Klay Thompson return to? How quick will the young guns make an impact? Were their offseason signings in free agency enough to bolster their roster effectively? What’s the gap between them and teams like the Lakers and Clippers when fully healthy? A Simmons trade presents a risk if it’s anything more than Andrew Wiggins and a pick or two, and even then, Wiggins has made significant strides in his game and effort since becoming a Warrior, and is also a former #1 overall pick. Until there’s clarity on how short the Warriors are of championship aspirations, rolling those dice would be a bad idea.

(Photo via Michell Leff / Getty Images)