Ben Simmons' Return to Philadelphia Won't Be Easy

Ben Simmons' name has resurfaced in connection with the Philadelphia 76ers, but the path forward appears complicated right now. Not so much for basketball reasons, but financial ones.

According to Brett Siegel, the Sixers are just $1.8 million below the hard cap of the first apron, a situation that leaves them with virtually no margin to sign Simmons to a minimum contract unless they clear salary first.

The possibility had gained some traction after Simmons himself left the door open to returning to the NBA and mentioned Philadelphia as one of the destinations he could consider. "Maybe I'll go back to Philly," he said in an interview with Men's Health. He also spoke positively about the Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, and the franchise's culture.

A simple return of Simmons to Philadelphia would carry obvious weight. He was the No. 1 overall pick there, Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, an All-NBA player, and one of the league's most unique pieces because of his defense and ability to generate offense from his physicality.

But his departure was also difficult. He didn't play in the 2021-22 season and ultimately was sent to Brooklyn in the James Harden trade. Since then, back injuries and a loss of offensive confidence have marked his decline.

His last season, split between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, saw him average 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games. Numbers far from his best years, though enough for several teams to view him as a low-cost gamble if healthy.

Philadelphia, for now, doesn't appear to have that margin. If they want to open the door to Simmons or any other veteran, they would first need to move salary. Without that, the return remains more of an attractive story than a realistic operation.