"I just got off the phone with someone I trust who said there's no way his agent will let him play this season" – @BobCooney76 on Simmons
— 975TheFanatic (@975TheFanatic) October 3, 2016
It’s a matter of who to believe at this point. Sixers #1 draft pick Ben Simmons broke his foot and reportedly will be out for 3 months. However, Philadelphia Daily News reporter Bob Cooney is now saying he has a source claiming that Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, won’t allow Simmons to play for the Sixers this season.
The Sixers continue to go high in the draft, but each year there’s a new injury preventing their picks from making their debut. It was Joel Embiid, then Nerlens Noel. In both cases, the team has been sure not to rush the return of each player, so it would be presumed that the team would take the same precautions with Simmons.
However, this report would suggest that Rich Paul is not even giving the team any say in this decision if it’s true. Only the three parties involved really know.