Simmons' status for summer leagues uncertain
The 76ers will begin play in the first of two summer leagues on July 4, and there is a question whether their main attraction will be there competing.
The 76ers will begin play in the first of two summer leagues on July 4, and there is a question whether their main attraction will be there competing.
Ben Simmons, the point forward from LSU whom the Sixers selected No. 1 overall Thursday in the NBA draft, wouldn't commit Friday to joining the team in action this summer.
"My agent is handling all that, and when it is finalized I will be able to talk about it," Simmons said to a few reporters after a well-attended news conference Friday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Simmons and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, who was selected at No. 24 in the first round, were introduced to the media.
Rich Paul, the agent for Simmons, was in attendance, and while he expressed optimism that Simmons would play in the summer, he couldn't give a definitive answer.
"You would like for a guy to step in there, but obviously there are some things that me, personally, that I have to protect him with, and if all is good then we look forward to it," Paul said. "Until then we will see what happens."
So Simmons' status is to be determined.
"Obviously he will look for me to give him the OK and I think he will be OK, but you will never know," Paul said.
Like Paul, Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo was optimistic that Simmons would play, but he too couldn't say with certainty.
The first step will be for Simmons to sign a contract. Colangelo said a first-round pick can't officially agree to a deal until July 1.
"We need to work out all the details and try to get that all taken care of," Colangelo said. "I think once that is addressed and discussed and taken care of, there shouldn't be anything that will hold that process up and we will get the ink on paper as soon as possible, and I think it will be a clear path at that point."
Colangelo said he agreed with the way Paul is handling the situation.
"He is being smart, saying the things he needs to say, which is until that is all resolved, we will take it a day at a time," Colangelo said. ". . .I would expect it to be nothing more than a formality, but to be cautious, we will call it at this time probable."
The Sixers will begin play in the Utah Summer League on July 4, with three games in four days, and then have their first Las Vegas Summer League game on July 9.
Jahlil Okafor, who was selected No. 3 overall last year, played five total summer league games for the Sixers, three in Utah and two in Las Vegas.
Colangelo said that it was possible that Luwawu-Cabarrot will play in the summer league, but there must be a contract agreement and a buyout with his team, KK Mega Leks, and he must receive FIBA clearance.
The Sixers' third first-round pick, Furkan Korkmaz of Anadolu Efes in Turkey, isn't expected to play in the summer league because of Turkish national team commitments, Colangelo said.
Korkmaz was a teammate of Dario Saric, whom the Sixers are hoping to sign this summer, with a July 17 deadline approaching. Even if he signs, Colangelo said, Saric is not likely to play this summer after recently finishing his season and joining Croatia's national team.
In another rookie note, Shawn Long, a 6-11 undrafted forward from Louisiana-Lafayette, signed a two-year partially guaranteed deal with the Sixers.
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Staff writer Keith Pompey contributed to this article.