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Simmons' fate looms large in Philadelphia

Dan GelstonAP
Ben Simmons' future at the Philadelphia 76ers remains clouded despite a return to training.
Camera IconBen Simmons' future at the Philadelphia 76ers remains clouded despite a return to training. Credit: AP

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers and the team he led to the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference last season put their hands together in the middle of a huddle at the end of practice and counted off, "1-2-3! Together!"

Lingering outside the huddle, holding a basketball and looking uninterested was the $US147 million ($A200 million) puzzle piece in Ben Simmons.

With Simmons focused and engaged, the Sixers are again a team to beat in the East this season.

But the Sixers open the season in New Orleans with no guarantee that Simmons will play.

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He has practised twice with the Sixers since ending his holdout. Meanwhile, the Sixers hold out hope the three-time All-Star guard wants to suit up again.

Simmons has dominated the headlines in Philadelphia since his baffling off-season trade request and then mystifying decision to report, showing up without warning last week.

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He declined to talk to the media for the second straight practice on Monday - the Sixers say he's scheduled for Tuesday - and maybe then he can start to explain why he wanted out of Philadelphia.

And now that he's back, how long does he plan to stay?

Tyrese Maxey ran the offence with the first team in the portion of practice open to the media, and Simmons mostly stood in a corner stretching or dribbling the basketball.

He played defence on one drill, then walked off the court without saying a word to a teammate.

Rivers said he had no idea if Simmons will play on Thursday (AEDT).

"We're just going to take our time," Rivers said Monday.

"When it comes, I'll make that decision. I'm just going to wait and see and watch. The spirit has been so good. We're just going to keep going."

Simmons, the No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft, was paired with Joel Embiid as the franchise cornerstones as the Sixers chase their first NBA championship since 1983.

Simmons, though, took the brunt of the blame for the top-seeded Sixers' second-round exit in last season's play-offs.

He shot 34 per cent from the free-throw line in the post-season and was reluctant to attempt a shot from anywhere on the floor late in games.

That led to him spending critical minutes on the bench.

He'd be the only missing starter from last season's run to the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Embiid, Danny Green, Seth Curry and Tobias Harris form a solid first four.

Sixers president Daryl Morey has fielded offers for Simmons, but has yet to find a package to his satisfaction for the enigmatic guard.

The Sixers edited Ben Simmons out of the in-game highlight films shown during preseason games.

Depending on what happens the next couple of days they may need to call the editor back for some last-minute splicing before a home opener against Brooklyn on Saturday (AEDT).

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