“If you have made a trade, presumably …

“If you have made a trade, presumably you made it because you feel like it helps you, whether now or into the future, and so the fact that we didn’t means that we didn’t find something that helps us,” Gupta said. “So maybe there’s some disappointment there. At the same time, we feel really good about this group. We want to give this group time to breathe and time to continue to grow.” Gupta may still look for options in the buyout market, but he said the Wolves would have to wait until March because signing a veteran before then would push the team into the luxury tax.

Gupta has always viewed trades as an …

Gupta has always viewed trades as an essential part of team building, but he didn’t want to give up assets that could jeopardize the team’s long-term future to land a player who would only marginally improve their playoff chances in the present. He may not have been ultra-aggressive, but he was not reckless, either. “I could imagine the perception that I would want to put my stamp on things and make a move just for the sake of it. But that’s just not how I operate,” Gupta said. “I’m going to operate from a position of what is best for this franchise, not for me.”

Knicks expected to hire Gersson Rosas

The New York Knicks are expected to hire former Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas as a consultant, league sources say. Rosas, 43, was abruptly fired by the Timberwolves just days before the start of the season amid organizational concerns about a fraying relationship with fellow front-office executive Sachin Gupta and the discovery of a consensual romantic relationship between Rosas and another team employee. Gupta was subsequently installed as the new head of Minnesota’s front office.

Wolves have not contacted Philly about Ben Simmons in two weeks

Darren Wolfson: (Wolves GM) Sachin Gupta has not even reached out to Philadelphia about Ben Simmons for a couple of weeks. Yes, about three and a half, four weeks ago he did plant the seed with the Philadelphia front office that, ‘Yeah, I’m …

Darren Wolfson: (Wolves GM) Sachin Gupta has not even reached out to Philadelphia about Ben Simmons for a couple of weeks. Yes, about three and a half, four weeks ago he did plant the seed with the Philadelphia front office that, ‘Yeah, I’m interested in Ben Simmons,’ but I’m now told he hasn’t had any dialogue about Ben Simmons with Philadelphia for a couple weeks.

Source: Spotify

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Updated #NBA column: What happens in a week or two if the #Sixers think the Ben Simmons timeline isn’t moving along fast enough? https://t.co/IAg3QCAXWH pic.twitter.com/B8J2H9DJAR11:30 PM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: When is it realistic to expect Ben Simmons to be ready to play in a game for the #Sixers? https://t.co/RV9ibhYmyY #76ers pic.twitter.com/Dy4yXItnVk9:15 PM

Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
To recap the Sixers’ day: Joel Embiid sits out, Tobias Harris in health and safety protocols, Danny Green hurt hamstring, still no Ben Simmons, fans chanting “We want Lillard!” all night, all sorts of weirdness.
They beat the full-strength Blazers by 10. Remarkable performance. – 9:13 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Just like everyone predicted: the Sixers – without Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons – are up 34-27 on Portland early in the second quarter. – 7:39 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
The Sixers now say Tobias Harris is out due to the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols. Furkan Korkmaz is starting in his place. Philly is already without Joel Embiid, who is resting tonight, in addition to Ben Simmons. – 6:31 PM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers said today was the most shooting he’s seen Ben Simmons do, by far. – 5:29 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Doc Rivers says Ben Simmons did more shooting today and he did the most work he’s done in a while #Sixers5:28 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers says Ben Simmons did more shooting today than he has this season. – 5:28 PM
Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Doc Rivers says of Ben Simmons “today was the most I’ve seen him working by far.”
He says Simmons is still broadly doing the “same stuff.” – 5:27 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Doc Rivers says Ben Simmons continues to work out on his own, and that today was the most shooting he’s seen him do “by far.” That said, he had no update on any change to his status moving forward. – 5:27 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
On the 76ers side, Grant Riller (left knee; injury recovery) and Ben Simmons (personal reasons) and Joel Embiid (rest) are out for tonight’s game – 12:01 PM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers’ Ben Simmons (personal reasons) and Grant Riller ( left knee surgery recovery) will remain sidelined for tonight’s game vs. #Portland #Blazers. – 6:06 AM

More on this storyline

Australian NBA star Ben Simmons has put his lavish mansion in New Jersey on the market. The contemporary five-bedroom property, which is located in the upscale township of Moorestown, currently has an asking price of AUD $6,676,248 (USD $4,999,999), according to Zillow. -via Daily Mail / October 26, 2021
Marc Stein: The Sixers have stopped fining Ben Simmons for missed games and practices given that he is now out for personal reasons, one source close to the situation says, confirming a report this afternoon from @Ramona Shelburne on the NBA Today. More from me: marcstein.substack.com -via Twitter @TheSteinLine / October 25, 2021
Although league sources concur that no Simmons trade is imminent and that Morey is likely to wait until after Dec. 15 when more players are eligible to be dealt leaguewide before he pursues a deal with greater intent, we should also note that he vowed to take a so-called gap year with family members after his abrupt departure from the Houston Rockets in October 2020. Morey accepted the Sixers’ offer to take over their front office two weeks later. -via marcstein.substack.com / October 24, 2021

Wolves’ Sachin Gupta all in on acquiring Ben Simmons

Darren Wolfson: Sachin Gupta wants Ben Simmons. The same hurdles remain, but can he now be more creative on three-team scenarios? That still seems to be the key. But make not mistake: Gupta is all in on acquiring Ben Simmons. Source: Spotify What’s …

Darren Wolfson: Sachin Gupta wants Ben Simmons. The same hurdles remain, but can he now be more creative on three-team scenarios? That still seems to be the key. But make not mistake: Gupta is all in on acquiring Ben Simmons.
Source: Spotify

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Candace Buckner @CandaceDBuckner
Good morning! I wrote a column about Ben Simmons and who gets to be called a ‘superstar’ in the NBA:
washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/09…9:08 AM
Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Still completely slack-jawed at Doc Rivers comparing Ben Simmons and his representatives to Trump supporting, Big Lie denialists days before training camp starts, as they’re in the middle of trying to convince Simmons to come back and join the team.
Sixers always gonna Sixer. – 8:02 AM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
What we learned with the Nuggets today:
– Tarik Black signed with Denver for training camp.
– Nikola Jokic is the 6th best player in the NBA, per ESPN
– Ben Simmons was spotted at Casa Bonita in Lakewood last night. Witnesses said he only lasted 15 seconds in Black Bart’s Cave – 9:27 PM
Christopher Hine @ChristopherHine
For Sunday’s paper (but published online now!) I wrote about what the events of this week might signal about the Marc Lore/Rodriguez tenure and what this might mean more immediately for the Timberwolves pursuit of Ben Simmons: startribune.com/gersson-rosas-…4:28 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Doc Rivers makes a Donald Trump comparison while discussing Ben Simmons’ situation with 76ers
cbssports.com/nba/news/doc-r…4:03 PM
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
Assessing Timberwolves fallout after Gersson Rosas’ dismissal, from ownership’s role to a potential Ben Simmons trade
via @TheAthletic theathletic.com/2846535/2021/0…3:43 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
New #TheMismatch!
Join @Chris Vernon and @Kevin O’Connor as they discuss the front office upheaval in Minnesota, Ben Simmons’s potential to sit out training camp, and more!
therin.gr/75QTfYA3:37 PM
Henry Abbott @TrueHoop
On BRING IT IN @David Thorpe and @jarodhector on Ben Simmons as an actual human being truehoop.com/p/bring-it-in-… Really recommend taking a minute to read David’s free story “Healing Ben Simmons” truehoop.com/p/healing-ben-… pic.twitter.com/xIHf2ivzcY2:18 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Quiet final week of the NBA offseason? Yeah, right.
The latest in Philly, Minnesota and more all feature in my This Week In Basketball column freshly sent to inboxes worldwide: marcstein.substack.com/p/weekend-dime…
Sign up to get all the Ben Simmons coverage direct: marcstein.substack.com1:40 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Sam Presti emphasizes that the Thunder won’t take any shortcuts in this rebuilding process.
In other words, go ahead and trash your Karl-Anthony Towns and Ben Simmons trade machine results. – 11:21 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Could Celtics get involved in potential Ben Simmons trade as a third team? | Winning Plays w/ @Rich Levine powered by @BetUS_Official pscp.tv/w/dBvCGHR3LTIw…8:30 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
How the Suns could get involved in Ben Simmons trade talks as a third party – bit.ly/3o0RDH9 via @PHNX_Suns pic.twitter.com/60gPrntAWS8:02 PM

Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
How much is too much for Ben Simmons? That’s one of the many complicated questions #Cavs are asking when it comes to a potential trade
cleveland.com/cavs/2021/09/s…4:56 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
On today’s episode of The Bell Ringer, I welcome @Nick_Friar with me to dissect the Ben Simmons trade drama as well as look at some proposals centered around him #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/23/bel… via @SixersWire4:48 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: Here’s what the #Sixers really hope for regarding Ben Simmons (for subscribers): bit.ly/3kxb2gD pic.twitter.com/CLLW8PR2fl3:30 PM

Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
New #Rockets at #TXSN – John Wall for Ben Simmons? Why trade could work but probably won’t ift.tt/3u6Vtzw3:18 PM
Austin Kent @AustinKent
Gilbert Arenas knows what’s up. I don’t think that you force this EXACT system in Philly, but I do think there’s a ton of room for optimization and growth with Ben Simmons. Probably elsewhere.
(Just now have to ALSO fix the confidence issues) pic.twitter.com/tI6L2nBz513:02 PM
Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
The NBA is fining Warriors owner Joe Lacob $50K for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule regarding his comments about Ben Simmons. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/22/nba…1:00 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: The #Sixers are planning to hold onto Ben Simmons, try to convince him to report to camp/preseson and play; Plus, source says Simmons & agent Rich Paul requested trade in late June ‘right after’ end of 2020-21 season (for subscribers): bit.ly/3kxb2gD pic.twitter.com/ZQdGHzXZf312:15 PM

Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
Should #Cavs go all-in on a Ben Simmons trade? Do they even have the pieces to make it work?
cleveland.com/cavs/2021/09/s…12:10 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
The Suns should get involved in Ben Simmons trade talks, but not in the way you might think. My latest for @PHNX_Suns: bit.ly/3o0RDH911:03 AM
Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
How much more can Giannis improve and how much does the Ben Simmons situation impact the East?
Joined @Kane Pitman on the latest @lockedonbucks …with video
youtu.be/xdaVmNJ8yB49:34 AM
Kane Pitman @KanePitman
New @lockedonbucks w/@Justin Garcia 🦌
How much improvement does Giannis have left? How will his game evolve next? How does the Ben Simmons situation impact Milwaukee?
🎙️ linktr.ee/LockedOnBucks
📺 youtu.be/xdaVmNJ8yB4 pic.twitter.com/DEu4yO53B18:00 AM

Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard
Join us on @FTFonFS1 at 7:30 am ET with @getnickwright @kevinwildes @JennaWolfe & yours truly. We talk Justin Fields, Tom Brady, Ben Simmons & more.@FS17:18 AM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: The #Sixers are moving away from trying to trade Ben Simmons in favor of convincing him to report to camp & play for Philly. Plus, what will #76ers do about the $8.25 million payment that Simmons is owed October 1 (for subscribers)? bit.ly/3kxb2gD pic.twitter.com/LH7SOHMiMO6:45 AM

Chris Sheridan @sheridanhoops
Will be interesting to see what impact the promotion of Sachin Gupta has on additional moves the #Timberwolves might make before the start of training camp. Entire #NBA on pins and needles awaiting Ben Simmons resolution. No reason why Gupta could not become involved in some way. – 5:32 AM
Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
The NBA is fining Warriors owner Joe Lacob $50K for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule regarding his comments about Ben Simmons. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/22/nba…4:00 AM
Kane Pitman @KanePitman
New @lockedonbucks w/@Justin Garcia 🦌
How much improvement does Giannis have left? How will his game evolve next? How does the Ben Simmons situation impact Milwaukee?
YouTube 📺 youtu.be/xdaVmNJ8yB4 pic.twitter.com/8phfbnZFnq12:44 AM

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: #Sixers are planning to hold onto Ben Simmons, try to convince him to report to camp and play; Plus, source says Simmons and agent Rich Paul requested trade in late June ‘right after’ end of 2020-21 season (for subscribers): bit.ly/3kxb2gD pic.twitter.com/ywoanFtkpw11:55 PM

John Gonzalez @JohnGonzalez
Can’t stop thinking about Joe Lacob getting a tampering fine for being like “Ben Simmons?…eh, nah” – 11:20 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: The #Sixers are moving away from trying to trade Ben Simmons in favor of convincing him to report to camp & play. Plus, source says Simmons requested a trade in Chicago ‘right after’ end of the 2020-21 season in late June (for subscribers): bit.ly/3kxb2gD pic.twitter.com/PF4fh6h1ei9:00 PM

Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
🏀 HABERSHOW w/@Amin Elhassan 🏀
Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) hops on to talk the TWolves stunner and the Ben Simmons holdout. Jamal then crushes trivia about his career and drops a zillion untold stories along the way.
🍎: apple.co/3zzl6dx
✳️: spoti.fi/3EFM2Mi pic.twitter.com/1nBqI8nXK38:49 PM

Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
The NBA is fining Warriors owner Joe Lacob $50K for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule regarding his comments about Ben Simmons. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/22/nba…7:51 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Warriors owner Joe Lacob fined $50,000 by NBA for tampering after downplaying possible Ben Simmons trade
cbssports.com/nba/news/warri…6:14 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
The NBA says it has fined Golden State Warriors Governor Joe Lacob $50,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule.  The fine is in response to comments by Lacob in a September 21 news article regarding the Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons. – 5:54 PM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
The NBA announced today that it has fined Golden State Warriors Governor Joe Lacob $50,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule. The fine is in response to comments by Lacob in a September 21 news article regarding the Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons. – 5:53 PM
Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
#NBA announces that #Warriors owner Joe Lacob has been fined $50,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule by making comments regarding Ben Simmons #Sixers5:52 PM
Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt
NBA fines Warriors owner Joe Laconia $50,000 for “for violating the league’s anti-tampering rule. The fine is in response to comments by Lacob in a September 21 news article regarding the Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons.” – 5:48 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
The NBA announced it has fined Joe Lacob $50,000 for his comments about Ben Simmons earlier this week. – 5:47 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Warriors owner Joe Lacob was fined $50,000 for talking about Ben Simmons and violating the league’s anti-tampering policy, NBA says – 5:46 PM
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Warriors owner Joe Lacob has been fined $50,000 for violating anti-tampering rule regarding comments on 76ers’ Ben Simmons. – 5:46 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Joe Lacob was just fined $50,000 by the NBA for his comments about Ben Simmons. – 5:46 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA column: Source: #Sixers planning to hold onto Ben Simmons, try to convince him to report to camp and play; Simmons requested trade ‘right after’ end of 2020-21 season (for subscribers): bit.ly/3kxb2gD #76ers pic.twitter.com/PCAT3dpCkt5:00 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Multiple reports say Ben Simmons won’t play for the 76ers again.
@Frank Isola tells @Brian Scalabrine this shows “The Process” didn’t work in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/tuh8moIxYu4:30 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Like everyone else, I’m watching the Ben Simmons situation.
Craziness, but it made me think back to the first saw him play in person when he was at LSU.
To go from that confident kid on his way to being the top pick to now not reporting to 76ers training camp?
Craziness. pic.twitter.com/W4SkeDyFH44:29 PM

The Jump @_Talkin_NBA
If you were Ben Simmons, would you sit out a season until you are traded to your desired destination?
#NBATwitter3:53 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Kinda feels like A-Rod wanted Ben Simmons at any cost and Gersson disagreed – 3:40 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#NBA source: The #Sixers‘ goal isn’t to increase Ben Simmons’ trade value by him reporting but for Simmons to come back and play this season. Also, Simmons and agent Rich Paul initially asked for a trade in Chicago “right after” the 2020-21 season ended. – 2:11 PM
Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard
Will Aaron Rodgers repeat as MVP? Should the Sixers wait to trade Ben Simmons? Why do the Patriots get a pass for cheating? & more! Guests: @EphraimSalaam @RandyMueller_ @martinweiss
Catch us live weeknights 7-10p ET on @FoxSportsRadio & @iHeartRadio podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…1:59 PM
Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBA
You’re telling on yourself if you think John Wall for Ben Simmons is a realistic trade framework – 12:49 PM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Doc Rivers hopes to convince Ben Simmons to stay
sportando.basketball/en/doc-rivers-…12:46 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Doc Rivers on Ben Simmons: “We want him back.” That’s not happening. nba.nbcsports.com/2021/09/22/doc…12:40 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Doc Rivers says 76ers want Ben Simmons to remain in Philadelphia: ‘We would love to get Ben back’
cbssports.com/nba/news/doc-r…12:35 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: With Ben Simmons’ holdout looming, I looked at the possibility of the #Celtics taking part in Simmons trade talks as a facilitating third team: masslive.com/celtics/2021/0…12:29 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
As I have for months now, I want to see Ben Simmons somehow land on Minnesota with Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards all there too. It’s the best fit for Simmons and that team becomes really, really interesting with Simmons in the fold. – 11:47 AM

More on this storyline

 

Darren Wolfson: (Gupta) is going to work his ass off to try to acquire Ben Simmons and he has full authority to do so. Glen Taylor, Marc Lore, Alex Rodriguez… Trust me, they’ve given him the green light -via Spotify / September 25, 2021
According to sources, the 76ers would want limited or no protections on those firsts in hopes of flipping them for an All-Star caliber player around the deadline. That, alone, would be incredibly risky for Cleveland — a still-rebuilding team that’s won 60 combined games over the last three years and is only projected to win around 26 this season. Even the addition of Simmons wouldn’t change the 2021-22 forecast that much, as the Cavs wouldn’t have enough short-term floor-spacers or shooters around the limited Simmons. Any deal would mean rejiggering the roster quite a bit. -via Cleveland Plain Dealer / September 25, 2021
Because Gupta has been elevated from inside the organization, it is conceivable that the Wolves can move right along and continue their talks with the Sixers without much of a diversion. Gupta and Morey worked together for years in Houston so there is background there, and sources say Gupta was involved in some of the talks with the Sixers earlier this summer before the conflict with Rosas reached its head. -via The Athletic / September 25, 2021

 

Ousted Wolves exec Gersson Rosas reportedly blocked Sachin Gupta’s move to Houston

According to The Athletic, Minnesota’s Sachin Gupta was poised to make a lateral move to the Rockets, but it was blocked by Gersson Rosas.

At least in part, the circumstances causing former Minnesota president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas to shockingly lose his job just before training camp may have traced back to an overture from the Rockets for one of Rosas’ top lieutenants with the Timberwolves.

According to Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania of The Athletic, executive vice president of basketball operations Sachin Gupta was poised to make a lateral move (in status) to Houston due to a pay increase. However, Rosas blocked Gupta from making the move.

Rosas, Gupta, and current Rockets general manager Rafael Stone all worked together for years in Houston under former general manager Daryl Morey, who now runs basketball operations in Philadelphia. Thus, Rosas and Stone each have a relationship with Gupta, and it appears that Gupta was ready to go back to Houston for financial reasons.

However, Rosas contends that the timing of the desired move was unacceptable because it came just prior to the July 29 NBA draft, and the Timberwolves could have been damaged by allowing someone with proprietary information go to a direct competitor. As it pertains to the Rockets, here are some key details from The Athletic’s story:

Some issues were exacerbated this summer when Rosas and Gupta butted heads over Rosas’ decision to block Gupta from making a lateral move to the Rockets with increased pay, sources said. Rosas said the timing of the request, coming right before the draft and free agency, made it impossible for the Timberwolves to let someone with as much proprietary knowledge of the team’s plans go to a competitor.

The tension between them only grew later in August when Rosas banished Gupta from the team’s offices and granted him permission to seek employment elsewhere, according to sources. The issue was resolved in early September after ownership got involved and Gupta decided to stay.

[Rosas] said most teams would have denied Gupta permission in that scenario because it was not a promotion and said he fought hard earlier in his tenure for Gupta to get the Sacramento GM job. He also granted Gupta permission to seek other opportunities after free agency concluded.

Rosas was relieved of his duties Wednesday over what some within the organization referred to as a “dysfunctional” environment, according to The Athletic, and Gupta is now the interim replacement at the head of Minnesota’s basketball operations department. Outgoing owner Glen Taylor became involved in the evaluation during recent weeks after complaints by a vocal contingent of staffers, The Athletic reports.

Ultimately, it appears that Gupta — now the first person of Indian origin to head an NBA team’s basketball operations — will also receive serious consideration for the permanent position. Thus, for the time being, he has higher ambitions than reconsidering a move to the Rockets to work for Stone. However, depending on the outcome of Minnesota’s search, it’s a conversation that could be revisited at a later date.

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