76ers Fine Ben Simmons Again Thanks to a New Level of Drama

In the latest chapter of the Ben Simmons saga, the Philadelphia 76ers have fined the three-time NBA all-star selection his $360,000 game salary for missing Thursday night's win in Detroit.

According to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sixers plan moving forward is to continue to fine Ben Simmons until he cooperates with the organization on the progress and status of his mental health issues.

Also according to the report, Simmons must fulfill "other basketball-related obligations" in order to stop being fined by the organization and they are going to resume placing Simmons' future contractual salary into an escrow account. 

Before Ben Simmons made his impromptu appearance at the Wells Fargo Center a few weeks ago, the Sixers had placed his salary in an escrow account and were withdrawing his fines from those funds. But the organization released Simmons' money from that escrow after he took his COVID-19 test and cleared protocols to begin the process of assimilating himself into the organization.

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This news comes on the heels of the report that Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey approached Ben Simmons this week for an update on his situation and Simmons reaffirmed his position that he is not mentally ready to resume normal basketball activities with the 76ers:

Simmons has been receiving mental health assistance outside of the 76ers organization through NBA Players Association resources and there are reports that the Sixers' organization has asked for updates on Simmons but he has given them no information on his progress or status of his therapy: