The specter of this saga haunts Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers

ON ANOTHER NIGHT, in another context, the sight of Ben Simmons working out after hours at the Philadelphia 76ers' practice facility in Camden, New Jersey, wouldn't be of note.

Simmons lives about 15 minutes away from the team's headquarters, and as a member of the team he's free to work out there any time he wants.

But this was not just any night. This was a game night, and the Sixers were in the midst of an important homestand at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. But instead of being on the court with his teammates as they went 12-3 in January and rose to within half a game of first place in the Eastern Conference, Simmons was 20 minutes away, working out with his personal team of trainers, trying to stay ready in case he is traded to a new team.

By all accounts, he is in great physical shape. But according to sources close to Simmons and within the Sixers organization, he continues to tell the team and those who represent him that he is not mentally ready to get back on the court again. Not now and not ever in Philadelphia.

It has been seven months since he asked the Sixers to explore a trade for him and nearly four months since he returned to Philadelphia. He has not meaningfully participated in a practice or even a film session since. He has just been there: in body but never in spirit.

He has worked out separately with his own group of trainers, according to sources close to Simmons. He has organized his own runs with local players. He has lifted weights at a local fitness club that's open to the general public. He has seen his own therapist but hasn't shared information about his treatment with the team. He's living in the Moorestown, New Jersey, house he put up for sale months ago.

Everything he has done has