Welcome to your daily Ben Simmons news dump. Things have been relatively quiet surrounding Simmons. The 76ers stopped fining him after he addressed the team and took some responsibility for the circus that has unfolded over the last five months. From there, Simmons is still not playing and listed as out  due to personal reasons again tonight when the 76ers play the Portland Trailblazers in South Philadelphia. 

Simmons has been practicing and receiving medical treatment on a stiff back and working with the 76ers organization on “mental issues.” Doc Rivers gave us an update following the Sixers win against the Hawks on Saturday night. Honestly, it didn’t sound too promising. 

With all that aside, Simmons has been at team practices. He was seen riding an exercise bike and according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, he was also seen interacting with the Sixers’ staff in Camden and even having a conversation with Tobias Harris. 

So when will Ben Simmons actually play again?

The 76ers have stuck to their message that there is currently no timetable for return but you would have to assume that it will come on the road. Although I think the “fan outrage” narrative is overblown, getting Simmons back on the court for the first time in South Philadelphia just doesn’t make sense.

Keith Pompey speculated before the Nets home opener that additional security measures were put in place around the outside of the Wells Fargo Center to protect Simmons for when he does return. In his article over the weekend, he clarified that the Sixers security enhancements were not because of Ben Simmons.

So there’s that. 

According to reports, the Sixers could try to get Simmons back at some point during a six game road trip. That would be November 13th – November 25th. 

That means Ben Simmons could play against the Indiana Pacers (Nov. 13), the Utah Jazz (Nov. 16), the Denver Nuggets (Nov. 18), the Portland Trail Blazers (Nov. 20), the Sacramento Kings (Nov. 22), and Golden State Warriors (Nov. 24).

This would be ideal. Give Ben Simmons six games on the road. Let him spend time with the team and get reunited with his teammates while they’re all traveling alone together. On the court, let him come out and for the love of god, shoot the damn basketball. 

Six games of a reborn Ben Simmons who’s shooting the basketball from everywhere on the court could completely change the perception of most Sixers fans when he does take the court at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. It’s literally that easy and the only reason we are in this mess to begin with.

As for the game tonight, Joel Embiid is now listed as OUT due to rest. The lines for tonight already have been updated. The 76ers went from 5.5 point favorites down to 2.5 point favorites.

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Just shoot it, Ben. You’ll be surprised how quickly this fan base welcomes you back.