Kings general manager Monte McNair spent nearly six months in talks with the Philadelphia 76ers in hopes of bringing Ben Simmons to Sacramento, but now McNair is moving on.
The Kings have ended their chase for the three-time All-Star to focus on other pursuits with less than two weeks remaining before the Feb. 10 NBA trade deadline, sources told The Sacramento Bee, confirming a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The news comes as the Kings arrive in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center.
McNair has a longstanding relationship with 76ers president Daryl Morey due to their time together with the Houston Rockets, but they haven’t been able to reach a deal for Simmons. Sources said Philadelphia’s asking price remains too high, but the Kings are expected to stay aggressive in trade talks with an organizational belief that the current state of affairs in Sacramento is unacceptable.
