Ben Simmons Shares Cryptic Photo Amid Rumors of Joining LeBron James for a 76ers Reunion

It seems the Philadelphia 76ers aren't finished shopping. Even after landing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the buzz around the team hasn't quieted, and the latest name attached to it is a familiar one: Ben Simmons.

The talk started with Simmons himself. Earlier this summer, he said out loud what a lot of people were already wondering, that he wanted back into the league. And when asked where, Philadelphia came up. Not as a demand, but as a door he'd walk through if the 76ers opened it.

"I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my a** on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed," Simmons said. "I don’t have a plan on where. Maybe I’ll go back to Philly."

Fast forward to the present day, the Australian star could already be hinting at his return to Philly after uploading a cryptic post on social media.

Simmons recently uploaded an image of three Nike shoes on his Instagram stories. One of which is a pair of LeBron XXIII 'Old Glory' edition.

While this doesn't necessarily confirm he's heading back to Philly, James' crown logo subtly suggests he could be hinting at a 76ers comeback.

According to recent rumors, the 76ers have already reached out to Simmons about their interest in his return. However, the team is still working on a deal, given that they are currently sitting less than $2 million below the first apron.

Simmons is currently eligible for the highest tier amount of the veteran minimum contract, which is approximately $3.8 million.

Given the current circumstances, the 76ers can't afford him. For now, all we can do is wait and see whether Philly will make an effort to pursue the Australian star.

Former NBA Star Wants to See Ben Simmons Return to the 76ers

When Ben Simmons was drafted in the NBA in 2016, the Philadelphia 76ers brought him in as the No. 1 pick. While technically playing for the team for six seasons, Simmons only actively played in four seasons.

Simmons' future seemed bright in Philly, especially since he was trying to help Joel Embiid establish the team's dominance in the Eastern Conference.

However, after several strained relationships with teammates and the coaching staff, Simmons ultimately left in February 2022 following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

Since then, Simmons' career trajectory has dropped significantly. A plethora of injuries got in the way while his game slowly declined.

With all that in mind, Simmons left the NBA to focus on patching up his body and getting back into game-ready condition.

One of the people looking forward to Simmons' return is former NBA star Jeff Teague. In a recent episode of his podcast, Club 520, Teague expressed how he wanted to see the Australian star make a comeback to Philadelphia.

"Y’all think Philly will accept him back? ... I lowkey want him to go back to the Sixers now," Teague said. "They lowkey need to make that happen, if Rich (Paul) can make that happen."

The question now is, can the 76ers pull off another surprise signing this offseason?