The Philadelphia 76ers have "little-to-no hope" of persuading Ben Simmons to rejoin the team if they don't trade him by the deadline.

Simmons has remained out all season long for personal reasons while focusing on his mental health. Simmons is holding to his pledge of never playing for the 76ers again.

Simmons is trying to force a trade in Year 2 of a five-year, $177 million contract extension.

The Sixers tried very hard to trade Simmons to Houston for James Harden very early in Year 1 of that new contract extension.