Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons (25) is working toward a huge pay day in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons (25) is working toward a huge pay day in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Associated Press

Ben Simmons and Philadelphia 76ers working toward 5-year, $170 million extension, per AP source

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

A person with knowledge of the situation says the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons are negotiating toward a $170 million, five-year extension for the All-Star point guard.

The deal will begin in the 2020-21 season, said the person who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because neither the team nor Simmons has revealed details publicly.

ESPN first reported the negotiations between Simmons and the 76ers.

Simmons will make about $8.1 million this season, the last of his four-year rookie deal. Assuming the sides agree on what will be a full max, Simmons' salary for the following season would jump to about $29.3 million and eventually rise to nearly $39 million in 2024-25.

This move adds to a summer of big financial commitments being made by Philadelphia, which will sign Tobias Harris to a $180 million, five-year deal and add Al Horford on a four-year deal that could reach $109 million.

Simmons was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft and wound up making his NBA debut in the 2017-18 season, earning Rookie of the Year honors. He was an All-Star for the first time last season, and has averaged 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists in his two on-court seasons.

Simmons' extension, when finalized, will push the amount of money committed to point guards this offseason — either via free agency or extensions — past the $1.2 billion mark. Among the biggest winners of that sweepstakes: Portland's Damian Lillard got a $196 million extension, Denver's Jamal Murray got one for $170 million and Simmons is on his way to getting the same.

Philadelphia is 101-58 in regular-season games when Simmons plays. He's had 22 triple-doubles in the last two seasons, tied for third-most in the league with Denver's Nikola Jokic and trailing only Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (59) and the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (26).

Simmons also has 80 double-doubles over the last two seasons.

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