In other words, the Sixers are keeping Ben Simmons.
It would seem so, but eventually they will drop their asking price. The question remains: What possible deals will be left for the Sixers to pursue if they wait until later in the offseason (or next season's trade deadline)?
NBA offseasons are as active as they've ever been. A lot of player movement is going to occur within the next couple of weeks. Teams are going to be that much closer to finalizing their rosters heading into the 2021-2022 season. And as a result, Philadelphia's bargaining position is likely to worsen, rather than improve, the longer they wait.
So, to receive a solid return on a talented player whose value has never been lower, Morey can get in on the league's mad scramble as free agency opens and a variety of trade activity commences. Or he can stubbornly insist on getting the world in return for that player whose value has never been lower, watch other GM's move on to their plan B's and C's and D's, and be left holding the bag further into the offseason with the choice to either 1) take less than they would have gotten at free agency's open, or 2) run it back with the duo of Embiid/Simmons and roll the dice as next season's trade deadline approaches, hoping that [a disgruntled] Simmons boosts his value enough to improve Morey's bargaining position.