Report: Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid will not play All-Star Game due to contact tracing [UPDATE]

UPDATE: So Team Durant is opting for a smaller look at will start New Orleans Pelicans PF Zion Williamson in place of Embiid, per Woj. I kind of liked Zion’s odds to win MVP and the fact he’s now in the starting lineup gives him a better shot. He opened at 33/1 and is currently 20/1 to win ASG MVP on DKSB.

UPDATE: Simmons and Embiid have been ruled out of the All-Star Game by the NBA, per Woj. So the League is placing both players into health and safety protocols and they won’t play. We’ll see who ends up starting for Embiid, but you’d think it ends up being Vucevic as the only other center on Team Durant’s roster. The line on DraftKings Sportsbook for the game was up to -4.5 for Team LeBron. They may have more of an advantage now that Embiid is out.

The NBA has no plans to replace Simmons and Embiid in the All-Star Game, per Woj.

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are in danger of missing the 2021 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday in Atlanta due to contact tracing, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early in the day. Both Sixers stars went to a barber who may have contracted Covid-19. The barber had an inconclusive test and is undergoing further testing, per Woj. Sixers coach Doc Rivers said it was looking unlikely that both players would be able to partake in the game.

Update: Woj says the barber has tested positive and it’s very unlikely Simmons and Embiid will play.

So this could mean that Team LeBron is down Ben Simmons and Team Durant is down Joel Embiid. If this is the case, it’s clearly a big hit to Team KD with Embiid being a starter. This could mean that Nikola Vucevic ends up being the starting center in the All-Star Game, though keep in mind he’s participating in the Skills Challenge before the game.