Ben Simmons wants out of Philadelphia. That is news the whole world has speculated about for the better part of the summer. After he turned in an awful showing in the playoffs, it was hard to imagine the 76ers wanted him back anyway.

That isn't the case according to the team's biggest star, Joel Embiid. On social media, Embiid said there is no rift between himself and Simmons and that he loves playing with the Australian star.

Plenty in the sports media have accused Embiid of being disingenuous. Tony Kornheiser took it a step further on Tuesday's Pardon the Interruption and called Joel Embiid a liar.

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics," Kornheiser said. "And people lie as well. Joel Embiid is lying here."

He pointed out that Embiid himself has said in the past that he did not want to play with Simmons. The All-Star center has said that Simmons does not take enough of the weight off of Embiid's shoulders in big game situations.

Pablo Torre, who has been filling in for Michael Wilbon of late, was not as harsh. He doesn't believe Embiid, but really wishes he could.

"I have been wanting so badly to take him at this specific series of words for three months almost. The question I have is why didn't you say this anytime sooner?"

Both hosts believe that someone in the 76ers organization got to Joel Embiid and told him to talk up Ben Simmons publicly. That way, he will have some trade value and it will be easier for Philadelphia to move on from him.