Former three-time All-Star Ben Simmons is arguably one of the most controversial
players in the NBA, having attracted a lot of negative attention during the last two years of his career.
When former superstar James Harden forced a trade out of Brooklyn before the 2021
trade deadline, the Nets had no choice but to deal him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry, and two first-round picks.
At the time, this was viewed as a win-win trade, with the Sixers getting their shot-creating guard and the Nets getting a Swiss Army knife that could help them with their defense and rebounding.
Unfortunately, Simmons was unable to play the remainder of the 2022 season due to a back injury that would later require surgery. While fans were upset, many expected Simmons to make a comeback in the 2022-23 season.
However, what fans got was Simmons worst career year as a basketball player since coming into the league in 2016.
Prior to joining Brooklyn, Simmons averaged a respectable 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists on 56% FG and 59.7% FT while being an elite defender, making the All-Defensive team twice in his career. However, Simmons was not his aggressive self during his first year with Brooklyn.
In the 2022-23 season, Simmons played 42 games and averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on 56.6% FG and 43.9% FT, career lows in points, rebounds, assists, and free-throw percentage. This was due to a combination of physical health with Simmons back injury and his mental state.
It was believed that Simmons could be the third star behind Durant and Irving, but with those two being dealt at the 2023 trade deadline, fans are now wondering what's next forBen Simmons?
Many fans would like Simmons off the team. However, with the money he is making
over the next few years, it would be very difficult to trade Simmons without attaching multiple first-round draft picks to have a team absorb his contract.
In 2023-24, Simmons is making $37.9M, and in 2024-25, Simmons is making $40.4M, making him the player with the worst contract in the NBA. Due to the new CBA, being under the salary cap is now more important than ever due to the limitations set on teams that are above the second apron.
Luckily for the Nets, even after potentially re-signing restricted free agent Cam Johnson, they are likely to be below the $179.5M second apron. This means that while Simmons contract is not helpful by any means, it's not detrimental to the team yet.
The best approach to the Simmons situation is to give him another chance. Despite many
fans being aggravated by Simmons lack of effort when it comes to shooting and his injury
history, he's not being traded due to the assets the Nets would have to give up to offload him. And while there was a lack of effort when it came to Simmons being aggressive last season, part of the reason he struggled was due to him coming off a back surgery.
In a report from NY Post's Brian Lewis, Simmons said, "It takes 18 months for your
nerves to fully heal. People don't know that. But over time, you know, I get better and better. Just keep pushing."
There is a realm of possibility that Ben Simmons could return to his former self and contribute to the Nets next season. The Brooklyn Nets had three major problems in the 24 games following the 2023 All-Star break. They ranked 26th in points per game, 26th in rebounds per game, and 22nd in assists per game.
A fully healthy Ben Simmons would alleviate two out of three of these issues. On the other hand, let's assume that Ben Simmons is not the same player he was pre-injury. Even if Simmons were to maintain the same production he did last season or even regress further than he already has, after one more season, he will become an expiring contract, making him much easier to trade.
In the NBA, expiring salary is one of the most valuable assets a team could have, as it could give them cap flexibility the following season. A prime example of this is Russell Westbrook, who was making an insane $47M in the final year of his deal.
However, the Lakers only had to give up a single top 3 protected 1st round pick to offload him to the Utah Jazz while also receiving DeAngelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley in return.
Ultimately, while many fans are rightfully frustrated with the Ben Simmons situation and want him gone, the best thing to do as of now is to wait one more year and see what happens. It can only go up from here with Ben Simmons.
Comentarios