The Ben Simmons saga in Brooklyn is nearing its finish.
Simmons, 28, has averaged 6.2 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 33 appearances this season, together with 24 begins, his most since becoming a member of the Nets in 2022-23. The three-time All-Star, within the closing 12 months of a five-year contract he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, is owed $40.3 million this season.
The Nets have a 13-20 report with Simmons in 2024-25 and are 44-46 with him all time. He had a NET score of -3.8 in 825 minutes this season.
“Whenever he’s out there, everybody plays hard,” Nets guard Keon Johnson mentioned. “Guys play extremely hard running in transition, knowing that he’s one of those guys that can pretty much get it to you whenever.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly emerged as potential suitors for Simmons. The seven groups that aren’t allowed to signal a participant that’s waived and had a pre-existing wage of a minimum of $12.8 million are the Knicks, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns.
“I love playing — on and off the court — with him,” Johnson mentioned. “Great guy off the court. He just brings so many different — just being versatile on the court, bringing a lot of different things we can do defensively, scheme-wise and also on the offensive end as well.”
Simmons, nonetheless recovering from offseason surgical procedure, was not cleared to play in back-to-back units this season. He underwent a profitable microscopic partial discectomy in March to alleviate the pinched nerve in his decrease again that restricted him to simply 15 video games in 2023-24 — his second surgical procedure since he was acquired within the James Harden deal in 2022.
“I just pray he can come back healthy,” former Nets interim head coach Kevin Ollie mentioned. “I want him to have faith that he can come back and be the Ben Simmons we know he can be. And we can’t speculate on what’s going to happen in the future or regret what happened in the past.”
Simmons tried 7.4 subject objectives and 1.1 free throws per 36 minutes this season, that are each profession lows. He ends his Nets tenure with 90 video games performed and 0 playoff appearances over three seasons.
“For me, it’s hard to do your job when you’re injured,” Simmons informed reporters in September. “So, I’ve had about a year and a half or two years of just back and forth with the back injury and then the knee. And finally, being in a place where I’m able to compete, and then work on my game every day and have no setbacks. So, that part of it is easy for me now, just going into this year of being healthy and being prepared and ready to go. And having the expectation to play, I don’t want to think about anything else.”
