The Brooklyn Nets have had a frustrating time trying to get something out of often-injured guard Ben Simmons. Although Simmons came to Brooklyn already dealing with a back issue, the former LSU Tiger had his back issues flare up again as he is currently rehabbing from a nerve impingement in his back.
Brooklyn has been patient with Simmons as he tries to work his way through his injuries and lack of confidence to be the player he was with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, another season has passed and Simmons is in the same place he has been for the past few seasons: rehabbing after a disappointing season.
Brooklyn was able to hang on to make the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference despite Simmons playing just 42 games. After the trade deadline, Simmons came off the bench as it seems that having him and Nic Claxton on the court at the same time is not the most viable option. Bleacher Report appears to provide a solution to Brooklyn if it decides to move on from Simmons:
The mock trade
Brooklyn Nets receive: Doug McDermott and a 2023 first-round pick (via Phoenix Suns).
San Antonio Spurs receive: Ben Simmons
Should the Nets do this trade?
The Nets have a tough offseason ahead of them as they have to decide which direction they want to go in for the foreseeable future. Other than Cam Johnson’s free-agency and finding more bigs that can play, Brooklyn has to figure out if Ben Simmons is part of the team’s future. Part of the thought process should be that Simmons is owed almost $78 million over the next two seasons while possibly having to come off the bench. Getting another shooter like Doug McDermott along with a first-round pick may be a decent way to get out of Simmons’ business.
Verdict: Yes, the Nets should do this trade.
What B/R thinks of the trade
“It seems clear Ben Simmons would benefit from a fresh start in a low-stakes environment, which makes the stable, rebuilding Spurs the ideal destination for his hypothetical career resuscitation. Gauging his value is the tricky part.
Simmons missed all of 2021-22 and was a shell of himself in 42 games this past season for the Nets. His refusal to shoot jumpers and reluctance to seek contact in the lane drove his scoring average down to a career-worst 6.9 points per game. Health may have been a factor.
The good news, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis, is that Simmons is unlikely to need a second back surgery. It’s also possible his poor play was attributable to what experts said would be an 18-month recovery timeline following a microdiscectomy performed in May 2022.”
Story originally appeared on Nets Wire