Jan 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) smiles in the direction of fans during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Simmons is suddenly the last man standing on the Brooklyn Nets. But he’s already signaling some worrying signs about his availability.
Ben Simmons certainly wasn’t THE problem with the Brooklyn Nets, but he certainly didn’t help. Simmons came to Brooklyn in the James Harden trade but didn’t play at all at the end of last season as he recovered from a back injury.
He’s already missed 16 games this season. He’s averaging a career-low 5.8 field goal attempts per game. He’s shooting less than 50 percent from the free-throw line. He’s been held completely scoreless three times already this season, including once in a huge matchup against the Boston Celtics with Kevin Durant out of the lineup.
With the Nets clearing the decks and trading Durant and Irving this week, his importance and primacy are going to increase, even if the team is rebuilding. That’s why it should be worrying to Nets fans to hear Simmons talking about his knee injury as something that will need to be managed for the rest of the season.
Can the Nets trade Ben Simmons?
The Nets could have explored trades for Simmons along with Irving and Durant but his massive contract and on-court struggles make finding a suitor nearly impossible, both now and into next season. NBA insiders had reported that Simmons’ trade value was essentially zero and it should exactly be surprising given how the season has unfolded.
Ben Simmons is going to be a member of the Nets for the foreseeable future, whether or not he’s actually healthy enough to stay in the lineup and be on the floor.
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