After nearly a decade of trying to shortcut their way to success, the Brooklyn Nets have decided to rebuild. The wheels were put in motion during the 2022-23 season, with Brooklyn trading Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns and Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. The year prior, they traded James Harden, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, to the Phoenix Suns.
Altogether, that’s 32 All-Star selections and 82,968 career points that went missing from the Nets’ roster. In return, Brooklyn received Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Juan Valet, eight first-round picks, and four second-round picks. Today, only Simmons, Finney-Smith, and Johnson remain on the roster.
However, after trading Bridges this offseason, both Finney-Smith and Johnson are now on the trade block. Simmons may be on the move as well. At least that’s what the Nets are hoping for.
Nets Hope To Move Ben Simmons At Trade Deadline
“If he suddenly becomes 15 (points), five (rebounds), and five (assists), maybe it works,” reports Nets Daily’s Bob Windrem. “The other thing is, even if he does 15-5-5, the numbers of teams that are going to be competing for him is going to be small because of those two back surgeries. But the more likely scenario that everybody believes is they’ll wait for the trade deadline and they’ll try to get a good deal.”
Ben Simmons is “more advanced” now than he was at this point last year 📈
(via @NetsDaily) pic.twitter.com/fYShaEu4GO
— The Brooklyn (@thebrooklynpod) September 16, 2024
Windrem adds: “From what I understand, they’re reasonably confident about his health. The second surgery was less complicated and different than the first surgery. You want a little news? He’s been playing 5-on-5 for several weeks. It’s not just that he’s been cleared… That’s encouraging because if you look last year, that was not the case. He’s more advanced now than he was then.”
No Surprise Here
Simmons being expendable to the Nets comes as no shock whatsoever.
Despite his hot start after being drafted first overall in 2016, questions about his durability and mentality have been loud since the 2021 NBA Playoffs. In the beginning, it may have been a slight overreaction to a bad on-court decision that went viral. Then, he missed all of 2021-22 with a back injury. When he returned, the elite passer became increasingly passive.
He was always more Magic Johnson than LeBron James. However, even Johnson knew he had to put pressure on defenses, averaging 19.7 points per game in his All-Star seasons. While with the Philadelphia 76ers, Simmons averaged 15.9 points per game; not dominant but still respectable.
Since being traded to the Nets, Simmons has mustered just 6.7 points per game. Even worse, he’s only played 57 games in two seasons, his back still ailing him. Nonetheless, Simmons’s basketball IQ, passing prowess, and defensive impact are still highly regarded. As Windrem notes, if he can produce the way he did with the Sixers, Brooklyn might be able to see him playing there long-term.
Still, players on expiring contracts —like Simmons —are often used as trade bait. With Simmons making $40.4 million in 2024-25, such a salary could land the Nets a star-caliber player. The biggest question is: what teams would be motivated to make such a deal considering Simmons’s injury history and decline?
Who Could He Be Traded For?
Looking around the NBA, there are several players making a salary similar to Simmons’s. Among them, Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young may be the most realistic targets. Despite their star status, both players have to prove themselves to their current organization.
In Butler’s case, the problem is durability, leading to his team’s reluctance to offer him a max contract extension. In Young’s case, it may be maturity and his ability to impact the game without the ball. The Hawks even put him on the trade block this offseason.
If the Nets make a trade for either player, it would certainly accelerate their rebuild. However, that may not be Brooklyn’s M.O. anymore. Instead, they might hope to make a deal moving Simmons for a combination of players. With all but nine teams under the first apron, there are quite a few possibilities in this scenario.
