Since the start of the season, the Brooklyn Nets have been plagued with an abundance of injuries to multiple key rotation players. Over the last couple of weeks, the Nets have been able to gradually get healthy, however before the start of the Orlando Magic game, fans received some dreadful news regarding former All-Star guard Ben Simmons. NBA Insider Shams Charania posted an update regarding Simmons, saying that he has received an Epidural and will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks.
Simmons this season has only played 6 out of 19 possible games this season, and in those games he has averaged 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, & 6.7 assists, leading the Nets in rebounds and assists per game. While his scoring aggression is not present, his all around game has been incredible.
Unfortunately, this injury does not bode well for Simmons, who has only played 48 games out of 183 possible games in the last 2 & a half seasons. Due to Simmons’ unreliability due to his injury history, this sparks a debate on what the Nets should do with Simmons and the remaining $98.2M contract that the Nets owe him over the next 2 seasons. Given how abysmal Simmons’ value is, it would require the Nets to give up significant draft capital to offload his contract. If the Nets were to wait in the offseason when he becomes an expiring deal, a team may be interested in taking on his salary as a way to create cap space for the 2025 offseason.
There are multiple problems with this, it would mean the Nets would have to give up at the very least one 1st round pick with light protections on it. It would be difficult to depart with one of the potentially valuable Phoenix 1sts the Nets acquired from the Kevin Durant trade, especially if that pick were to turn into something significant. Another issue is the salary the Nets would have to take back because, unless a team with cap space willing to absorb Simmons' contract completely, it would mean the Nets would have to take back money within 25% of Simmons’ contract. The purpose of trading Simmons is to free up cap space in order for the Nets to re-sign free agent Center Nic Claxton to a sizable contract, without entering the luxury tax.
The Nets do have another option that may also upset fans, the Nets currently have Spencer Dinwiddie and Royce O’Neale on contract, both of whom are expiring this season. O’Neale & Dinwiddie make a combined $29.8M, meaning if the Nets were to let those players walk in free agency, it would allow the Nets to re-sign Claxton while staying under the luxury tax. The issue with this strategy is that it would require the Nets to let 2 high quality role players walk for nothing in free agency. Now, it is possible that the Nets can trade O’Neale & Dinwiddie at the trade deadline, take back expiring contracts while also receiving draft capital, but it is currently unknown if any teams would give up that specific type of package.
The Simmons situation is difficult and there are no easy answers, any decision made regarding him will likely leave fans unhappy.
Comments