Throughout Nets normal supervisor Sean Marks’ first feedback relating to a franchise-changing offseason, he was requested about potential draft picks, a few youngsters, a coach who gained’t debut for months and a participant not even on the roster anymore.
Ben Simmons by no means even got here up, not requested about or commented on.
That’s how out-of-sight, out-of-mind Brooklyn’s solely All-Star is.
His accidents have made him a forgotten man.
Simmons’ monitor file breeds scepticism.
However his camp insists he’s lastly match for the primary time as a Internet.
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“Ben has been doing his rehab and prep work for the upcoming season in Miami. He’s via the rehab stage and has moved on to energy and conditioning,” Simmons’ agent, Bernard Lee, advised The Submit.
“As a result of there have been so many begins and stops beforehand I’ll merely say he’s in a terrific place and the expectation is he’s capable of begin the season 100% of himself able to go.”
Acquired at the price of James Harden, Simmons has performed simply 57 video games in components of three seasons with the Nets.
What number of will he play within the fourth?
“You may’t rely on Ben Simmons,” ex-Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks advised The Submit.
With Simmons turning 28 this month and making $40.3 million in a contract yr on a rebuilding staff, his state of affairs is much from supreme.
Most view him as an expiring take care of which the Nets can create all-important 2025 cap area, the important thing to their rebuild.
Bobby Marks initiatives Simmons as a minimum-salary participant going ahead.
Lee, his agent, sees a three-time All-Star with an opportunity to return to kind.
“An outsider sees uncertainty however somebody residing it sees alternative,” Lee mentioned.
“Ben is happy to play basketball wholesome. Which isn’t one thing he’s been capable of do since he’s been in Brooklyn.
“So if he exhibits as much as coaching camp and he’s sharing the backcourt with the Brooklyn Knight and Mr. Whammy, he’ll determine it out. He’s centered on having the most effective yr of his profession and if he does I’m fairly certain all of that uncertainty will rapidly disappear.”
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What sort of function Simmons performs this upcoming season bears watching.
Brooklyn went right into a rebuilding course of by buying and selling Mikal Bridges.
It was a transfer that Simmons wasn’t warned about, not like Nic Claxton and new coach Jordi Fernandez.
“Ben’s completed this for a very long time now and he’s realized to fret about himself and what’s in his management. He came upon like everybody else did and that’s his choice,” Lee mentioned.
“He has a job to do and he’s centered on that.”
When he’s match, he’s completed that job properly — possibly too properly for a tanking staff.
The Nets had been a good 7-8 with Simmons final season, however simply 25-42 with out him for a horrid .373 successful proportion.
Simmons’ defence helped Cam Thomas, who averaged 24.9 factors and three.1 assists in 15 video games enjoying alongside him.
Would a wholesome begin rebuild Simmons’ worth sufficient for a commerce?
“General, look … Ben is 27 years previous … he’ll be 28 in a number of weeks. Due to the previous couple of years it generally appears straightforward to overlook he’s a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-Defensive participant and an All-NBA participant,” Lee mentioned.
“His potential hasn’t modified, he was merely injured … it occurs, he’s completed the work to cease the cycle and search out the solutions and execute the work.
“The work is his solely approach out of this and he is aware of that higher than anybody and he’ll be coming into the upcoming season as ready as he’s ever been, able to do his job. All of us have eyes, we now have all seen within the occasions he’s taken the ground that there’s simply one thing totally different about him, each time he’s within the sport he instantly has an influence and makes individuals round him higher and now he’ll get to do this wholesome.”
This text first appeared on The New York Submitand was reproduced with permission.