While Ben Simmons remains out of action, two other players dealt from the Sixers to the Nets have been productive, Brian Lewis of the New York Post notes. In five starts with Brooklyn, Seth Curry is averaging 19.2 PPG on 47.4% shooting from deep, while Andre Drummond is posting a double-double (11.2 PPG, 11.0 RPG) in 22 MPG. Curry’s contract runs through next season, while Drummond will be a free agent this summer.
We have more on the Nets:
- Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers is pleased to see Drummond take on an expanded role in Brooklyn, Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets. Rivers was happy the way Drummond accepted a backup role with the Sixers and said the former All-Star is missed from a chemistry standpoint.
- Simmons’ back soreness that caused a delay in his return is a minor issue and he’ll try once again to work his way into playing shape this week, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne (video link). “This is the same back issue he had at the beginning of training camp when he returned to Philadelphia,” she said. “This is something he’s had for a couple of years. … The plan is the same this week, ramp it up and see where you’re at.” However, coach Steve Nash has already ruled out Simmons from practicing this week, Lewis tweets.
- As we noted last week, Kyrie Irving is excited by the possibility of vaccine mandates being relaxed in New York City. However, mayor Eric Adams reiterated in a CNBC interview he’s in no rush to do so, according to an ESPN report. “We want to find a way to get Kyrie on the court, but this is a bigger issue,” Adams said. “I can’t have my city closed down again. It would send the wrong message just to have an exception for one player when we’re telling countless number of New York City employees, ‘If you don’t follow the rules, you won’t be able to be employed.'”
- Nash did not coach on Monday after being placed in the league’s health and safety protocols, Lewis tweets. Jacque Vaughn filled in for him.
Would like to see Drummond back next season with the Sixers. But I think hey may get the MLE somewhere else. Curry’s going to be good no matter where he plays the rest of his career. He’s a turnstile on defense sure, but he at least puts in the effort.
Nets will be good if KD comes back. I don’t see Ben being much of a factor though this season. Curry/Drummond will be bigger contributors overall than Ben. Full offseason, no mandate, Nets probably are Top-3 next year in the seeding.
That’s if Kyrie even comes back.
I feel like you forgot how good Ben Simmons is at basketball. He’s their best passer, their best defender, their most athletic player & their 2nd best rebounder. He’s definitely gonna be a factor… as far as Seth I’m glad you brought up the fact that he’s a very weak defender. Ben obv gets all of the blame for Philly’s playoff loss but it was Seth’s inability to stop Kevin Huerter that doomed them in that crucial gm7. Ben was busy locking down Trae while Kev was torching Seth yet all anyone seems to remember is Ben passing instead of finishing on 1 possession
You’re forgetting about one ability, availability. I don’t think hell be a huge factor this season. Next season sure. This year I think is too far gone. If he won’t show up until there are 15 games left, probably will play limited minutes in the first couple. So say 12 or 13 games to gel and figure out the dynamic. And not be a liability in the 4th. Hes a great defender, but if he shoots 30% from the line again and the offense isnt syncing, hell lose you a playoff series.
I’m not forgetting availability at all lol. If Ben doesn’t play he won’t be a factor. But he’s definitely gonna play & he’s definitely gonna be a big factor. Even if he didn’t play until the playoffs he’d be a huge factor in the playoffs. He struggled from the line big time this past postseason as he was apparently going thru some mental stuff but now that he’s in a better situation if he can get back to shooting 60-65% like he’s been the past few yrs he’ll be just fine in that department. As far as him “losing you a playoff series” lol I’m guessing you missed what I just said about gm7 of that ATL/PHI series. Ben didn’t lose that series for the 76ers. He was literally their 2nd best player in that series. Tobias struggled throughout the series, Seth got torched in gm7 & throughout the series, Danny Green got torched in gm1, Doc made mistake after mistake, Matisse got cooked by Trae at the end of gm7, even Joel (who was dominant even on a bum knee) missed a potential game winning layup in gm4or5. The blame for that loss can & should go to everyone involved but mob mentality is strong, I get it
Yeah, I wonder what his market is. If Nurkic gets 20 per then Drummond has to get 10 minimum right?
Playing for the minimum and then being traded is like playing for free. It has had to cost Drummond to get a condo in Philly, ship cars and then do the same in New York. Has to basically break even after all the expspenses and security and what not.
I don’t see either getting that much
Nurk Imo would be lucky to get a 4/60
C market is pretty saturated the next 2 years and owners have been slowly backtracking on their interest to pay big money to them. Feels like what Rbs go thru in football on the market
If Portland just wanted to completely wash their hands of Nurk I could see his best offer the full MLE next year with little cap space avail next year leaguewide
I think Drummond actually hits the market at a perfect time and going to Brooklyn will contribute a lot aswell.
If you look at he centres available, Ayton will get the max with the Suns most likely. There’s Nurkic, he probably the best available centre but even he wants to stay with Dame.
After that there Thomas Byrant some team may be interested in his shooting but he just lost his starting position on the Wizards who suck. Mo Bamba is interesting, young with loads of upside but injury concerns and the magic already have Carter Jr and may take Chet in the draft.
I think Drummond could get a 10-15 mil deal and if not will have loads of options available to him. He’s proven himself as one of the best if not the best rebounder in the league. He’s a two time all star, only 28 and In his best season but up 18-16-3-2-2.
Except interest from the Hornets, Knicks, Raptors, Nets, Mavs and Spurs.
As a Sixers fan, he was good for us and wish him the best. Hope he gets paid a bag, stays in the east and Embiid can go back to destroying him hahahah
Don’t forget Bobby Portis. He’s right there with KAT as the best shooting big in the game & he might get a bigger deal than Nurk this summer. I think Portland moves on from Nurk this summer tbh
That’s true, more of a 4 in my eyes. Be interesting to see how much money here gets and where. Can’t see him getting paid well on a contender.
As for Nurkic I also think another team will offer more than Portland and he leaves. Portland will most likely draft in a 5
The Simmons deal was great for the Nets. Picks aside Curry is an elite shooter and will give them buckets and Drummond is an elite rebounder and fills the clear hole they have at centre.
Love their shooters (Curry, Harris and Mills), Love the Aussie connection (Irving, Mills and Simmons), Love the options to fill out the 5 spot (Drummond, LA, Griffin, Claxton)
Kinda surprised the Sixers gave up so much with the picks. Considering Harden could have opted out and come in the offseason and he wanted to leave and made that clear. However those picks will likely be in the bottom 10 of the draft so it’s not a big loss.
Unlikely but Joe Ingles would be another cool addition in the offseason for the Nets. Another Aussie, another shooter, and also a good wing defender and with loads of experience. Nice and easy locker room fit
Sixers literally HAD to give up that much… the league (Silver) wasn’t gonna let a trade happen or let Harden go there in the summer – he’d veto it.
If the Sixers were gonna get Harden it had to be done by the trade deadline. Both teams knew it (hell, the whole league and anyone associated with it did) and it took so long because they were haggling over players, not whether they were gonna make a trade or not. Brooklyn was trying to fleece the 76ers, knowing they had the advantage with this being the ONLY opportunity for the Sixers to get Harden – and how bad Morey wanted/NEEDED him, for his own sake.
While they didn’t exactly end up fleecing them, they still got a solid haul – if Simmons can play, of course.
You don’t know that for a fact why would he do that?
Everyone at the Nets knew Harden wanted out and that he wanted to go to Philly. It was also a fact he had a player option and could’ve opted out and joined the Sixers in the offseason.
Now from the Sixers perspective, we had our sights set on Harden from way way back and I’m pretty sure Embiid and the front office would’ve been deadset on getting him. We knew that if it didn’t get done by the deadline we could revisit it in FA and get him then.
However in both situations we were always going to have to give up something be it before the deadline or in FA in a sign and trade. That’s the only advantage Brooklyn had cause If Harden did opt out, ultimately the Nets could still turned down our sign and trade packages.
It was always going to take Ben Simmons and a couple first round picks and about 10 mil in contracts. I didn’t mind seeing Drummond leave but I would’ve preferred we kept Curry. We did end up getting Millsap back and some protections on the picks and by getting James early it also gives us a chance at competing for a title now.
I just would’ve preferred had the Sixers either found a way to keep Curry or instead keep one of the first. I feel like we gave up a little bit more than we had to, but at the same time I’d we win a title this season which is a huge ask then no one will care about the cost of getting Harden.
Enjoy hack a Ben in the playoffs and he shoots 30% under pressure. Enjoy 5 on 4 basketball on offense. You don’t even need to guard him because he is afraid to shoot. I was a big supporter of his in Philly, but after the Atlanta series I said what a joke. He was a no show in the fourth quarter the whole series.
Absolutely groundbreaking insight. Thanks!
It’s a shame your tag is little D. Too funny. You might what to rethink that one short stuff.
Another comment I’ve already heard a million times? Shocking…
lol you were CLEARLY not a big supporter of his in Philly. You were the exact opposite
I always thought he had the talent to be the next star. Fan of his for years. Last year drained me watching that team fall apart. Seeing Brett Brown choose him over Jimmy Butler is like WTF moment now. Cmon. I’ve been around since the 80s my man.