Though his two All-Star Nets colleagues Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving could very well be on the move this summer, a trade for injured All-Defensive Team Brooklyn guard Ben Simmons remains very unlikely, Brooklyn sources inform Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Simmons missed the entire 2021/22 season due to mental health issues and a back injury that required surgery. Sources tell Lewis, who notes that Simmons is on track to rejoin Brooklyn in time for the team’s training camp this fall, that the former No. 1 overall pick has little trade value at present. The three-time All-Star, still just 25, holds career averages of 15.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 7.7 APG.
There’s more out of Brooklyn:
- Several teams have contacted the Nets about potential deals for second-year player Cam Thomas, Lewis writes in another story for the New York Post. According to Lewis, a Thomas trade may fetch a first-round draft pick for Brooklyn, should the team want to move off the 20-year-old shooting guard. Across 67 games with the Nets, Thomas averaged 8.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 1.5 APG in just 17.6 MPG.
- After going undrafted in 2021 out of Providence, point guard David Duke Jr. impressed the Nets on a two-way deal. This summer, he has thus far passed on an offer from Brooklyn for a second two-way contract (presumably the standard two-way QO that includes a $50K partial guarantee) in the hopes of instead being signed to a standard deal to join the team’s 15-man roster, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “Well, you know, I’m always going to strive for the most that I can get, right?” Duke said of his reasoning. “So if there’s a roster spot to strive for that, then whatever happens from there, happens… But like I said, I’m just out here [in Summer League] trying to play the best that I can, show what I can bring to Brooklyn, to whoever.”
- The Nets are thus far the biggest losers in free agency this year, opines Kevin Pelton of ESPN (YouTube link). That issue may have more to do with the team’s top stars potentially wanting to be traded off the team more so than its fairly minimal free agent signings. “No matter how this Durant situation plays out, even if they’re able to retain him… still you’re going to have Kyrie Irving’s situation hanging over their entire season,” Pelton said. “And it’s also kind of affected their ability to make moves so far this offseason,” Pelton added. While Pelton applauded their low-risk signing of T.J. Warren to a one-year contract, he was less enthused about another big Brooklyn transaction. “[I] wasn’t a big fan of their trade to send a first-round pick to Utah for Royce O’Neale. People are going to describe O’Neale as a 3-and-D player, but the defense part of that equation has been lacking the last couple of seasons.”
Ben Simmons trade value is equal to players in Vagas Summer League
Royce O’Neale is as good as he used to be.
Terrible trade for Nets.
Hmmmm….a team with Westbrook and Simmons as the primary scorers….that would be interesting….and likely bad.
The thing that’s hanging over Brooklyn the most is that they’re trying to trade a star player “under contract” who apparently has no regard for the contracts he signs.
If I’m a middle market team why am I giving up the majority of my assets for “4 years” of Kevin Durant (at 34) when he’s just requested a trade *before his extension even begins*.
In NYC mind you. The largest market in the US. With a franchise that has more or less catered to his every whim.
If they can’t make him happy can I?
If Simmons gets rumored to be dealt that means KD is being traded for a player on a rookie max deal.
Just keep KD
That’s best for nets
Keeping him would be OK but a good story would be for KD to return to OKC. They have the assets and draft capital along with the creativity to make the trade happen. For KD it would be somewhat like James’return to the Cavs. In addition OKC is now brimming with young talent and loaded with draft picks. Prestis teaching a lesson on rebuilding and these guys all mirror Durant, tall, lean and multi skilled. He could make them a playoff team instantly and mentor these Duranters like Giddey and Holmgren and Dieng.
It would be a great story but it would not help OKL in the long run. KD only has couple good yrs left…. Heck, they wont even bring back Westbrick for minimum.
Cam Thomas can help replace Kyrie’s scoring. I was surprised he didnt get more opportunities last year. David Duke can really defend and is a useful playmaker at the 2/3, spots. I thought he should have also played more last year, but they wouldnt even play Bruce Brown, so that was obviously not going to happen. I thought he would get the chance, but now they signed Sumner, who is a very similar player
Durant would not be getting his bag for mentoring. A cheaper vet might do that, if that’s what OKC wants.
Neither Durant nor James have been paid to mentor.