With former All-Star guard Ben Simmons expected to return this season, John Schuhmann of NBA.com examines how he may fit with the Nets. Brooklyn acquired Simmons in a deal with the Sixers featuring James Harden last season, but he didn’t play due to mental health concerns, both mental and physical.
The Nets will likely consider starting Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Kevin Durant and Nicolas Claxton. That places the 6’11” Simmons at power forward, playing between Durant and Claxton. His defensive versatility and passing could allow him to play a role similar to the one Draymond Green plays in Golden State, especially given that he’ll have some of the league’s best shooters (Irving, Curry, Durant, Joe Harris and Patty Mills) around him.
Green, however, can spread the floor. He’s not a great three-point shooter, but opposing defenses have respected him enough. On the other hand, Simmons has made just five three-pointers in his career. It’ll be important for Brooklyn to play in transition this season. The team will likely feature Simmons in the dunker’s spot and play him on the ball, though it’s also possible he plays some minutes at center.
Here are some other notes from the East:
- Brian Lewis of the New York Post projects the Nets‘ rotation. As mentioned previously, Brooklyn has flexibility and could play Simmons at the four or five. The team also has weapons such as Mills, Harris, Royce O’Neale and T.J. Warren.
- Heat legend Tim Hardaway defended Kyle Lowry over allegations that he weighed too much this season, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. Lowry still managed to have a respectable season, though he dealt with an injury throughout the playoffs that limited his availability and effectiveness.
- In his latest “Ask Ira” mailbag, Ira Winderman examines whether the Heat may be active ahead of the trade deadline this year. Heat president Pat Riley is known for being open to making major changes, but Miami decided to stand pat this offseason (except for losing P.J. Tucker to Philadelphia). Since Miami has multiple undersized options at power forward, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team make a trade — even though it has plenty of talent.
Fully healthy where do you have the nets finishing this year? I say 4th behind Bos, Mil, and Miami…..
If fully healthy both mentally and physically they would most likely be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season There’s a lot of if’s there though.
Lol, ridiculous. There are multiple better teams than that group of individuals.
No team is ever fully healthy, but I’d say top 5 is fair.
Even Cavs will be much better than Nets
Kyrie and Durant are as good of a 1-2 punch in the league. Both can create and score at ease. I’m putting that in the top 2
Didnt they get swept in the…. First round last year??? Are we always going to make excuses for them??
7th. Still need raptors and cavs.
Probably 8th or play in if Washington actually has a decent season
Simmons is a much better rebounder, playmaker and finisher downhill than Draymond…
And with the lanes that’ll be available playing with Kyrie and Durant (better than anything he had when he was pretty damn good in Philly), Ben is gonna be a highlight reel with this group in Brooklyn.
Embiid was good, sure, but those two were more concerned with “who’s team it was” and outdoing each other than winning games – and still won some playing like that.
I look for Simmons (if healthy) to be a tremendous player that they’ll be able to build around after this season – if KLUTCH doesn’t get him to LA.
@Jump
I don’t think it’s fair to label Embiid as a guy who wants to win but only if it’s him leading. Ben on the other hand hsdd never taken the challenge.
Embiid just wants to win. You can tell the way he has trained and refined his game the last few off seasons.
@KFCF
When Joel wins, it’s “my” team.
When they lose, it’s “our” team.
It’s been like that and will continue to be.
And, that’s why Simmons wanted to leave – he saw it had become Joel’s team.
Won’t have that issue in Brooklyn. Brooklyn didn’t draft him to be a (or the) centerpiece as Philly did.
Plus, he’s aware of what’s goin on and how he’s viewed now. He’ll ball out this year.
I wouldn’t exactly use the term “Ball Out” with Ben Simmons. He has been traded into the perfect situation for major flaws he has in his game for a so-called “star” player.
Brooklyn allows Ben Simmons to be the high-level role player that he is. Rebound. Pass. Guard multiple positions. Score on garbage around the basket and in transition.
Brooklyn also allows Ben to not have to worry about anyone expecting him to score in the clutch with KD, Kyrie and a pair of shooters in Seth Curry and Joe Harris. Nope. Ben doesn’t have to fear shooting a jumper we all know he ain’t gonna make because it is no longer his job. If he can avoid being fouled and going to the free throw line …. Ben might even get some All-Star discussion.
Wrong.
Totally agree.
Ben could not (or did not) play second fiddle in Philly yet he will somehow come to grips with being a third option in Brooklyn?
The talent is there. Everybody sees it. The problem is he doesn’t want it bad enough. He just wants the lifestyle.
Durant and Kyrie will eat him alive.
Ben will request a trade by mid season.
@Philly
Depends on your definition of “option”.
Simmons will rebound and lead the break himself – he won’t grab a rebound and outlet it to someone four feet away to bring it up. Will he rebound and send it ahead to someone on the move in position to attack once they catch it? Of course… that’s basketball.
But, he’s not gonna be a typical rebound and “give it to a guard” guy – he’s gonna push it himself.
What option does that make him?
In the playoffs, as mentioned above, he’ll STILL rebound and play the same way. The game doesn’t “change” in the playoffs – Golden State won the playoffs the same way they won in the regular season. Don’t buy into the clichés.
If Brooklyn doesn’t get anything off the break and they get into halfcourt action, Ben will be a screener/roller and still get to the basket off rolls or find shooters the same way.
What option does that make him?
He’s too dynamic a mismatch for Nash to merely stick him in the dunker spot in the halfcourt. That’d be asinine, really.
Ben and his fiancé just broke up. Brooklyn needs to make sure that Larsa Pippen stays occupied with Marcus Jordan (yes, MJ’s son, she has no shame! Check TMZ). Ben has Larsa Pippen target written all over him.
Dude. Are you o.k.
Simmons is a better playmaker than Green in transition but in the playoffs where it’s a slower game with more half court sets I’d take Green anyday.
Exactly. Durant and Irving love to play one on one. What’s Simmons doing in those times?
Most especially if Ben is required to hit a free throw.
What’s he gonna do in the half court when Durant and Kyrie are dribbling for 10 seconds in isos?
@ jump shot:
When Draymond was Ben’s age last season, he put up 14 ppg on 49%/39% shooting with 9.5 rpg 7.4 apg and 1.5 spg. Ben produced zeros.
Calling Ben better in any way without seeing him on the court is premature at best.
@nbaok
I agree… it would premature without seeing him on the court.
So, therefore, it’s not premature what I’m saying about Simmons.
He’s a spoiled and (somewhat) intellectual kid.
Basketball-wise, when healthy, he’s in the top percentile of TOP percentile… of basketball players in the world.
He’s healthy.
Embid was good ? You are dismissed.
Lakers are title contender
What is the difference bet Lakers and Nets
Lakers missed the playoffs last season, and have only added Walker, Bagley, Tuscano-Anderson, Beverley, and a bunch of rookies.
They have the 8th best odds to win a title according to Vegas, so not actually a contender.
Lakers are closer to being a Wembanyama contender than they are to being a title contender lol.
I’m smelling another back flare up if he is asked to play PF.
I told you guys about Ben Simmons reincarnating himself as a Draymond Green clone on this board many times.
I have also been relentless telling you that the Brooklyn Nets will be your 2022-23 NBA Champion. This squad is truly loaded.
Boston Celtic fans running around here like advancing to the Finals without a championship means something. LMAO. You guys have enough banners to know better.
Scary how good this team can be. Thank you to Darryl Morey and his obsession with James Harden. Ben Simmons and Seth Curry added to KD, Kyrie, Joe Harris, Nic Claxton, Royce O’Neal, etc …. Wow.
@ Very B
Yes, you’ve been stating your wishful thinking frequently.
It’s funny to see you dissing a Celtics Finals team in favor of the isoball diva-led Nets that have only managed to win 1 playoff round and most recently got swept by that 2nd best in the league team.
Draymond knows what it takes to win titles. Ben doesn’t.
Let us know when
… they actually get onto the court and the pieces come together as a team.
The thing is, Simmons might get sad and have to go home. So there’s that.
Irving Curry KD Simmons Claxton
So many issues with that team.
So who ha does the ball? Kyrie who has the best handle of all time but wants to play SG? KD your number 1 scoring option? Or Ben Simmons who offers next to nothing off the ball?
Let say Kyrie sweet makes sense he also has a good relationship with KD so I’m sure that’ll be fine but Ben off the ball offers nothing. No one respects him on the outside and if he comes it’ll it’ll just clog the paint. Plus once he does get the ball yes he has speed and a handle but he’s not just going to be able to bully his way to the inside like he would on point guards in the past.
Okay so let’s say Ben Simmons has the ball, Kyrie and KD can play off ball but either way like I said no one respects his outside shot and playing the 4 spot he can’t just drive straight in like he would on point guards in the past.
Idk just doesn’t make sense to me. Especially with Claxton offering no spacing at all also.
Then on defence yes he’s solid but Seth Curry ain’t doing a thing. Claxton is good at that end but he ain’t Joel Embiid. That’ll be another issue.
I would’ve had Ben at the 1 reluctantly, Kyrie the 2, KD the 3, ONeale the 4 and be looking desperately to trade for Myles Turner to play the 5. Ben handles the ball and Royce and Myles don’t even need touches they just space the floor. All of a sudden teams have to guard 3 good ball handlers of different sizes and skill sets while having two also guard two good outside shooters leaving the paint wide open. Defensively ONeale is good and Turner is excellent especially as a shooter blocker. Your weakest defender would’ve Kyrie who ain’t terrible.
Then off the bench obviously run Mills as a sixth man along with Joe Harris. TJ Warren would be a huge boost if fit and then your left with whatever you didn’t give up to get Turner.
As for getting Myles you’ve got Claxton, Cam Thomas, Seth Curry (expiring deal), Sharpe, Duke Jr and an additional first round pick this year (thanks to Philly or houston)
According to reports Russ and 2 firsts might get the Lakers, Turner and Heild. Jump in, 2 firsts plus Claxton and Curry for Turner.
Bam elite defence and better flooring spacing. True contender
Simmons can play the point still. Kyrie and Seth play off the ball a lot. It fits
But that’s not what the article says it says lining him up at the 4 and sometimes 5.
Meaning say he’s in the half court offence, he’s going to guarded on the perimeter by guys he can’t just drive by like he did point guards. Claxton will be clogging the paint and then defensively you’ll still going to be weak with Curry on the floor.
Plus I can’t see Kyrie and KD happy to be second and third choice ball handlers to Ben Simmons. Kyrie a best skill is his ball handling it would be stupid not to use that advantage as much as you can.
Simmons I still really love as a player but he needs a 5 which can space the floor and guards and wings which specialise as outside shooters.
Then he can attack the rim and kick out or finish inside. He can crate from the low block like Jokic.
We will see, but I can’t see them doing well with Ben at the 4 with Kyrie Curry KD Claxton.
All the potential to be the best team in the east but I think will finish 8th.
Bucks, Celtics, Sixers, Heat, Raptors, Hawks, Cavs all will finish higher
Simmons can guard 1-5, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play big minutes at the 5. Elite passer and physical. Ben is going to elevate kyrie and KD. Any offensive contributions are a bonus. The nets to me are a top 5 team in the league. This from a die hard Sixers fan.