Ben Simmons needs time and the Brooklyn Nets don’t. The season may still be long, but the New York franchise is already on the verge of imploding. If the leaders decide not to break everything, the team will quickly have to climb the slope after having started with 6 defeats in 8 matches.
The problem is that the Australian winger is missing his push-ups on the pitch. He is only a shadow of the player he was during his first seasons at the Philadelphia Sixers. He is clearly out of pace, and not yet at his best physically, it makes sense, but he clearly lacks aggression with the ball in hand and he has a +/- of -13.9 points on 100 possessions . Third-worst differential in the league (behind two members of the Houston Rockets) among players fielded at least 30 minutes per game.
Without even looking at the stats, just watch him play to understand why he can actually help the Nets by being the best version of himself and why he’s beating them down until he’s fully recovered mentally and physically. . A delay and poor performance that would already be sources of frustration for Kevin Durant, the team’s superstar.
Kevin Durant would already be tired of Ben Simmons…
According to Ian Begley, New York insider, the Nets are already considering parting with Ben Simmons. They would have even started discussions with a franchise of the Western Conference to transfer the Australian in return for a veteran confirmed and skilled at three-pointers. The indices are fuzzy but they can make think of Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets), Norman Powell (Los Angeles Clippers), Tim Hardaway Jr (Dallas Mavericks), Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz) or possibly Josh Richardson (San Antonio Spurs).
Brooklyn could eventually get their hands on an extra player or pick, depending on the level of interest from the other franchise involved. Case to follow. In any case, the vibe emanating from the current situation suggests that Ben Simmons needs one more transfer – for a new, healthier start elsewhere, with less pressure – before truly regaining his All-Star level.
