What should the Brooklyn Nets do with Ben Simmons?

In the final year of a massive contract, the Nets are still left with more questions than answers when it comes to Ben Simmons. What should be the plan going into this season? Should they trade him (or at least try) this off-season? What about his role on the team going into next season? Is there any way he could be in the starting lineup again? The Locked on Nets guys take a look at the Ben Simmons issues and what can be done going into this season.
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[@josephham5216]

you guys laughed at me last preseason when you were propping up this dude. I said all he would do is give the rockets a high pick in the draft. One 3rd overall selection later.....

[@johnsondoeboy2772]

That’s the crazy part. Dans are so delusional and assume people are “hating”. It has nothing to do with hate. Now look!

[@samueldeblaw9677]

Good pod guys. Brooklyn is stuck in purgatory with Simmons. they have no choice but to ride his contract out. if they trade him and don't get back expiring deals they lose their flexibility after the 2024-2025 season. also if they trade him they will have to add assets which should be a deal breaker to them. even if he gets on the court ( which is a big IF ) he is likely washed up and unable to help the team win. if their plan is to sign a star via FA next year they have no choice because of previous choices made but to remain in purgatory 1 more year

[@killerjoe7596]

Purgatory! That's the word. The Nets are held in limbo until Simmons's contract expires. Forget all the speculation on what the Nets can do with him because there's nothing they can do except pay him off to make him go away.

[@juanlamar27]

New intro, okayyy I see you guys.

[@D-Rock_in_BKLYN]

The Nets should keep him, try to get him back into the rotation as a Small-Forward off the bench, and invest in TWO inexpensive Centers capable of spacing the floor. Nikola Vucevic, Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson, Jonas Valanciunas. Any two will suffice, but get the best two that fit best under Jordi's system

[@marcosmiranda4756]

Love your content, get rid of this stiff while he still has a pulse!

[@jesussavedseb]

New intro ?!! I’m diggin it

[@JackMovess]

I think this is the first episode I haven’t heard a “on a high level” in weeks

[@dougnorrie]

Trying to work smarter, not harder

[@renogamiing]

love the new intro. I am still hopeful for Simmons, I hope he gets better and if we are going to trade him let's get someone good

[@yungog2o3]

He did not just call Ben Simmons a veteran 😂😂

[@hitting2986]

Simmons would be a great player for any team as a role player given his size, defense, and playmaking- it’s when you start relying on him to be a star player and be available when he becomes a liability. I think he needs restricted minutes like Jonathan Isaac for the Magic this season and most importantly we need his contract to expire so it frees up a ton of cap space. The way I see our situation going is that we’re not planning on competing unless a borderline superstar that makes sense becomes available. What I think is going to happen is we’re planning to sign another star in 2025 FA without giving up many assets and becoming a fun playoff team for a few years until the Phoenix 27-29 picks finally hit where we finally find our franchise players for the next years to come. The next few years is just about developing a foundation for the real future stars of this team and having a core that’s good enough to make the playoffs for our rookie stars right away, like how the Celtics did it with Tatum and Brown.

[@clashbandicoot793]

Ben10 season baby! He is the perfect compliment to Cam Thomas. Love the new intro music guys keep up the good work

[@lookitsyourpapi]

Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Yooooo 😢

[@basketballboygenius2034]

The Nets never got a stretch 5 on the roster which Ben has had in his best seasons. They never tried to build around him and made him play with bad spacing. Once Ben goes to a team that has a Brook Lopez, Nikola Vucievic, Myles Turner, Al Horford type player on it he will get back to being an all star level player

[@D-Rock_in_BKLYN]

The 76ers did better than that: they played him at his natural position and incorporated his skills into the mix. He's a Point-Forward, a cross of Point-Guard and Small-Forward. Embiid and Tobias Harris spaced the floor for him. Their coaches could've utilized Ben better to success. We're putting him behind the 8-ball. Plus, he's rarely available. At best, he comes off the bench at the 3 playing next to Noah Clowney at the 4 AND someone like Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson, or Nikola Vucevic at the 5

[@tyronnebiggums629]

I think Simmons is cooked....be it back problems, or crushed confidence....He is firmly in hanging out and collecting a paycheck territory

[@D-Rock_in_BKLYN]

@@tyronnebiggums629 👎 That's an unfair assessment

[@basketballboygenius2034]

@@tyronnebiggums629yea I don’t really agree with that. I just think Ben knows there’s not natural fit for him of the Nets and that The teams personnel doesn’t suit his play style at all. I wouldn’t want to play for them either. I think he’s saving himself for his next team 🤷

[@grospipo20]

He will find that in China! The nba is done with simmons

[@athanjourdan9312]

nets fans would you do rui jhs and 17 for dayron sharpe and dfs?

[@orenspiegel2162]

OVER/UNDER 15 games played by Ben Simmons Next Season:

[@orenspiegel2162]

UNDER

[@dougnorrie]

Over, under 39

[@ronbautista3123]

Lets go all in again😅!! Djm for dfs and 1 first and a swap Ingram for sharpe, dennis, cam t and 2 first and a swap Lauri / jc for ben and 4 first Cp3 with the mid level Murray - Paul Bridges - Whitehead Ingram - Johnson Markkanen - Clowney Claxton - Collins We will be over the cap but the core is young and in their primes

[@jaymanjay3.0]

But Doug, didn’t the Nets waive medicals on Ben Simmons? so the fact that they were willing to do that they already assumes the risk of all the injuries that came afterwards so this is 100% on Sean Marks. Thought he could fix him and Mark thought getting Ben Simmons was better than getting Halliburton for James

[@EEazyM0neySniper35]

New Orleans or Minnesota wouldn't be bad teams for Simmons if they could add him without paying too much. Both T-wolves and pelicans are in need of another PG. The T-wolves would be a better fit there's plenty of shooters there and he wouldn't have to worry about his shooting. The wolves are in desperate need of playmaking. They've got plenty of offensive players plus they are a great defensive team and adding Simmons would literally make them insanely good defensively. The T-wolves being a better team in the league Ben could play with alot more confidence. New Orleans would also flourish with Simmons I think but above all hom going to Minnesota would be a great move. Call me crazy if you want.

[@user-xn4bq2vv6y]

Keep Ben. With our current roster he impacts the game the most. (Clax is 2nd) Which says a lot considering he doesn’t even average 10ppg. Keep that man and hopefully he gets healthy. But if he doesn’t resign him at a didcoujt

[@MikeDizee]

Nga I NEED what u smokin 😭

[@user-xn4bq2vv6y]

@@MikeDizee what wrong thing did I say ? Lol this last season who impacted the game more? Mikal? Cams buckets were empty because we suck. It wasn’t CJ. Clax is debatable. No one else on the team can do what he does even when he’s only 70%. Keep him

[@MrAdmvp]

@@MikeDizeehealthy Ben Simmons was an all star and all defence. Dude didn’t take a dunk and hurt his back and now he’s Kwame Brown?

[@stevenbfine]

Brooklyn will just have to have Ben Simmons under contract this year as I am unsure what draft picks that Brooklyn could include in any trade.

[@blackmamba6938]

Just keep in on the bench and wait for his contract to expire.

[@lawsantim2364]

It would be absolute malpractice to have built a team around Ben Simmons as the focal point because he wasn't available for large stretches of the seasons. Why would you do that? If he was available and healthy id say of course build around him but the whole plan falls apart if the players you brought in came to support the main guy that you build around, and that main guy misses virtually whole seasons.

[@antoneke89]

I don’t think star would like to come to bkn to be honest after the big 3. Harden, kyrie and kd are really valued around the nba stars. I remember the day d Mitchell scored 70, the day before he was playing COD with kyrie and Royce . With all this being said, I’d trade 10 and schroder for Collin sexton and John Collins

[@MrAdmvp]

The Simmons negativity has gone way overboard. Back injuries are really hard to come back from, but if he gets healthy and confident with a team that is willing to use his strengths, he’s still got major upside

[@EEazyM0neySniper35]

Exactly, there's a few key teams in need of what he brings including Minnesota

[@johnsondoeboy2772]

Major upside??? 😂😂😂😂😂😂 Some people NEVER LEARN! Pure delusion

[@MrAdmvp]

@@johnsondoeboy2772 Peak Ben Simmons was an All NBA level player, what are you on about?

[@johnsondoeboy2772]

@@MrAdmvp Every year you geniuses convince yourself he will revert back to that player and every year he breaks your heart 😂 so damn naive and gullible. His career is OVER! He doesn’t give a damn about basketball genius!

[@MrAdmvp]

@@johnsondoeboy2772 I’m not saying he will revert back nor am I crying. I’m just pointing out his obvious talent

[@christophercancel934]

new music? what's wrong with the old one?

[@dougnorrie]

Network move. We dig it

[@slobberkissintl3548]

Why did they ever do that trade 😂

[@MikeDizee]

Get his ass outta there as soon as that contact ends

[@valis14]

It's called amnesty clause without the amnesty clause. Otherwise known as "How the Lakers vanished Luol Deng." Not gone fishing, gone missing. Poof, disappeared, gone. How is this even a debate?! No one is going to trade for that contract under the new CBA, not even a tanking team, without ADDING draft capital which the Nets are currently trying to replenish from all these idiotic trades in the first place. Hard to see how it even has value as an expiring deal under this new CBA landscape and the net return could end up being something like a future 2nd or two... which isn't much. Then again, 2nd rounders are worth more now because of said CBA as capped teams will be looking for bargain buy players ready to contribute w/the longer contracts/more guaranteed money now offered under the new CBA. About the only avenue in trade is as a salary filler for a big upswing trade but isn't that how the Nets got here in the first place? They're not good enough. Either rip it to the studs for the future stars of the next couple of draft or put them in a reasonable position to be at least be picking middle to late lottery by moving Bridges and giving the keys to Cam Thomas and see what he can do. It might be ugly, but he can maybe develop into a valuable piece. If not, you trade him down the line and return will be great for a guy that was picked at the end of the first round. If the Nets are going to have a bleeding heart about this, even if Ben is ready for camp, have him start coming off the bench. If he contributes, great. If he complains, send him home. Should've never traded for him to begin with. Even if his medicals couldn't be anticipated, it was clear Simmons has been a mentally fragile player for a long time. Entitled, doesn't want to take criticism (like maybe try shooting with your dominant hand, you're not ambidextrous, you're not Lebron, mate), shielded by his know-it-all, Old Man, and blaming everyone but Simmons.

[@dougnorrie]

The amnesty clause is no longer in effect. Hasn't been for years.

[@valis14]

@@dougnorrie ​​⁠Uh, did you even read my post? Not that difficult. I know damn well the amnesty clause doesn’t exist anymore. That’s why I mentioned Luol Deng’s situation w/the Lakers where he was basically given the amnesty treatment w/out an "official" amnesty. In fact, the Lakers stretched his deal over several years, even after he was shown the door. Same should be done for Simmons. But you do you, guy.

[@dougnorrie]

@@valis14 Lol you mentioned the thing that doesn't exist. There is no other way to read it. I wouldn't stretch him either, just get him off the cap when the contract ends rather that have it linger

[@valis14]

​@@dougnorrie The Lakers Deng example isn't the only one. John Wall w/the Rockets. Joakim Noah on the Knicks. Timofey Mozgov. Chandler Parsons, who was legitimately injured and not the mental case. If Simmons can't take coming off the bench or being that 12th guy, you make his stay untenable and you get back the only thing you can in a situation like that -- $$$$$$$$ back in a buyout at the trade deadline as Rich Paul tries to get another team to take a vet minimum flyer on him -- oh wait, Rich Paul don't even f' w/Simmons anymore, it's Bernie Lee's problem now. That's how you get rid of a bad contract w/out actually having an amnesty clause to use. You make them MIA and maybe they give some money back in the buyout. Of all the moves Sean Marks has left this is legitimately, the most likely.

[@afrolore7462]

Ben Simmons is an expiring contract.

[@XAbdr]

Can you image? An NBA Players AFRAID to shoot the ball? On the playground people would laugh at this guy.

[@HedgRoc]

I think Ben will average a triple single. Play 33 games. Sign a 1 yr contract with ceed team and have a rebirth to get a bigger paycheck.

[@mayhemcbs]

Sean Marks should be fired for acquiring him

[@hollaback0690]

Maybe the medical team more than Marks. Unless he knew about the back and still pulled the trigger

[@TaintedStaff]

@@hollaback0690 Medical team or not Marks is the GM.

[@mayhemcbs]

@@hollaback0690 Anyone who asked any 76ers fan would know he was mentally gone after the Playoffs. The fact that this team had KD,Ky,and Harden ....but ended up with Ben Simmons,DFS,and Bridges is an outrage.And I love Bridges' game ,but the results of this roster speak for themselves. The fact that Marks has been here for 8 years,and is about to start another "8 year rebuild "is preposterous. He should have been dismissed after the fruits of his labor rotted away countless fans last season.

[@grospipo20]

@@mayhemcbsthat is bs! Remember when espn was saying nets won the trade? This is hindsight. No one knew he would be this bad!

[@josephham5216]

@@mayhemcbs I guess it's an outrage. the nets though trading nothing for 2 of them nor drafted them. all they did was be in a desirable city got them to sign and still screwed it up.

[@StevenHughes-hr5hp]

Trade him to Philly.

[@jim7995]

Just trade him and be done with him.

[@dougnorrie]

to who and for what?

[@jim7995]

He worth 40mill and expiring. Take your pick.

[@basketballboygenius2O34]

Only Ben can bring a chip to BK, only casuals want him gone. He's been putting in work and will shoot the lights out next season

[@jordansmith7954]

76ers fan still wondering wtf happened

[@XAbdr]

Stretch him...waive him and pay 1/3 of his salary for three years...NO ONE will trade for him. His heart pumps pee. He is overpaid and everybody knows it.

[@dougnorrie]

Def don't want to do that to have it still be a cap burden when they might actually be trying to be good

[@XAbdr]

@@dougnorrie This is a new NBA for an old guy, so you correct me. If they waive and stretch him, the Nets pay his remaining year over three years? INFLATION means they save a few pennies and create cap space?

[@XAbdr]

Got respect for you cause you told me the Nets are no good even when I thought they were. They are going "to try to be good" ASAP? THERE is the question. How? I say MUST go big in free agency....or it's the same team next year. Either way, Ben's got to GO.

[@dougnorrie]

@@XAbdr while technically correct (the stretched money would cost “less” then) it would also be a direct 1:1 inhibitor of using that money on functional/ good players. So while the Nets are bad now, it’s much better to just eat it and be done