Tag: ben simmons

Clippers sign Ben Simmons

The LA Clippers have signed Ben Simmons, it was announced by Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations.

Simmons, 28, has played in 33 games (24 starts) for the Brooklyn Nets this season, averaging 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and a team-leading 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes. He is shooting 54.7% (93-170) from the field and has scored in double figures eight times.

Originally selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons has appeared in 365 games across seven NBA seasons with Philadelphia and Brooklyn, averaging 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 31.8 minutes. He is a three-time NBA All-Star (2019-21), two-time All-Defensive honoree (2020-21) and was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2020. Simmons was also voted the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year, following a season in which he posted 12 triple-doubles, the second most by a rookie in league history.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Simmons played his lone collegiate season at LSU, where he was the consensus National Freshman of the Year while also earning All-SEC First Team recognition.

Nets waive Ben Simmons after buyout agreement

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard/forward Ben Simmons. It was a contract buyout agreement.

Per the New York Post, “Simmons is playing on the final season of a five-year, $177.2 million deal that he originally signed with the 76ers in July 2019, and that the Nets acquired in the trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia at the 2022 deadline… In Simmons’ first two-plus seasons with the Nets, he played in just 57 of the team’s 191 games after the blockbuster became official. The Nets paid him approximately $86.3 million during that time, meaning he earned approximately $1.5 million per game played. (He also missed all eight of the Nets’ playoff games, though that’s not included here.)”

Simmons originally joined the Nets on Feb. 10, 2022, via trade from Philadelphia. In 33 appearances (24 starts) with Brooklyn this season, Simmons averaged 6.2 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes per game. In 365 career games (344 starts) with the Nets and Sixers, the native of Australia holds career averages of 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals across 31.8 minutes per contest.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Ben Simmons still trying to rediscover his aggression

Per the NY Daily News:

An odd play late in the Nets’ 115-102 defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday summed up the Ben Simmons experience perfectly.

Brooklyn was up 106-89 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter when Simmons created a turnover by poking the ball away from Damian Lillard. Dennis Schröder corralled the rock, then quickly whipped a one-handed pass up the court to a streaking Simmons. Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas were trailing behind him.

Brook Lopez, who had nine blocks entering the night, was Milwaukee’s last line of defense. The Nets had a 3-on-1 advantage in transition and Simmons technically made the right basketball play in that moment, pitching the ball back to Johnson, which should have resulted in an easy bucket. But Simmons barely looked at the rim, and because of his lack of aggression, Lopez did not have to cover much ground defensively. The 7-1 center could essentially guard two players at once.

Yet again, Nets guard Ben Simmons out for remainder of season

Brookly Nets guard Ben Simmons will remain out for the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back. Simmons, along with his representatives and Nets medical personnel, are currently in discussions with numerous experts to determine the course of action that will provide him with the best opportunity for long-term sustainable health.

Via the NY Post:

Simmons has missed 47 games this season and after he misses the next 20, he will have played in just an absurd 57 of 191 total games since the Nets acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline.

Over those three seasons, Simmons has made $103.3 million, meaning he has made an outrageous $1.82 million per game played.

With a $40 million expiring salary next season, the Nets could attempt to trade him this summer or possibly even buy him out.

Via NY Newsday:

It’s the third straight season in which Simmons’ availability and production has been extremely limited due to his back issues. It’s the second time this season he’s dealt with the injury.

Medical update on Nets guard Ben Simmons

Per the NY Post:

Nets point guard Ben Simmons has started feeling positive effects from the epidural he had in his back and has moved to the next phase of his rehab.

“He’s looking at, I think, in the matter of days to weeks, as opposed to weeks to months,” Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, told The Post.

Simmons, who hasn’t played since Nov. 6 and got the shot a little over a week ago, is doing aqua jogging — running in water. He’s working toward on-court activity.

FULL ARTICLE

Nets guard Ben Simmons likely won’t play again this season

Via the NY Post:

During a reevaluation on Friday, injured Nets point forward Ben Simmons was found to have a nerve impingement in his back.

Until the Nets decide on the most effective long-term course of treatment, Simmons will continue to be out.

Yet with only nine regular-season games remaining and the Nets having stumbled into the play-in, it seems almost probable that the 26-year-old Simmons won’t play again until next year.

Simmons said in November that it would take him an entire year and a half to fully heal from a nerve injury.

FULL ARTICLE

It remains unclear when Nets guard Ben Simmons will resume play

Don’t hold your breath waiting for Ben Simmons to resume play for the Nets. If it happens, it happens. Via the NY Post:

Jacque Vaughn has repeatedly insisted the Nets haven’t discussed shutting injured Ben Simmons down.

But asked Sunday if Simmons is coming back this season, Vaughn was conspicuously noncommittal.

“Yeah, I think first of all I’ll just be pretty simple. He’s still managing his back and knee soreness,” Vaughn said cryptically. “He’s back home in Brooklyn. We’ll get a chance to kind of see where he’s at when we get back home after this trip.”

Simmons missed his 10th consecutive game Sunday in the Nets’ 122-120 win over the Nuggets, and his 26th of the season.

The Nets are 39-29 this season, which is the 5th best record in the Eastern conference.

Simmons is averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 26.3 minutes per game.

Ben Simmons playing well lately for Nets

There was no good reason to expect Nets guard Ben Simmons to play well right away this season. The question was when, or if, he’d eventually start to look like his former multi-talented basketball self. Via the New York Post:

Ben Simmons is getting healthier. And he’s getting better.

Considering the All-Star hadn’t played since June 2021 — beset by a bad back and nerve damage that pundits accused him of faking — it’s predictable that even after rehab would follow rust. And though Simmons isn’t 100 percent yet going into Friday’s tilt versus the Pacers, the last few games are a tantalizing taste of what he can be when he gets there.

Kyrie Irving pointed to confidence, while coach Jacque Vaughn called it the “body piece.” Unsurprisingly, Markieff Morris was more blunt.

“Healthy. Finally got his legs under him. He was off for two years. Y’all won’t even give him a chance. Y’all want to criticize him after every f–king game,” Morris said. “But the guy didn’t play two years. Obviously, y’all wouldn’t know, because none of y’all played in the NBA. He’s got to get his body right. There’s contact every night. Playing 30-plus minutes, it takes time.”

The Nets are 9-10 so far this season. And with Simmons playing well and Kyrie Irving back in action after suspension, the team is worth keeping more of an eye on going forward.

News on Devin Booker, Ben Simmons and Luka Doncic

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker is likely to miss Games 3 and 4 against the New Orleans Pelicans with a mild right hamstring strain, but he hasn’t been ruled out for the rest of the opening-round Western Conference series, sources told ESPN. The Suns were still evaluating results of an MRI on Wednesday to get a full picture of the injury and a clearer timeline for a return, sources said. – ESPN.com

Superstar guard Luka Doncic participated fully in the Dallas Mavericks’ practice Wednesday for the first time since straining his left calf, fueling cautious optimism that he could be cleared to play as soon as Game 3 on Thursday against the Utah Jazz. The Mavs listed Doncic as questionable for the first time this series. He was listed as doubtful for the first two games before being officially ruled out a couple of hours before tip-off. Doncic, who suffered the injury in the April 10 regular-season finale, has been gradually ramping up basketball activities and made explosive moves off of his left leg for the first time during the recovery process in an individual workout Tuesday. He said he was “feeling good” when he played some 1-on-1 on Wednesday, but the Mavs did not do any live scrimmaging during the practice. – ESPN.com

The progress of Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons in practices this week — and the anticipation that it will further accelerate in the coming days — has turned Game 4 on Monday into a realistic target for his season debut, sources told ESPN. Simmons hasn’t been ruled out for Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, sources said, but there are still more hurdles Simmons would be required to clear in a much shorter window of time for him to be ready to play in Saturday’s game in Brooklyn, sources told ESPN. – ESPN.com

With playoffs set to begin, Kevin Durant assumes Ben Simmons will remain inactive

With the NBA playoffs starting this weekend, there is no reason to expect that Ben Simmons will make his Brooklyn Nets debut anytime soon. Via ESPN.com:

As the speculation surrounding Ben Simmons’ potential debut for the Brooklyn Nets continues to be a talking point inside the NBA, Nets star Kevin Durant admitted Thursday that he is preparing as if Simmons won’t return as the Nets get ready for their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup with the Boston Celtics.

“I’m not expecting him to play,” Durant said after practice Thursday. “That’s easier for me. I’m not putting any pressure on Ben to come out there and hoop. So I’m not expecting him to do anything but just to get his body right and get healthy as fast as he can. So in my mind, I’m preparing as if we’re playing with the team we have.”

Simmons, who was acquired by the Nets just before the February trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has not played in an NBA game in almost a year after requesting a trade from the Sixers last season, citing mental health concerns. Simmons has been dealing with some back soreness since late February and has not been cleared to participate in a practice since coming to Brooklyn. Nets coach Steve Nash said Thursday that Simmons still isn’t doing any “basketball conditioning” and continues to do individual rehab work.