Everybody deserves a second chance. What about a third chance – or a fourth? This is a question that NBA teams need to wrestle with. At some point, a player may run out of chances.
Has Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets run out of chances? We’re not sure. Recently, it’s appeared as if the Nets plan on giving him another opportunity. Reports have indicated that Simmons is healthy and ready to contribute. Please: forgive our skepticism. Where have we heard this before?
What’s that? Every summer for years? We’re not saying Simmons can’t make a comeback. He’s certainly young enough, and it’s possible that injuries have held him back. With that said, the Nets could be tired of giving him chances. Could they send him to the Charlotte Hornets instead?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G Terry Rozier, G/F Cody Martin, F/C Kai Jones
Charlotte Hornets Receive: F/C Ben Simmons, 2025 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN)
Will Simmons make a comeback? It’s difficult to say. Even reflecting on NBA history doesn’t give us any clues. The record of players coming back from such a downfall is mixed at best.
We’ve seen injuries destroy promising careers. Players like Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, Brandon Roy, and others were never able to return to their previous form. It’s an unfortunate reality of professional sports. If your body can’t hold up, it doesn’t matter how talented you are.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & Charlotte Hornets Updates
With that said, some players have gotten back on track. Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers suffered a gruesome leg injury, and he picked his career right where it left off. There’s a middle ground, too. Take the Hornets’ own Gordon Hayward. He never returned to his prime level after an injury, but he did manage to find a role as a valuable rotation player. Should the Hornets pair him with Simmons?
Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal
If this deal hurts the Hornets, it’s on their cap sheet. They shouldn’t be concerned. Hayward will be expiring next summer. The Hornets will easily be able to extend Miles Bridges if he performs well this year, even with Simmons on the roster. Otherwise, most of their key players are on rookie-scale contracts.
Could the Hornets use Simmons? That remains to be seen. If he makes a comeback, he’s an intriguing fit with this roster. A fully functioning version of Simmons is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA. Watching him share the floor with LaMelo Ball would be interesting too. Few teams would boast as much combined floor vision as that duo would possess.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & Charlotte Hornets Updates
Yet, the Hornets do this deal for an unprotected first-round pick more than anything else. Moving on from Kai Jones is also a benefit – it seems that he’s estranged from the team. In the aggregate, this is a deal worth making for Charlotte. Can we say the same for Brooklyn?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
You may have expected to see Hayward in this proposal. We considered that. The Nets may be intrigued by his expiring contract. With that said, the Nets have one of the deepest wing rotations in the NBA. They wouldn’t be likely to find time for Hayward, and with the Houston Rockets controlling their draft for the foreseeable future, the Nets need to make moves that improve their roster.
What do the Nets need? More than anything, they need a shot-creating guard. Rozier does the trick. He’s able to score in isolation on a regular basis. This is exactly the type of player this team needs to add to its roster.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets & Charlotte Hornets Updates
Meanwhile, this doesn’t kill the Nets financially, either. If they wanted to, they could easily move Martin and let Jones walk next year. That will free up enough space to retain Nicolas Claxton – after all, Rozier makes considerably less than Simmons. If the Nets have run out of chances for him, it may be time to move on.
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