The Brooklyn Nets wasted very little time making their first big move of the 2024 NBA offseason. Shortly after their 2023-24 regular season came to an end, they decided to hire Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez to become their next head coach.
Fernandez will have his work cut out for him taking over a team that has to decide what direction they want to go in. After the failed Big 3 era with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, the Nets are at a crossroads.
Without any of their first-round picks, bottoming out and tanking would have little reward. But, Brooklyn does have some assets at their disposal if they wanted to take a swing on the trade market for a star who may shake loose.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Sean Marks, Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The 2024 NBA Offseason will be a big one for the franchise. Now that they have their head coach in place, they can focus on making adjustments to their roster. One of the players that people will be keeping a close eye on is Ben Simmons.
Simmons’ tenure with the Nets has been a lackluster one. He has struggled to stay on the court, dealing with chronic back injuries. Heading into the 2023-24 NBA season, former head coach Jacque Vaughn built his entire game plan around Simmons, which rubbed players on the team the wrong way.
On an expiring contract, Simmons could be a very attractive trade asset. He could be used as the centerpiece of blockbuster to bring back several useful pieces to upgrade the team’s rotation with.
But, for that to happen, Simmons has to show that he is healthy enough to get on the court. When speaking to the media recently, general manager Sean Marks revealed an update on Simmons, as they are expecting him to be ready for training camp in September.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Sean Marks, Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
“The expectations are certainly for him to be ready, there should be no reason for him not to be. The doctors and therapists have told us that he should be ready to go next season. Again, it’s gonna be on Ben’s timeline. We’re gonna have to see how he progresses through the summer. Very unfortunate [injury]. I thought we saw glimpses of how he could play last year and we looked like a completely different team when he was out there and healthy. So, for his benefit, we hope he’s out there and healthy, let alone our own,” Marks said, via Nets beat writer Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.
Simmons has played in only 57 games the last two seasons with the Nets after missing the entire 2021-22 NBA season. Back injuries have derailed what was once a promising career, as Simmons has never been the same since the 2021 postseason when the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
When on the court with the Nets, Simmons’ potential impact is evident. He can be a two-way contributor, possessing the size and athleticism to defend every position. Offensively, he is an elite playmaker who can do damage on the interior because of his size as well.
In the right situation, Simmons can be a very useful player. But, the best ability is availability in the NBA. In that department, Simmons has not been successful, as he cannot stay healthy and contribute on the court.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
