Mock trade has Nets sending Ben Simmons to Rockets for second-round pick
The Brooklyn Nets have an interesting offseason ahead of them as they try to figure out how to move forward as a franchise. Among other matters, Brooklyn has to decide what they want to do with guard Ben Simmons with regards to how he fits within the team’s future.
Simmons, 26, played just 42 games in the 2022-23 season due to a variety of injuries mostly related to his knees and back including the nerve impingement in his back that prematurely ended his season in March. Simmons has two years left on his contract at a little over $78 million, but has not been available that much over the past 1.5 seasons that he’s been in Brooklyn.
After the February trade deadline that brought in four new players headlined by promising wing Mikal Bridges, Simmons came off the bench for three games before suffering his back injury that eventually led to his season ending. If the Nets decide to move on from Simmons, per Bleacher Report, they may not be able to get much in return if this mock trade is any indication:
The Mock Trade:
Brooklyn Nets receive: Houston’s 2029 second-round pick
Houston Rockets receive: Ben Simmons and unprotected 2025 first-round pick via the Phoenix Suns
Should the Nets do this trade?
This is a hard trade to evaluate because this deal would be Brooklyn having to unload one of their more valuable draft picks along with Simmons just to get a future second-round pick back in return. However, Simmons has not shown much in the past couple of seasons that should give any team confidence in what he can provide at this point in time.
Along with Simmons’ aforementioned contract that is viewed as one of the worst contracts in the league at this juncture, the Nets may not have many options regarding the former LSU Tiger. If Simmons does not fit in Brooklyn’s timeline, it may be Brooklyn’s best chance to get something of value for the former All-Star.
It may be in Brooklyn’s best interest to ride with Simmons to see if he can turn things around in his career given that if he is able to regain his All-Star form that he had as a Philadelphia 76er, that would be a lot more valuable than a future second-round pick.
Verdict: No, the Nets should not do this trade.
