This was imagined to be a bounce-back season for Ben Simmons. After lacking the whole 2021-22 marketing campaign following a commerce request, psychological well being issues and a again damage, there was optimism coming into the 12 months that he might give a Brooklyn Nets staff that includes Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving the protection and playmaking that it wanted. But with Durant and Irving now gone, Simmons is making a transfer of his personal.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Simmons will half methods with Klutch Sports. Rich Paul has been his agent since he arrived within the NBA in 2016, however as one supply informed Shelburne, Simmons “simply wanted a contemporary begin.” He is predicted to rent Bernie Lee as his new agent, in line with The Athletic’s Jon Krawcynzski. Lee notably represents Jimmy Butler, a former teammate of Simmons.
Klutch represented Simmons via final season’s commerce request and all of its fallout, together with a settlement over the wage that the staff withheld whereas he sat out. In the top, Simmons did get his want. He was dealt by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Nets and given the contemporary begin he was seemingly searching for on the courtroom.
But little has gone proper for him since then. He did not play in any respect final season, and has appeared in simply 42 video games this season. He hasn’t performed since Feb. 15 because of an obvious knee damage, however his minutes had been dwindling even earlier than then. At solely 26.3 minutes per recreation, he was enjoying much less on a per-night foundation than he had in another season.
Now the Nets have fully remade themselves after deadline offers despatched Irving and Durant to Western Conference groups. On a roster loaded with wings and protection, there may not be a spot for Simmons shifting ahead. However, with two years and $78 million remaining on his contract, the Nets aren’t going to have a simple time discovering him a brand new dwelling, both.
For now, the 2 sides look like caught with each other. In the previous 12 months or so, Simmons has modified groups, has modified teammates inside that staff, and now, has modified illustration as properly. Thus far, nothing has labored to assist spark a profession renaissance. Let’s hope one thing sticks quickly, as a result of if it does not, Simmons may not have many suitors when his present contract expires.
