- Brooklyn Nets were among one of three teams on Damian Lillard’s list of preferred landing spots
- Lillard wanted to play with Mikal Bridges
- Former agent reveals Damian’s true thoughts on Ben Simmons
It was Miami or bust for former Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, but things started to change when it became clear that the Heat were not in a position to trade for the 7x All-Star this summer. At that point, Lillard quietly expanded his list to include the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets.
Ultimately, we know why Dame wanted to join the Bucks and he’s already making himself comfortable alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Writing in a post on X, however, NBA agent Nate Jones shed some light on why Brooklyn, of all teams, where included among Dame’s preferred landing spots.
“Dame had them on his list because he wanted to play with Mikal who he has believed in from day 1,” wrote Jones. “Also believed in Ben Simmons bouncing back. Mikal isn’t on the team, that’s not a consideration.” After trading away both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant last season, the Nets were thought to be headed toward irrelevancy but they showed some real promise for the end of last season. Mostly, it was Mikal Bridges who led the way and proved that the Nets still have a future to look forward to.
Dame Could Have Made The Nets A Serious Contender
On paper, the Nets aren’t in contention for a title as presently constructed but if you replace Spencer Dinwiddie and other assets with Damian Lillard, it could have been a different story. In Portland, Lillard has given everything in an attempt to carry the Trail Blazers to a title. While he ultimately came up empty in that pursuit, the blame doesn’t fall on Lillard alone, who averaged 25.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game on 46.3% shooting for the Blazers.
In Brooklyn, things could have gone differently for Damian. With a solid cast in the frontcourt and a two-way star like Mikal Bridges as the perfect sidekick, the Nets could have given Eastern competitors a run for their money. Now, with Lillard headed to Milwaukee, expectations have become unclear for the Nets. This upcoming season, their performance may be tied to Ben Simmons, who is on the verge of exile from the league.
Can Ben Simmons Find Redemption?
Damian Lillard’s belief in Ben Simmons was sighted as a major reason for his intrigue with the team, and it’s interesting because Simmons hasn’t played like himself in over two years. Through 42 games last season, he averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game on 56% shooting.
Despite the apparent decline, Simmons is showing confidence that he can return to All-Star form, and it could be a positive sign of things to come. According to his own words, Simmons feels that he owes the Nets a truly dominant season and it remains to be seen if he can live up to his own standards. Without Lillard or another superstar to save the day, all eyes will be on Simmons to redeem his failures and show that he is still worthy of his $177 million contract. But if a star like Lillard believes that Ben can become a star again, who are we to argue?
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