Ben Simmons is on the Brooklyn Nets, but he is widely considered by fans to have the worst contract currently in the NBA. After he sat out the entirety of the 2021-22 season because of a combination of mental health issues, back issues, and wanting a trade away from the Sixers, he has never gotten back to All-Star levels.
Simmons’ case was used by many to say that NBA players will struggle to get what they want in a new collective bargaining agreement. But that’s not the case and he is set to be given a year of credit for the season he didn’t suit up at all.
“The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, released late last month ahead of free agency, came with a previously undisclosed side letter indicating Ben Simmons has received credit for a year of service for the season in which he held out from the Philadelphia 76ers and was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN on Wednesday,” wrote Zach Lowe.
Years of service are an important metric for NBA players as they are used to determine how much salary a player is eligible for from future teams. Ben Simmons would have seven years of service counting this one, something that officials from other teams had reportedly argued against. The fact that he got this concession, which is reported to be an exception, is a big win for the National Basketball Players Association.
The Brooklyn Nets Haven’t Given Up On Ben Simmons
Despite him averaging just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game for the Brooklyn Nets in 40 games last season, the team hasn’t given up on him. According to reports, there is still hope that he will return to the form that saw him become a three-time NBA All-Star.
“I think the hope is that he returns to that (All-Star) level of play,” Nets GM Sean Marks said. “I mean, if he was 35 years old, I wouldn’t honestly be able to tell you that.
“But I think knowing that he’s mid-20s and he has still hopefully not reached his prime, we’ve gotta make sure he can get back out there and get back to that form. And hopefully, we see his game even evolve past that.”
Ben Simmons reached a settlement to get his salary for the time he sat out with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he could change the narrative about himself if he gets back into peak shape. His combination of athleticism, defense, and playmaking is unique, and at 26, Simmons could put this whole episode behind him by merely fulfilling his potential.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
