Ben Simmons is reportedly ‘more advanced’ heading into the new NBA season than he was last year, according to Nets Daily. His recovery from back surgery has improved significantly, with the player having begun 5-on-5 scrimmages a few weeks back. This could suggest that Simmons will be game-ready before the season starts.
Simmons is in the final year of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets and is set to be a free agent next season. Many believe that Simmons will play his best basketball in years in order to earn a decent contract from a team in the NBA in free agency.
However, given how he has played in the last few years, not everyone is ready to believe that just yet. Simmons’ level of play has dropped significantly since he left the 76ers as part of the James Harden trade. Simmons, who was once an All-Star and All-Defensive player, has now become one of the biggest underperformers in the league.
Simmons is the most disappointing max-contract player in the NBA, and perhaps, one of the most disappointing in the history of the NBA. Earning close to $36 million a season, and $40 million in his final year, Ben Simmons has been putting up role-player numbers while making an All-Star salary.
To be fair to Simmons, he has struggled massively with a back injury, which is one of the toughest injuries to recover from, especially for a player that relies excessively on their athleticism like Simmons did. But his unwillingness to take risks, while understandable, has held him back greatly.
Will Simmons Improve Next Season?
Ben Simmons, as mentioned before, is playing in the final year of his contract with the Nets. With the motivation of earning a new contract, along with a seemingly healthier Simmons, could there be any legitimate expectations of him to pick up the level of performance?
Well, he would have a very low bar to clear. Since joining the Nets, Simmons has only played 56 games and averaged 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. This is absolutely abysmal for a player who is making the amount of money he is. While his injuries may have played a role in this, he did underdeliver when cleared.
For Simmons, while he might not ever get back to his All-NBA, potential Defensive Player of the Year level ever again, if he can remind fans that he can play a solid role, at least as a defender, then he should be able to earn a contract with at least one team in the NBA.
The former Rookie of the Year must show the league that he can be relied upon to play a good amount of games during the regular season. Until he is able to do that, his future in the NBA is uncertain at best.
With the Nets expecting to lose several games this year, Simmons is best placed on a team with low expectations. He can take advantage of this and play carefree and rediscover his game with the Nets, ahead of what will be a crucial free agency period for him.
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