When Nets general manager Sean Marks first commented on the franchise-changing offseason, he was asked about draft prospects, several teenagers, a coach who won’t make his debut for several months and a player who’s no longer even on the roster.
Ben Simmons was never mentioned, never asked, never commented on.
Brooklyn’s lone All-Star is a bit of a hidden gem.
His injuries have made him a forgotten man.
Simmons’ track record breeds skepticism.
But his camp maintains he is finally healthy for the first time as a member of the Nets.
“Ben is in Miami working on his rehabilitation and preparation for next season. He has completed the rehabilitation phase and has moved on to strength and conditioning,” Simmons’ agent, Bernard Lee, told The Post. “He’s had a lot of starts and stops so he’s in great shape and we’re hopeful he’ll be 100 percent to start the season.”
During Simmons’ tenure in Brooklyn, there were more stops and starts during rush hour than in Flatbush or Atlantic.
Simmons, acquired in the trade for James Harden, played just 57 games over parts of three seasons with the Nets.
How many games will he play in the fourth round?
“Don’t count on Ben Simmons,” former Nets GM Bobby Marks told The Post.
Simmons turns 28 this month and is set to make $40.3 million in the first year of his contract with a rebuilding team, but his situation is far from ideal.
Most believe that with his expiring contract, the Nets will be able to free up crucial cap space in 2025, which will be key to their rebuild.
Marks expects Simmons to be a minimum-paid player going forward.
His agent, Lee, believes the three-time All-Star has a chance to bounce back.
“Outsiders see uncertainty, but those who experience it see opportunity,” Lee said. “Ben is excited to be healthy and able to play basketball, something he hasn’t been able to do since coming to Brooklyn.”
“So if he shows up to training camp and shares backcourt duties with Brooklyn Knight and Mr. Whammy, he’ll understand that. He’s focused on having the best year of his career, and if that happens, I’m sure those fears will quickly disappear.”
It will be interesting to see what role Simmons plays in the upcoming season.
Brooklyn traded Mikal Bridges and entered a rebuilding process.
Unlike Nic Claxton and new coach Jordi Fernandez, Simmons was not warned about the move.
“Ben’s been in this business a long time now and he’s learned to worry about himself and what he can control. He knows that just like everybody else and that’s his preference,” Lee said. “He has a job to do and he’s focused on that.”
When healthy, he has been good at the job, perhaps even too much for an underpowered team.
The Nets had a decent 7-8 record with Simmons last season, but went 25-42 without him for a winning percentage of just .373.
Simmons’ defense helped Cam Thomas, who played alongside him in 15 games and averaged 24.9 points and 3.1 assists.
With a healthy start, could Simmons’ value rebound enough to warrant a trade?
“To put it in perspective, Ben is 27 years old, turning 28 in a few weeks, and it’s easy to forget over the last few years that he’s a three-time All-Star, two-time All-Defensive Player and All-NBA player,” Lee said. “His abilities haven’t changed. He just got hurt. These things happen. He’s worked hard to break the cycle, find answers and get the job done.”
“The work is the only way he’s going to get out of this, and he knows that more than anyone. He’s going to go into next season more prepared than ever and ready to do his job. We all have eyes, and we’ve seen there’s something different about him every time he steps on the court. He makes an immediate impact and makes everyone around him better every time he steps out there, and now he’ll be able to do that while healthy.”
