Nets urged to trade scoreless Simmons as Aussie cops another injury blow

The Brooklyn Nets have been urged to consider trading Ben Simmons as the gun-shy Australian struggles to score – or even try and score.

Simmons was brought in to help superstar duo Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant bring a title back to Brooklyn. And while Irving and (currently injured) Durant were today named All-Star starters, Simmons has struggled to come close to his former All-Star level this season.

Most noticeable has been an apparent unwillingness to look to score – constantly passing the ball off when in strong scoring positions.

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Fri, 27 Jan

Friday January 27th

Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets and Alec Burks #5 of the Detroit Pistons battle for the loose ball during the game at Barclays Center on January 26, 2023 in New York City.Source: Getty Images

Simmons did respond by posting 12 points in the third quarter of that game – his first 10-plus-point quarter all season – but was sent to the bench in the fourth quarter.

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said after that game: “I think overall it’s the message I kind of talked about before the game. We’re going to get every guy, and that’s including Ben [Simmons] to value every possession.”

“We really want to get to a point where your teammate is dependent on you. Dependent on you to do your job every single night and every single possession.”

He added: “Ben showed more ability to play with force in the second half, which paid off, which is what we need, which is great for our team. And then down the stretch, with us being down, I just wanted to space the floor and get more shooting out there. See if we would climb back into the game no matter what the size was or anything.”

Making a Simmons trade – less than one year after his arrival in a trade for James Harden – is a difficult proposition. The Australian is contracted through 2024-25, with the 6ft10 player set to earn $40 million USD in that final season.

Simmons under fire again for performance | 00:56