Simmons’ career hinges on NBA’s ‘biggest mystery’ as $78m breaking point looms

Lewis reported last month that while the prospect of a second back surgery is not completely out of the picture, it is now “considered unlikely”.

Of course, the issue for Simmons is not just physical. The 26-year-old also said previously he was in a “bad place” with his mental health during his last season in Philadelphia.

The constant run of injuries was the last thing Simmons needed as he looked to regain his confidence on the court, although promisingly The Post reported the Australian has also made “progress” in his headspace.

Simmons’ attitude has also reportedly improved, with one source telling The Post that there is “a lot of belief” in the former first overall pick returning to his All-Star form.

“The group around Ben has noticed a complete change in Ben’s focus and mentality [through] this rehab and how he has attacked it and engaged with everything,” the source said.

It’s the kind of information Nets fans want to hear. But it’s also the kind of information Sixers fans continued to hear and that later lost meaning without signs of actual tangible improvement.

In that respect, it will be hard to make any judgement on what Simmons could be next season until he actually steps on the court.

That doesn’t mean he can’t make some sort of statement in the preseason though. For Doug Norrie, host of ‘Locked on Nets’, that starts with a “tonal shift” from the three-time All-Star.

“Looking at the Simmons situation right now, it’s become something of a talking point over the last few days,” Norrie said.

“He’s been sending IG reels and updates from HSS Training Center. He’s working out in Brooklyn. He’s been sending really early morning pics about what’s been happening with his training regimen as a signal to, possibly, ‘Hey I’m training right now and working hard, I’m in the gym’.

“I’m glad there’s work being done on a basketball level. For what it’s worth, they were pictures of the gym they weren’t actually of him working out. The reason it’s a talking point this offseason is I think obviously for a lot of different reasons, the narrative around Simmons I think in some ways this offseason has to change.

“Some of these things are never going to be able to happen until it is on the court and 20-straight games of being awesome. In the end, that’s probably what the real story is… until that happens maybe no training or anything else will be good enough when it comes to Ben Simmons.

“I do think though to feel better as a fan going into next season, there has to be something of a dynamics shift around Simmons and some of the narrative stuff around him.”

For Norrie, that starts with Simmons owning up to some of the flaws in his game, suggesting fans may better connect with the Australian if he is more “forward-facing”.

That of course may be particularly tough for Simmons given his aforementioned mental health struggles and the scale of criticism he has faced over the years.

But Norrie believes even the smallest evidence of growth in Simmons’ mindset and attitude towards his game would bode well.

“The problem with Simmons is that we have so many years of not being able to trust what the talk is or what is showing up off the court and on the court, even prior to the injury,” Norrie said.

“I think the narrative around him has to change around things he says about what he’s doing or how he’s getting better. Some of that might be around admitting flaws that his game has had in the past or things that might have not gone perfectly.

“Not everyone has to go out there and admit every negative thing that has happened to you… but we have so many years of the Simmons narrative that hasn’t lived up to what the Simmons camp talking points are that it would be an interesting tonal shift to get a different kind of Simmons as a forward-facing guy this offseason, to feel like they are going to be fundamental changes.

“I think that would go really far to changing the outlook of what you felt about Ben Simmons, whether you are for, against or on the fence. That’s what we’ve never really gotten from Simmons. We’ve got never gotten a narrative change for his situation and if there was ever a summer or offseason to put that in place, this is it.”

This summer will also be particularly interesting for Simmons given his inconsistent contributions for the Nets last season, which cast doubt over his future at the franchise.

Simmons averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per game — all of which were career-low numbers.

Sure, Simmons flashed his potential at points in the season — most notably going for a career-high 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 127-115 win over Memphis.

But at this point in his career the expectation is that Simmons will be more than just a player of potential, particularly when you consider how much the Nets are paying him.

Simmons is owed $78.2 million over the next two seasons and while the possibility of a trade is always there, it will be difficult to execute given the Australian’s diminished value.

It’s a point John Hollinger made when discussing the Simmons situation with The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer as the pair broke down the state of the Nets heading into next season.

“There is really no other option than to ride it out,” Hollinger said.

“Because a) the possibility of using the contract as matching salary in a trade is just too valuable to pass up, and b) I mean, what’s the alternative? Having $37 million in dead money (or $12 million in stretched money) on the cap each year, just so you can fill that roster spot with a minimum guy who might not even be any better?

“At least, as long as Simmons is still there and in uniform, you have the possibility – the brief glimmer of hope – that he can have some kind of Westbrookian career U-turn that restores some of his value.”

Like Simmons, Westbrook was in need of a fresh start after failing to live up to expectations at the Lakers and the former MVP has also dealt with well-publicised shooting struggles.

But Westbrook made a difference on both ends for the Clippers, helping keep the team afloat in a competitive playoff series against the Suns without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

The hope for Brooklyn is that, with the right players around him, Simmons can still be a valuable asset given his playmaking skills and versatile defensive attributes.

“Can he be a second-unit energizer?” Hollinger asked.

“Can they cobble together lineups with four shooters around him that makes his inability to shoot from long distance (not to mention his unwillingness to shoot from any distance) less of a negative?

“I’m grasping at straws here, yes, but as you said, this is arguably the worst contract in the league right now.”

There have already been suggestions that the rebuilding Trail Blazers and Spurs could be two potential suitors for Simmons should the Nets explore trading the Australian.

That could include a third team to make the deal work but at this stage there is no concrete reporting to indicate Simmons will be dealt.

Plus, giving away draft picks in any Simmons trade wouldn’t make much sense for Brooklyn given the franchise is looking to start some sort of a rebuild of its own.

Instead, it appears more likely at this stage that Simmons will come back for a second season at Brooklyn, with the hope that he will be healthy and refreshed ahead of training camp.

That “kind of Westbrookian career U-turn” Hollinger referenced could be the ideal scenario.