It’s sad but true but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Ben Simmons could be out of the NBA within the next two years.
He basically has 24 games left this season to prove he is worth a franchise investing in him as he heads into the final two years of a contract worth a whopping $112 million ($US78m).
It’s arguably the worst contract in the NBA and unless Simmons reverses his recent form at Brooklyn, there will be no argument.
Last week’s dramatic trade deadline machinations should have been a godsend for Simmons.
The talk for several seasons, particularly when he took the reins in Philadelphia when Joel Embiid was injured, was that Simmons could succeed if he was surrounded by three and D wings who could capitalise on his elite playmaking skills.
Ben Simmons. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Just on two years ago to the day, he notched his career-high of 42 points for the 76ers against Utah when Embiid was out with a back injury.
Despite not taking a shot outside the paint, he landed 15 from 26 attempts, added 12 of 13 free throws, 12 assists and nine rebounds to just miss out on a triple double as he led a team of shooters like Tobias Harris, Seth Curry and Danny Green.
Where has that player gone?
Now that superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are no longer at the Nets, the team is in theory set up well to complement Simmons’ skills just like that night in Salt Lake City.
The likes of Suns trade pieces Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, and former Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith, along with sharpshooters like Joe Harris, Cam Thomas, Seth Curry again and Boomers legend Patty Mills are the prototypes of the players you’d want on the floor when Simmons has the ball in his hands.
The 2016 No.1 draft pick was three years ago an all-NBA selection after making his third All-Star team so he ain’t no scrub. He can play, at least he could. His ongoing reluctance to even look at the rim in the half-court is moving into Ian Baker-Finch yips territory.
Such has been Simmons’ reticence to shoot or even drive to the basket this season because he’s worried about being sent to the foul line where his strike has been an abysmal 44%, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn has little to no confidence in the 26-year-old Australian.
After the loss to the Knicks earlier this week when he was hooked after 13 minutes of poor offensive output and lacklustre defence, Vaughn admitted he was struggling to figure out what kind of line-up works around Simmons.
“You put another big next to Ben, then you got to figure out what the spacing is around him. Then, if you put another playmaker next to him, then you got to figure out what Ben looks like without the basketball. Then, if you go small with Ben, then you have to figure out can you rebound enough with him?”
In short, there is no line-up that works with a player who refuses to shoot and is no longer an elite defensive presence.
Vaughn handed Simmons 20 minutes in Thursday’s victory over Miami – he was probably lucky to get that much after putting up just two points, four rebounds and as many assists.
The new crew of Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie and Johnson partnered with Nic Claxton, who has superseded Simmons as the team’s premier defensive option, and Royce O’Neale down the stretch when the match was on the line as Simmons watched on from his now customary position on the bench.
Does he even like basketball? Is he one of those professional sports stars who do it because they’re good at it rather than because they love it?
If he continues down this path, he may not have that choice.
No longer a starter, his trade value has never been lower and even if he manages to find a niche in the closing months of the season, the Nets would have to attach an asset like a first-round pick or two that they acquired from Phoenix to offload Simmons.
The great Chris Anstey, a fun follow on Twitter, has been putting out Aussies in the NBA Power Rankings – he’s ranking Simmons sixth of 10 at the moment.
And the only thing stopping Simmons from sliding to last is the limited minutes being handed out to Mills, Sacramento’s Matthew Dellavedova and Dener’s Jack White along with New Orleans rookie Dyson Daniels’ ankle injury.
After so many false dawns over the past 18 months, Simmons has to realise his career is on the line.
If he makes the necessary changes in his mindset to become the player he was just a couple of years ago, he could spend another decade in the league to become Australia’s greatest NBA product.
But if this season is indicative of the rest of his career, he’s going to be copping a massive paycut in 2025 if/when he signs his next deal and could be reduced to a journeyman back-up big who bounces around franchises before becoming an afterthought.
For a player with that much natural talent, it would be a sad end to what started out as such a promising career.
Elmer Higgins
Guest
That was a big warning sign in hindsight about him refusing to play Olympics. Who does that? Even the silhouette of the NBA logo, Jerry West said that playing the Rome games was his greatest honour. He has made a fortune, so good on him, but his attitude is fucked. I would not want him at the Geelong Supercats.
Elmer Higgins
Guest
You would have thought with all the time out of the sport he would have practiced his short comings. To busy enjoying his wealth, dating society women I suppose. Well, the Lithuanian winters can be quite harsh and FIBA rules won't your life any easier. See you at the Kaunas Arena soon.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
The whole thing is just a pile on. KD out for 1/2 a season, no worries. Ben, two games, no heart. Today, I see Niang, the hacker of all hacks, say Ben destroyed 76ers and his career. I would pay Simmons 30m compared to his $7m any day.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
His dad was the same. Poor shooters.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
That is just rubbish. Look and be truthful.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Was this comment directed at me? I would have loved Ben to have gone to Tokyo. I really think that environment would have helped him heal more than just practicing. Personally I would only pick him if he reached out and expressed a desire to go, then put him in the squad and work out how to use him. Personally I would use him as a power forward but let him bring the ball down the floor to make use of any fast breaks, or hand it off for the half court. Then you just have to teach him how to move off the ball and get him to shoot, with some supportive mind games to build up his confidence. That is clearly far to much to do in one Boomers camp but if you could improve it just a little he could be great off the bench.
jameswm
Roar Guru
No I was also wondering if you'd bother picking him with his current appearance of apathy to the game. Get Cooks in at 4 and he will go as hard as he can. Or Jack White. Or both over Simmons.
jameswm
Roar Guru
His shooting arm is crooked when he shoots free throws. It is hard to believe he has worked much on this.
jameswm
Roar Guru
"It’s arguably the worst contract in the NBA". It's bad, but Gordon Hayward's at US$33m per annum is worse. Anstey also said - and I agree - the single issue is he doesn't want to take any free throws, so he won't drive because he might get fouled. He has basically lost his nerve. Those power rankings are interesting. I am constantly toying with what the Aussie team will look like at the Olympics. We have a lot of the modern guys, 6'6-6.8, can pass, rebound and play D and shoot quite well. In terms of bigs, after Landale, Thon Maker is the obvious standout for me. At power forward, you have Jack White, Nick Kay, Cooks, and Simmons. Not quite sure what to do there, I don't know them enough. But the top 8 from the power rankings and Maker are in, then you need another 4 and not sure who else. On those power rankings, they're hard. Daniels is injured and is a role player on a strong team. Mills gets limited minutes but showed what he can do the other day. Thybulle is never going to score much but remains an elite defender. Ingles is underplaying his hand but has 15-opiint games. And then there's Ben 10. So I would have Giddey a clear 1st, Green a clear 2nd, and 3rd any of Ingles, Thybulle, Simmons, Daniels, Landale and Mills. How would it be for us to have Ingles, Thybulle and Daniels on the bench. Very solid team.
Daniel Dooley
Roar Rookie
Really sad what he has become, looks like he has completely lost his love of the game and just doesn't want to be out there anymore. I do wonder what those in his inner circle are saying to him because he's going downhill fast which tbh I didn't think was possible given how far he had already fallen. Reality is he wont be playing at all soon and his career will be over when his contract ends. Such a shame, he could have been our greatest ever player.
Paul Suttor
Expert
there's nowhere to hide on an NBA court and especially when you are on massive coin ... you get the impression Vaughn is going to give Simmons minimal minutes for the rest of the season and they'll trade him away just to get rid of him rather than giving him more of a role and trying to build up his trade value or make him a worthwhile asset on the roster
astro
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%. I've been critical of Simmons for a while now. When he came back at the start if this year, the lack of improvement in his game was so disappointing. The fact that he couldnt even take his FT shooting from 50% to 65% was shocking to me, after he had a full year away from the game. But its quite clear now, his confidence is at an all time low. Its funny Paul mentions Ian Baker-Finch, as that's exactly who Simmons reminds me of...He has the 'yips' and there doesnt seem to be anyone who can get rid of them. This is a quote from IBF about his experiences, and it sounds eerily similar to what's happening with Simmons: "When I started to play poorly it was like I became a bit of a sideshow. The media would follow me around just to see when I was going to have a blow-up. The hardest thing was I coudn’t figure it out. That was the worst thing for me. It wasn’t just a matter of, I’ve got to get fitter, stronger, this or that ... it was just totally mental."
Paul Suttor
Expert
truefacts, he talked about how he'd been working on his game leading into this season and there is zero evidence to suggest he's worked on his weaknesses, they've sadly got worse
Minz
Guest
Poor bugger. The mental side of the game (or of life) is the hardest thing to work on, and pretty much the only problem he has. Hard to watch someone who has just about all the other skills (except long range shooting) struggle so much on that one thing.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Simmons whole game was based on him being a athletic tall physical player with a great passing game. Simmons seems to have a low pain threshold and injuries. As you get older playing becomes a lot more painful, the question is this just something that Simmons can recover from by next season to have a few more years in the sun before he gets older. His long term outlook isnt good if this is a problem at such an age. Is money a factor, why work for the money when you get it anyway, he is getting enough money to laze off for the rest of his life.
Ad-O
Guest
Ben Simmons is clearly suffering from the Kardashian curse. First Bruce Jenner, then Lamar Odom, Kanye West, and now Our Ben. Those ladies must have something special down there cos all of those guys are straight head cases.
Rellum
Roar Guru
His career is basically over. He had the talent to be an all time great. He may not even make it through the two years. I don't think he would even make the Boomers right now if he even did want to play for us.
Ben
Guest
There doesn't appear to be any passion in the guy - when you see him sitting on the bench there is just a blank look on his face, he never seems to get revved up like his team mates when the team is doing well. This is his golden opportunity to stand up and lead a team without any other significant superstars taking the spotlight now that KI and KD have moved on.
JW
Guest
Should play footy after his contract lapses. Was a handy ruckman by all accounts. But seriously, no idea what he was doing in his year off. He should've been working all hours of the day on his free throw (including the mental roadblocks). All he has to be able to do is shoot 65%-70% from the line and then most of his other issues will disappear. Frustrating it got worse after that year off.