The Brooklyn Nets are expected to gauge trade interest in underperforming star Ben Simmons this upcoming offseason, according to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer. This news could indicate that the Nets are losing patience with Simmons to the point that they are willing to entertain offers for him despite his trade value reportedly being little to none.
This buzz comes after Simmons has had his role reduced since the Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant trades became final. Since a 116-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Simmons has played 20 minutes against the Chicago Bulls, 16 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers, and just 13 minutes against the New York Knicks on Monday. After averaging 27.8 minutes per game in January, the former All-Star is averaging just 18.8 minutes so far in February.
In recent games, Simmons has looked disinterested and unwilling to make an impact during his time on the floor. Even after Brooklyn acquiring four new players in the recent superstar trades, Simmons is still coming off the bench because of his lack of impact and inability to play in different kinds of lineups.
“What becomes of Simmons and the final two years and nearly $80 million remaining on his contract after this season is of course another dynamic to monitor in Brooklyn. The Nets are widely expected to gauge what trade market could materialize for Simmons after his disappointing campaign comes to a close. The three-time All-Star is still far from the form he exhibited during his best days in Philadelphia.”
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