NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons To Go On The Trade Market

It was rumored just before the trade deadline that Ben Simmons' trade value around the league was zero. But that doesn't mean that the Brooklyn Nets won't continue to try to deal him and his albatross of a contract. 

Per NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports:

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.

The 26-year-old has clearly been playing scared on offense, and is nowhere near the All-Defensive First Teamer he was in both 2020 and 2021. Simmons is averaging just seven points—less than half his career mark of 14.8, and is taking just 5.7 shots per game, just about half of the 10.8 he's averaged for his career. 

It's no surprise that due to the $80M still owed on his contract, that his trade value has sunk to nothing, as was noted by NBA Insider Nick Friedell just before the trade deadline.

A couple of Nets notes from @BobbyMarks42 on @KeyJayandMax:

1. Ben Simmons has no value around the league right now in any potential deal.

2. If the Nets decide to move KD — their return would be greater this summer than it would be before Thursday’s trade deadline.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) February 6, 2023

The Nets will hope that Simmons is able to pick up his play somewhat down the stretch (whenever he does play), and perhaps salvage something from the disastrous James Harden trade of last season.  

Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports