The 2024-25 NBA season has been a positive year for Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons. He is healthier and has kept his promise to play more games. Simmons has shown leadership and done what is best for the team under head coach Jordi Fernandez. He has also tried to mend old fences by reaching out to former teammate Joel Embiid. This effort was aimed at ending their feud and reconciling how things ended between them in Philadelphia. However, the Nets refuse a Simmons buyout.
Nets Refuse To Buyout Ben Simmons Contract
The Nets are currently the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference, boosting their lottery draft hopes. The team could add a top prospect in the 2025 draft, such as Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper. After trading Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors, the team has been struggling. However, the trade signaled that the Nets will begin selling players before the upcoming trade deadline.
Nets Refuse Simmons’ Buyout
According to Kyler Fox of Sports Illustrated, the Nets will not consider reaching a buyout agreement on Simmons’ contract. Simmons is in the final year of his five-year $177 million contract and will earn $40.3 million this season.
Regarding Simmons’ value in the trade market, teams have not shown interest. This is probably because they are unwilling to take over his contract. They know his deal expires at the end of the season. Also, Simmons’ previous health issues and refusal to play still haunt him.
Clearing The Salary Cap
The Nets have the most power of any team in the NBA on how they want to approach their offseason, future, and who they want to trade. While the team has not publicly said they want to rebuild, the Schroder trade indicates they are.
The team is looking to take some cap off the books before the 2025 offseason. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that the Nets could go into the summer with a cap of about $70 million. Trading away Simmons and Bojan Bogdanovic would achieve this.
Once Schroder was traded to the Warriors, the Nets were able to clear some money off their books. Recently, teams looking for veteran help have expressed major interest in Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith.
What’s Ahead For Simmons?
Although Simmons is not the player he once was, he could still make an impact on a championship roster looking for help. He could attract interest at the deadline. Many former All-Star players in situations like Simmons were either traded or agreed to a buyout with their team. The Nets will have the final say in how it plays out with Simmons.
Simmons’ priority is to stay healthy, play hard on the court, and continue to show that he is a leader. The Nets must have a solid plan if they want to form a contending team. All the fans want is a winning team in Brooklyn. For now, everyone will have to wait and see how this all plays out. The Nets next play Sunday on the road against the Orlando Magic.
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