Even with an ever-growing salary cap, Ben Simmons’ contract might be one of the worst in the NBA right now.
He’s set to make more than $40 million with the Brooklyn Nets this season, and given his history of injuries, mental health issues, and lack of aggressiveness on offense, it’s hard to justify that kind of salary.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean he can’t be a very valuable player in the proper setting.
In fact, NBA analyst Bill Simmons said Ben Simmons could be one of the best buyout candidates in the league.
“I think he has a chance to become one of the most fascinating February buyout guys in a few years because he could be the center in New Orleans, he could be an absolutely crazy Draymond Green backup at Golden State, he could be a really fun [Miami] Heat Culture reclamation project, and he’s kinda exactly what the [New York] Knicks need,” the host said on his podcast, via Legion Hoops.
Bill Simmons says Ben Simmons is actually an ‘asset’ in the NBA:
“I think he has a chance to become one of the most fascinating February buyout guys in a few years because he could be the center in New Orleans, he could be an absolutely crazy Draymond Green backup at Golden… pic.twitter.com/WB8MiD7aXw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 26, 2024
As disappointing as Ben Simmons has been in his career, he’s just 28 years old.
He’s proven to be a very emotional player, so perhaps having an opportunity to play winning basketball for an actual contender could bring out the best of him.
He’s got the size to play and guard one through five, as he’s an elite defender when healthy.
Multiple teams could use a versatile defender who could run the point during stretches, and even if he’s never been a 3-point shooter — or even the threat of one — he could be a factor on offense with his passing.
The former No. 1 overall pick will most likely never live up to the hype, and comparisons to Magic Johnson and LeBron James are a thing of the past.
But if someone gets him on a fair deal, and he sets his mind to it, he could end up being an X-factor on a championship-caliber team.
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Nets Waive Former First-Round Pick
