Ben Simmons Doesn't Know Role With Nets Anymore

Ben Simmons has 'no idea' what his role will be with the rebuilding Nets going forward.

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

In the span of a week, the Brooklyn Nets (33-23) shipped out their championship hopes for a strong rebuild. After trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in deadline blockbusters, the Nets went from Eastern Conference title contenders to a playoff-caliber team. 

Despite packaging their superstar talents to the West, Brooklyn has loaded up on wing depth, plenty of talent that can start on any team in the league, and a surplus of defensive potential. In wake of the seismic changes, the one remaining star left in the borough remains a big question mark going forward. 

That's Ben Simmons.  

Brooklyn's point forward, who has come off the bench in the two contests played since the deadline, has 'no idea' what his role will be with the new-look Nets.

I have no idea," said Simmons after Monday morning's shootaround at HSS Training Center. "Everything’s been changing all year so it’s hard to really understand what’s going on. But hopefully we find some rhythm and consistency."

Simmons is certainly not used to the change in scenary, going from an undisputed starter to a bench role. The three-time NBA All-Star started all 275 contests he played in during his four-year tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

"Nah it’s different. It’s different. It’s a different experience," said Simmons on coming off the bench instead of starting. "So whatever the team needs from us to win. I’m willing to do that."

Beyond coming off the bench, he's also entered unfamiliar territory in winning time. The point forward hasn't seen much playing time down the stretch recently. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn has favored keeping him on the bench in the final quarter of play instead of being in the closing rotation (working progress). To Simmons, that part has been 'frustrating' but he acknowledged that the team has four new faces getting acclimating to their new team. 

"I think it’s a little frustrating trying to find some rhythm and consistency but that’s what it is at this point right now," he said. "Guys have been in and out due to injuries, trades, so there’s been a lot of different things that play factors into it. Hopefully now we get a little bit of a stretch where we can find some rhythm and consistency."

During his pregame press conference, Vaughn spoke about his conversations with several role players about their roles during the post-deadline period. One of the players included in those conversations was Simmons.  

"I'll be honest with the message," Vaughn said. "You might not like the message, anyone that I give the message to, but 10-15 years from now you'll know that I was honest and upfront with you." 

What makes things a tad more intriguing in Brooklyn's thought process is that Simmons claims his knee and back injury woes aren't giving him problems. He did not undergo any additional treatment that involved him getting his knee drained since returning from injury.

"It’s getting there. I’m able to play. For me, that’s a lot," Simmons said about his physical health. "So I’m good."

Of course, the majority of the returns Brooklyn gathered in exchange for their cornerstones at the deadline are defensive-minded wings that possess valuable shooting and are reliable, yet aggressive free-throw shooters- Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Cam Johnson. 

"I feel like everyone has that mentality of whatever minutes they're gonna play, they're gonna go hard. I haven't seen nobody complain. I think everybody just has that mindset of winning," Bridges said after Monday's shootaround. "I know everybody wants to be out there, play the whole time just how the league is but we got a lot of players a lot of depth so everybody seems cool and everybody stays ready. That's the biggest thing."

The biggest spotlight on Simmons, who recently said he's got a long way to go until he returns to his old self on the hardwood, is his massive contract. He is under contract for an additional two seasons after the 2022-23 season and is slated to earn a total of $77.9 million over that span.  

Simmons is averaging just 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. Across Brooklyn's post-deadline contest (two games), he has only seen 18 minutes per outing. That included a 16-minute showing against his former team, the Sixers on Saturday night.