A fall from grace. Only because of injuries. Yes, I’m talking about 2016’s No. 1 draft pick, Ben Simmons. Only a shadow of his former self, but has cashed in big bucks based on former glory. One of the highest earners in the NBA, but his performances do not match his salary. The hooper has only played in 57 games since the start of the 2021-22 season, and constant injuries have made it miserable.

Ben Simmons obviously took home a handsome amount from his first season. The Philadelphia 76ers signed him on a four-year $26.6 million rookie scale deal. He then missed his entire rookie season because of injury, finally debuted with the Sixers in the 2017-18 season, and claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. So, it proved that the spark of talent was always there.

Following this, Simmons earned All-Star honors in the next 3 seasons, largely thanks to his defensive abilities. His stock had gone up and in 2019, he signed a max contract extension with the Sixers that would pay him $177 million, over five years.

The good stint continued. Ben was selected for the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice and finished as the runner-up for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021. However, he had ongoing and recurring injuries- the reason for a lack of improvement, and internal conflicts within the 76ers organization. Unfortunately, these struggles persisted.

In February 2022, the Philadelphia 76ers traded Simmons in a major deal that ended a 7-month standoff and brought James Harden to the team. At the time of the trade, Simmons had not played in an NBA game since June of the previous year, when the Atlanta Hawks eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs. As he enters the final year of his $177 million rookie contract extension signed with the Sixers back in 2020, the Nets should look to make some use of the Aussie to prevent it from writing off his salary as total loss.

The signing of Simmons initially received a largely positive response, as he was an All-Star playing some of his best basketball on a competitive playoff team. But with severe back injuries and the Brooklyn side looking to rebuild their roster around young players now, it now just feels like one of the worst deals in the NBA, as infamously deemed across fan forums. But it isn’t all bad.

Ben Simmons’ contract is not a real hurdle for the Nets in the long run

While Simmons’ contract is indeed seen as excessively high, it won’t hinder the Nets as much as many might assume.

Firstly, the hooper’s deal expires at the end of this season. Unless Ben impresses the franchise enough to earn a new contract, this will probably be his final year with the Nets. Consequently, his presence won’t impact the Nets’ plans for free agency in 2025.

Secondly, the Nets are in the midst of a rebuilding phase. The focus should not be on clearing cap space for new free agents, but rather on nurturing their young talent for future success. The team isn’t in a position where they need to worry about exceeding the first or second apron, and with Simmons’ contract set to end, it won’t be a concern, anyway. The Brooklyn side should prioritize rebuilding through the draft while allowing the Aussie to complete the final year of his contract.

In March 2024, Simmons had surgery to correct the impinged nerve in his back, a procedure that aimed to get rid of the root cause of his back injuries. This surgery was essential in getting him back to where he was during his peak years.

Ben Simmons has shared his optimism about the recovery process, stating that he has experienced no setbacks, for now. However, given his injury history, it’s challenging to predict how dependable the hooper will be during the 2024-25 season.

While the Brooklyn Nets remain hopeful, past experiences have indicated that the optimism around Ben Simmons’ return has always been just all talk. That sounds harsh, but we stand to be proved wrong by 2016’s No. 1 NBA draft pick.