Ever since he was the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Ben Simmons has been thought to have borderline superstar potential, but it is now painfully obvious he won’t even come close to reaching that level of play.
Since coming to the Brooklyn Nets midway through the 2021-22 season, he has played in a grand total of 57 games, partly due to a back condition.
He has been declared out for the rest of this season because of that back ailment, and now there seem to be whispers that his Nets tenure may be over.
If the Nets do actually buy out the remainder of his contract this summer, the Minnesota Timberwolves are slight betting favorites to sign him, per Bovada via NBACentral.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the favorites to sign Ben Simmons if he’s bought out by Brooklyn in the offseason, per @BovadaOfficial
Minnesota Timberwolves: +225
Golden State Warriors: +250
Toronto Raptors: +275
Sacramento Kings: +400
San Antonio Spurs: +500(Via… pic.twitter.com/AoAUM9RjgO
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 9, 2024
Simmons could be the league’s biggest enigma, as he’s a very capable passer, fast-break attacker and defender, but his offense has left way too much to be desired.
He has almost literally refused to take any shots outside of the paint, and it has greatly depressed his scoring averages over the years.
The 6-foot-10 player peaked at 16.9 points a game during the 2018-19 season, but as a Net, he has mustered just 6.7 points a game.
Simmons demanded a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, his first team, in the 2021 offseason after then-head coach Doc Rivers said he wasn’t sure if Simmons could be the starting point guard on a championship team.
While some see him as damaged goods, others feel he just needs the right situation to rediscover his passion for basketball.
NEXT: Analyst Details How Much Money Ben Simmons Has Cost Nets