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When the Brooklyn Nets opted to trade for Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, they made possibly the biggest trade in recent NBA history. The Nets opted to part ways with superstar James Harden in this transaction.
While Ben Simmons clearly has difficulties, it was clear that James Harden no longer wanted to be in Brooklyn. It was a wise choice on the part of the front office to split ways with him, given that they were concerned about not being able to re-sign him during the summer.
Ben Simmons could be a strange match in Brooklyn, but if he can simply play the sort of basketball that everyone knows he can, this might be a move that helps the Nets much more than the Sixers.
Let's look at the three reasons why Simmons is an excellent fit for the Nets.
While some fans may disagree with the reasons why their club traded for Ben Simmons, the front staff made a solid move. There was definitely an area where they could improve, and while he isn't the perfect solution, he does have a lot of promise for this club. While James Harden didn't want to be in Brooklyn, and Ben Simmons has his own problems, the trade had to be made.
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Ben Simmons Nets
3. Nets fans are not the same as Sixers fans
This isn't meant as a knock towards any fandom, but Sixers fans are a touch crazier than Nets fans. The fact is that many Nets fans aren't as enthusiastic as Sixers fans.
Philadelphia sports fans are some of the wildest in the world, and they'll let you know if you're not playing your best basketball. As we witnessed with Ben Simmons, he was chased out of town, and in Brooklyn, he shouldn't have to worry about that.
This provides Ben Simmons with a fresh opportunity to resurrect his career and just be the player that everyone knows he can be. Philadelphia fans expected him to be someone he is not, and this is one of the reasons for his failure with the Sixers.
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Fortunately for Simmons, he isn't going to join a team that isn't elite. The Brooklyn Nets are still arguably better than the Sixers, and they have a legitimate shot at winning an NBA championship if they can only work out a few kinks. The most important question is whether Kyrie Irving will receive the vaccination, which does not appear to be the likely at the moment. The other most important thing is to ensure that Kevin Durant returns healthy, because if he does, the Brooklyn Nets have as strong a chance to win an NBA championship as any other team in the league.
2. Has the opportunity to play beside perhaps the best player on the planet
People can say anything they want about Kevin Durant, but there's no doubting that he's arguably the best player in the world, and if he wins another ring, he'll likely be among the top five players of all time to some people. He is as skilled a scrorer as this league has ever seen, and getting the opportunity to play beside him is an honor in and of itself.
Joel Embiid is a fantastic player and a former teammate of Ben Simmons's, but he is not Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant is one of those players who can go out and score 50 points whenever he wants, and he will relieve Ben Simmons of a lot of the strain. Durant is another one of those players who simply wants to play basketball. He doesn't get engaged in a lot of drama, and unlike Joel Emiid, he doesn't have the same kind of ego.
1. He is surrounded by excellent shooters
Obviously, Ben Simmons' greatest skill on the floor is unquestionably his defensive ability. He is perhaps the best defensive player in the NBA, and that alone will be a significant addition to this Nets squad.
Ben Simmons' passing skill is another key component of his game. He may not have as much of a chance to be a playmaker as he had in Philadelphia, but it is believed that he will continue to play a key role in enlisting the help of his teammates. And while he had some terrific shooters surrounding him in Philadelphia, he did not have who he will have in Brooklyn.
Ben Simmons will have the ability to pass the ball to players such as Joe Harris, Patty Mills, and Seth Curry. All three of those players are among the top 3-point shooters in the NBA, so it's safe to assume that he'll continue to provide his teammates with fantastic open looks, as he has in the past.
