While he hasn't logged a single minute, the last eight months represent the most eventful portion of new Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons' professional career.

A brutal slump from the free throw line in the playoffs last season culminated in his not wanting to get fouled, thus passing on an open dunk in crunch time in Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks. Sixers fans chanted for the team to trade the two-time All-Star out of LSU as the Sixers lost that Game 7 in stunning fashion.

After the crushing defeat, Simmons' longtime teammate, Joel Embiid, violated a certain unwritten player code of ethics by blaming Simmons, highlighting his mistake as the “turning point” which cost their team the key win.

On March 10, there's at least the opportunity for a “revenge” game if Simmons is active by then. On a recent podcast, Simmons' former teammate, Danny Green, didn't do much to tamp down a budding rivalry that's now sure to ignite if the Sixers and Brooklyn Nets were to meet in the upcoming postseason.

Per Green on Inside the Green Room:

Green: That’s it, let bygones be bygones. I understand you have a mental health issue, I understand you don’t want to play where you want to — whatever it is, you did what you needed to do to make better for you in your life. That’s cool. Do I think you could have handled it better? For sure, because we had nothing against you as teammates, still have nothing against you. … But it all depends how that game goes, how he interacts in that game, how well he plays or how cleanly or not cleanly he or us plays against each other is gonna determine how we shake hands.”

Green also pointed to some possible tensions between Simmons and the teammates he came to Brooklyn with: Seth Curry and Andre Drummond. Green explained why he doesn't expect Simmons to be available that night, noting that “we all know he does not like to play in Philly.”

But the line that stays with us is Green admitting whether or not he'll shakes hands with Simmons depends on if the game were “clean or not clean.” And that feels like it might be a stern warning. Don't bring anything soft into the paint on that night.  

Green, a three-time champion, is alluding to the possibility that his Sixers or Simmons' Nets' may not play clean. It makes you wonder if Green thinks his team might be planning on sending a message, “Bad Boy Pistons style,” to the player who didn't want to suit up for his team anymore.

Maybe a Sixers fan would hear it in reverse, where Green is prepared for Simmons to commit some hard fouls and not play cleanly. But since Green is the only one who brought the subject up, it's fair to speculate about his phrasing.

It's still not determined if Simmons will be available in time for that game. If he is, it will be must-see television as the Wells Fargo Arena crowd will be absolutely wild, raining a chorus of boos down on Simmons. It would be a baptism by fire for a player who hasn't played in a long time.

Nets GM Sean Marks said it would be tough for Simmons to be ready in another “three or four days” on Tuesday of this week. But Marks added he wouldn't bet against his new versatile weapon. Simmons was seen shooting on the side with Kyle Korver on Wednesday:

Nets head coach Steve Nash would have a lot more options if he could get Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons back soon. If Simmons were available in that showdown game, maybe they'd need some of James Johnson's MMA background to help with any altercations.