Brooklyn Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant shocked the NBA world when he requested a trade on Thursday. Naturally, many wondered what that meant for Nets guard Ben Simmons, whose roller-coaster of a season ended up with a trade to Brooklyn. Sam Amick of The Athletic reports that the Nets are expected to keep Simmons.
Source close to the situation tells @TheAthletic that the Nets are expected to keep Ben Simmons. Some had rightfully wondered if there would be a ripple effect here on the 25-year-old's Nets future. https://t.co/2TnO6n71xI
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 30, 2022
Simmons, who was just acquired at last year's trade deadline in the James Harden blockbuster, doesn't appear to be headed anywhere. That's at least some good news for a Nets team that was unable to keep one of the five best players in the league happy enough to stick around.
While Simmons was about as unreliable as any player could be this past season for the Philadelphia 76ers, he at least is a very capable two-way player when healthy and motivated to get on the court, which he appears to be once again.
Article Continues BelowWhen he last played during the 2020-21 season, Simmons averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
While a Kyrie Irving-Ben Simmons core is underwhelming when compared to what Brooklyn had just a year ago at this time, it's still a team with a solid future, especially considering what the Nets could get back in a package for Durant.
Kevin Durant is on the way out but at least Ben Simmons will be sticking around.