The Brooklyn Nets are not willing to “sell low” on Ben Simmons and include him as a salary filler in a potential deal with the Miami Heat for Kevin Durant, per ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
Lowe speculated that the Nets are asking for center Bam Adebayo, guard Tyler Herro and draft picks from the Heat in a trade for Durant.
In this type of trade, Simmons will have to be included in the same deal or leave for a third different destination, as teams can’t roster more than one player on a designated rookie extension acquired via trade.
The Nets could perhaps sweeten the pot by adding another piece with Durant, but Lowe noted that the Nets likely don’t want to include Simmons as a throw-in. The 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick just turned 26, and he’s been a three-time All-Star.
Prior to last season, he was a runner-up for the defensive player of the year award. He boasts career averages of 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals despite his crippling playoff struggles.
Brooklyn acquired him from the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the trade deadline in the James Harden blockbuster deal. He sit the whole 2021-22 campaign due to personal reasons and a back injury that kept him out since he joined the Nets.
Although his trade value is low, Simmons is an effective and quality player when he is healthy due to his defense and playmaking ability. He can also be a 6’11” point guard, which is a great plus for any team with much-needed shooting to surround him.
