Reports: Ben Simmons’ name propping up in Brooklyn Nets’ trade talks in a bid to get veteran shooter from Western Conference team
By many accounts, Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets have been struggling this season. The team started the season with an abysmal 2-5 record before parting ways with coach Steve Nash.
Although the hope is that by bringing in a new coach, the team will be able to right the ship, there are some glaring holes in the roster. And according to reports, those holes could be fixed by trading Simmons.
As analysts and NBA veterans have pointed out throughout the course of the season so far, Brooklyn lacks size. Specifically in the middle, where Kevin Durant and Nic Claxton will be forced to defend players like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With a weaker front-court than many Eastern Conference contenders, the Nets could look for a midseason trade to get stronger and bigger in the paint. Early on in the season, the prediction was that either Joe Harris or Seth Curry would find themselves on the trade block. Two weeks into the season, that focus has shifted to Ben Simmons.
So far, Simmons has had an incredibly disappointing season, fouling out twice already in a young season. With Nash and the team agreeing to part ways, the focus has once again shifted to the Nets' players. As the contrarian without a cause, Kyrie Irving, continues to make headlines, and Simmons has flown under the radar.
During the lead-up to the team's game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, Nash and Irving dominated the headlines. Simmons, who has been out with left knee soreness, didn't seem to have as much buzz surrounding him as he did in the days prior.
With the Nets currently in free fall, the team has reportedly begun exploring trades. One such scenario would reportedly see the team acquire a veteran shooter while Ben Simmons is shipped out West.
The Brooklyn Nets had been in ‘cursory talks’ with one Western Conference team about a deal that would return a veteran shooter and Ben Simmons' name came up in those talks 👀👀👀
(Via @IanBegley ) https://t.co/DhRjcnfBxB
Potential Ben Simmons trade scenarios, do the Nets need another shooter?
What makes the ongoing trade talks for Ben Simmons interesting is that the reports allege the team could get a shooter in return. By many accounts, shooting isn't an immediate concern for the team. With Kevin Durant in the starting lineup and Joe Harris and Seth Curry on the bench, the team has no shortage of sharpshooters.
Although players like Kyrie Irving have had ups and downs this season in regards to their field-goal percentage, the team has enough shooters. It's not just players like Harris and Curry that can provide 3-point shooting when healthy.
Yuta Watanabe has proven himself to be a talented shooter this season. In the seven games played, Watanabe has shot 58.3% from beyond the arc.
With that said, the best-case scenario for the Nets may be to acquire a big man with perimeter shooting. Traditional forwards and centers have started to add a 3-point shot to their games. With the league continuing to put up record numbers of 3-point attempts, a 3-and-D big man could be exactly what the Nets need.
Right now, of course, the team's focus is on finding a new coach. Whether or not a trade for Ben Simmons follows, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for the Nets.