Ben Simmons is siphoning money from the Brooklyn Nets. Simmons is currently taking up over 28% of the cap space for the Nets, having played a grand total of 57 games for them over the past two seasons. With his current salary, just above $40 million, Simmons has made over $700 thousand per game, averaging 6.9 and 6.1 PPG over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 season respectively. If you were to break it down further, that is nearly $270,000 per point between the two seasons.
Unfortunately, there is little the Nets can do with Simmons after his season-ending injury this year, coupled with below average stats and a hefty price tag. However, with many draft picks and some convincing, there is a chance that the Nets could dump him before the season starts.
There are few free agency picks that would be better suited for Brooklyn, however, the free agent I most wanted to see come to Brooklyn this off-season was Demar DeRozan (CHI). DeRozan is a veteran player who still scores consistently, but the Sacramento Kings have already brought him in on a huge deal. Looking past that, there is still hope for the Brooklyn Nets in the available free agency pool, and one player stands alone as center for a rebuild: Jamal Murray.
With a devastating Game 7 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jamal Murray is up for free agency next year, averaging 21.2 PPG, including putting up 35 points in that playoff elimination game. Currently, Murray’s contract is rumored to be extended after his Olympic run for Team Canada, but there is still time for the Nets to make an offer. By dumping Simmons and bringing in a real star to build around, the Nets could make a move at a playoff run as early as next season.
