Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Sports Columnist
At the all star break of this year I do not think anyone you ask would look at you funny if you told them this is one of the craziest NBA seasons ever. Whether it is the 2k-like stat lines players have been putting up, or the craziness of the recent trade deadline, this NBA season has truly been one for the ages.
However, despite the insanity of this year, one team has grabbed more headlines than anyone else: The Brooklyn Nets.
Just over a year ago the Nets had assembled what seemed like an unstoppable trio of James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving. They were without a doubt the championship favorite. But fast-forward through a first round sweep in the playoffs and a turbulent off-season later, the Nets have completely dismantled their roster.
They were not able to recoup most of the assets they had lost in assembling their superteam either, only gaining a significant haul back in the Kevin Durant deal. However, despite everyone believing the Nets have thrown in the towel is it possible that this new-look Nets team could somehow be better than they were before?
In trading away Kyrie, Harden, and KD, the Nets did manage to get some valuable role players and picks back, most notably were players like Mikal, Bridges, Spencer Dimwidde, and Dorian Finney-Smith. So while the Nets are certainly not in title contention this year, with a few key moves the nets could come back to title contention in just a year.
In the few games the Nets have played without KD and Kyrie they have been 2-2, but somehow I think they look better than they did before. With the locker room antics from KD and Kyrie gone, their Chemistry looks much improved and their team flows better as a whole.
Cam Thomas has been on fire, Nic Claxton is leading the league in blocks, and Mikal Bridges just dropped 45 on Jimmy Butler. With this valuable cast of role players, the Nets are an all-star away from making the playoffs and a superstar away from being a contender.
These players could come in multiple forms most likely through the draft. Despite losing half their picks for the next decade in the James Harden trade, the Nets somehow have three and possibly four (Phillie’s pick is protected, but if it lands outside the protection zone then the nets would have 4) first-round picks this year! These picks are from the Suns, the Rockets, the Sixers (possibly), and their own.
If any of these land in the lottery(which Houston’s might) it would give them a chance to draft a future franchise cornerstone like Jett Howard or Ausur Thompson. As for an All-star, you will think I am crazy for this, but I think it could come in the form of Ben Simmions (yes I just said that).
Needless to say, Ben Simmions has been nothing short of terrible this year. He is on a max contract averaging 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in 25 minutes a game with no sign of the defensive brilliance he had shown for so many years. However, (hear me out) if Ben is able to get his stuff together, I think he is in a situation where he will be able to succeed.
In Philadelphia, Ben was playing with Joel Embeid who (like Ben) needed to have the ball in his hands. We saw what Ben was able to do when Embied was hurt averaging a triple double. Being traded to Brooklyn was not any better than being traded to a team with two ball dominant players in KD and Kyrie and Ben was also dealing with an injury during this time which sidelined him during the 2022-2023 campaign.
With Ben unable to have the ball in his hands, he would just get lost and basically stand around doing cardio up and down the court. This caused him to be burried on the bench, but with KD and Kyrie gone I think this system could fit him much better.
Ben Simmions thrives in transition where he is able to force the defense to collapse on him and he can kick it out to open shooters. Not only do the Nets not have any super ball dominant players but they are a team with multiple lights out shooters like Joe Harris and Seth Curry. With essentially no expectations for Ben to play well, he will not have any pressure on him to perform in big moments. This will give Ben a chance to build his confidence back up and regain his ability to finish on the inside.
Ben will also have a lot of time to recover from his injury, which will hopefully translate to him regaining his defensive prowess.
However, without a doubt, the number one thing he needs to do to be successful is change his mentality. Ben Simmions is stuck in a ‘I don’t need a jumpshot” mentality which has been detrimental to his play. With no desire to improve any aspect of his game, he is not able to keep up with other young players who are working on their game day and night.
If Ben Simmions wants to ever be good again, HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT. This would open up so much spacing of the floor for him and would make him a triple threat; able to finish, pass, and shoot.
Ben Simmions is still only 26 years old and his window in the NBA is closing quick. It will all come down to whether or not Ben can change his mentality, but if he can, I think the Nets have a very bright future. And even if Ben does not recover the Nets will still be in a good position. They have a great cast of players with an aforementioned collection of picks to draft young talent. If they can get out of the Ben Simmions deal as well, this would open up so many signing opportunities in free agency.
Many people have simply written the Nets off, but to me these changes make them a far more intriguing team and I look forward to seeing how their future turns out.