Nets coach Jacque Vaughn admits he’s not quite sure how to play Ben Simmons with the major changes made to the team’s roster the past two weeks, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Simmons has logged just 16 and 13 minutes in the team’s past two games.
“It’s gonna be some work that we have to do, because you just take a look at what the lineups could potentially look like,” the Nets coach said. “You put another big next to Ben, then you’ve gotta figure out what the spacing is around him. Then if you put another playmaker next to Ben, then you’ve gotta figure out what Ben looks like without the basketball. Then if you go small with Ben, then you’ve gotta figure out can you rebound enough with him. So the challenges are ahead of us. We’ll look them head on. We’ll figure it out.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers guard James Harden has chosen new representation, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports. He will be represented by Troy Payne, a former Adidas executive who is partnering with agents Mike Silverman and Brandon Grier. Payne, Silverman and Grier are now the agents for Harden, who signed a two-year contract with the 76ers last offseason but holds a player option on his $35.64MM salary for next season. Harden declined his $47.4MM player option last summer.
- The Celtics chose not to trade Grant Williams but various teams are monitoring the situation and curious about his future there, Marc Stein writes in a Substack post. Williams will be a restricted free agent this summer and may seek a contract similar to what Keldon Johnson received from the Spurs (four years and $74MM, plus incentives).
- Nick Nurse is back with the Raptors and will coach them against Orlando tonight, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets. Nurse missed Sunday’s game against Detroit due to personal reasons.
Solid statement from Vaughan. (Translated)
Dorian Finney & Bridges are gonna play a lot more than Ben Simmons moving forward, and until we can remedy the above mentioned imbalances, or Ben can score the basketball, or be in a position to rebound, then he is going to see limited minutes.
Another translation: Ben Simmons is a very unique basketball player. So unique that I’m not sure he is a NBA-level basketball player. No idea what I can do with him to aid the team in winning, so expect to see him spending time on the bench more often than not until I figure out a way he can help more often.
Ben quit anyway. He doesn’t care anymore.
I genuinely hope not. It would explain, and give merit to the mental anguish/depression claim.
Bad back, asked to be physical down low where most guys get bad backs. Yeah Ben is in a tough spot.
The most expensive bench player
Unless he reverses course, Ben Simmons is becoming the Chris Davis of the NBA.
Becoming???
4 bad deals mix
Nurkic to Nets
Simmons to Hornets + 1st picks
Hayward to Spurs + draft compensation
McDermott to Portland
You can switch McDermott from the Spurs for Lonzo Ball
I think you play ben as the primary ballhandler with mills, curry, harris and your best shooting big. Use cam thomas as the starting pg with cam johnson, dodo, bridges and claxton
They do not want Curry and Mills on the court at the same time. That didn’t work for them earlier this season. It won’t work now.
Mr Vaughn if you don’t know how to use a super talented star like Ben… maybe, coaching ain’t your thing… just saying, right?
How did that workout for Brett Brown and Doc Rivers? It’s not coaching it’s Ben Simmons himself.
Simmons has the yips and no one has helped him get over them…
He might as well be Greg Oden at this point…