Since the Brooklyn Nets acquired disgruntled star Ben Simmons in a deadline blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in early February, he's been out with a nagging back injury and unavailable to make his season debut. But the wait for his return might not last much longer, as ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Thursday that the three-time All-Star is aiming to play in the Nets' opening-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
Simmons hasn't played a single game since last June, as drama between him and the 76ers created a cold war and ultimately forced his long-desired trade out of Philadelphia. The 25-year-old first requested a trade last year, after the team's playoff series loss to the underdog Atlanta Hawks. In a pivotal Game 7 of the East semis, Simmons scored only seven points, and in 12 total playoff games, he produced the worst free-throw rate in NBA postseason history.
"What would you expect from him if he joins the Nets? A little bit of defense, lifting your arms up a little bit. He just started conditioning," JR said during the JR SportBrief show on Thursday. "I don't think, via the rumors from Windhorst, that he's even playing 5-on-5 right now. And anyone who's played basketball -- and I don't care what level -- conditioning isn't going to be there until you're really playing. Even on the defensive side of the ball, it's hard.
"Is Simmons naturally gifted? Yes. Is he one of the best defenders? Yes. If he were to play right now, would he be one of the best? I think so. But he's not going to be that guy right out the box, in long spurts. Can he come back and play 15-20 minutes? Maybe, probably. Could he contribute to a Brooklyn Nets championship? Probably. Do I think it's too late in the game? Yes, absolutely."
JR's complete thoughts on Simmons' potential return can be accessed in the audio player above.
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