It is still unclear when Ben Simmons will make his Nets debut, but that will give Brooklyn more time to figure out exactly where he will fit on the floor whenever he does step on the court for the first time since last year's playoffs.
"He can lead the break," general manager Sean Marks said when speaking at a season ticket holder event on Tuesday night. "A guy that can grab a defensive rebound and everyone else just fill the lanes. I don't know if he's a point guard, I don't know if he's a four man or a five man, but I do know he's a hell of a basketball player. We're excited about him."
The Nets brought in Simmons as the headliner return for James Harden just before the trade deadline, and while Marks made it clear at his post-deadline press conference that there were no talks with the 76ers until the week of the trade deadline, he did say that Simmons is a player that Brooklyn has always held in high regard.
"No secret, he's an elite NBA basketball player," Marks said. "We've had our eyes on him for quite some time, truth be told."
The three-time All-Star has had his scoring struggles, but the former No. 1 overall pick brings all kinds of options for a Nets team that already has a point guard (at least in a part-time role) in Kyrie Irving. Fortunately for Brooklyn, the 6-foot-11 Simmons can slot into other positions as needed, which Marks certainly covets.
"His versatility stands out," Marks said. "What he can do on both ends of the court...I think it's how he fits with our group, what we need and what our holes are."
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