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“You couldn’t put him down!”: Nets should consider TRADING Ben Simmons, says ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins as coach rolls his eyes at Aussie’s latest bout of knee pain
- Ben Simmons saw the end of the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on the bench
- ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins feels a trade for Simmons should be explored
- Trainer Jacque Vaughn appeared to roll his eyes when discussing Simmons’ injury.
The Brooklyn Nets should consider a trade for ‘unplayable’ Australian NBA star Ben Simmons before the deadline, says Kendrick Perkins.
The former Boston Celtics center has criticized Simmons’ limited production this season — he’s averaging 7.6 points per game — and believes the Nets should consider his value on the trade market to increase their title chances.
“If I’m the Brooklyn Nets and the trade deadline is coming up, I might consider trading Ben Simmons,” Perkins said on NBA today on ESPN.
Kendrick Perkins (right) thinks the Brooklyn Nets should consider trading Ben Simmons (left)
Perkins cited the fact that with the game on the line against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, Simmons had to watch from the bench as he was not trusted to be on the court.
Simmons is a below-average free-throw shooter (he’s averaging 44.6 percent this season) and therefore isn’t considered reliable late in close games when opponents deliberately place him on the line. of free throws.
‘The simple fact is that he was watching the game late in the fourth quarter last night when he got close and couldn’t play. You couldn’t put it down,’ Perkins raged.
“With the development of (Nic) Claxton and the way he’s been pushing himself, you can’t play those two together… seriously, Seth Curry, he’s pushing himself, Claxton, he’s doing what he’s doing.” You’re paying Ben Simmons a lot of money to be, what? A backup center when Kevin Durant returns?
Simmons had a blast in the third but hooked up in the fourth and Perkins is unimpressed.
Simmons went scoreless in the first half against the Sixers, his former team, while attempting just one shot.
The former NBA All-Star came to life in the third quarter, scoring 10 points on five shots.
He played just three minutes into the fourth before getting hooked.
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn has made it clear that he will not carry passengers, either offensively or defensively, on the court and that was highlighted by benching Simmons at a pivotal moment.
He also appeared to roll his eyes in the postgame news conference when asked about Simmons’ latest injury.
“Knee pain,” he said when asked about his diagnosis before a long pause and apparent eye roll.
“I think, in general, it is the message that I spoke about before the game. Let’s get all the boys, and that includes Ben [Simmons] value every possession,’ Vaughn said of benching Simmons after the game, which the 76ers won 137-133.
‘To play hard every possession. And just because you play the first half, it doesn’t mean you’re going to play the second half.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn defended his decision to bench Simmons in the fourth
‘We really want to get to a point where your teammate is depending on you. He depends on you to do your job every night and every possession.
He added: ‘Ben showed more ability to play hard in the second half, which paid off, which is what we need, which is great for our team. And then down the stretch, with us down, he just wanted to space out the floor and shoot further. Let’s see if we would get back into the game regardless of size or anything.
Simmons is under contract through the 2024-25 season, when he will pocket more than $40 million.
Thursday, February 9, is the NBA’s trade deadline if the Nets follow Perkins’ advice.