<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/sources-nets-ben-simmons-zero-interest-buyout-amid-trade-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Sources: Nets, Ben Simmons hold ‘zero interest’ in buyout amid trade rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sources-Nets-Ben-Simmons-hold-zero-interest-in-buyout-amid-trade-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Sources: Nets, Ben Simmons hold ‘zero interest’ in buyout amid trade rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-24T12:55:01-08:00">December 24th, 12:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-24T13:25:17-08:00">December 24th, 1:25pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Ahead of the trade deadline on Feb. 6, executive Sean Marks and the Brooklyn Nets will be busy. After recently <a href="https://www.nba.com/warriors/news/warriors-acquire-guard-dennis-schroder-from-nets-20241215" rel="noopener">trading veteran guard Dennis Schroder</a> to the Golden State Warriors, the Nets continue to be the focus of trade rumors with key talents like Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Day’Ron Sharpe. The other key name on the Nets’ trade block is former first-overall pick Ben Simmons.</p><p>Since a part of the James Harden trade between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn in 2022, Simmons has not lived up to the All-Star potential he once had. Over the last three years, including 23 games during the 2024-25 season, Simmons has averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 80 career games with the Nets. Along with being in the final year of his contract and making $40.3 million this season, this is why Simmons finds himself on the trade block.</p><p>Between all his injury concerns through the years and struggles to remain a threat, there has been virtually zero interest around the NBA in Simmons dating back to the trade deadline during the 2023-24 season. Many teams around the league also can’t acquire the 28-year-old’s massive contract.</p><p>As the trade deadline inches closer, the Nets and Simmons hold “zero interest” in pursuing a buyout agreement, multiple league sources told ClutchPoints. This same mindset Brooklyn currently holds also applies to the scenario of Simmons remaining on their roster past Feb. 6, which continues to look like a strong possibility.</p><p>The Nets have positioned themselves to shed heavy salary at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, highlighted by Simmons becoming an unrestricted free agent. Next summer, Brooklyn will be positioned to have the most cap space in the league, opening up many doors to revamp their roster during this rebuild.</p><p>Since he is in the final year of his contract and now seeing a larger role with Schroder gone, many league personnel believe that Simmons and his representation would not want to sacrifice a portion of his salary in a potential buyout agreement. After all, once he becomes a free agent next summer, Simmons won’t see another nine-figure contract.</p><p>In four games since Schroder was traded, Simmons has averaged 10.3 points, 8.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals as the team’s starting point guard. Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has challenged Simmons and been critical of him throughout the early portion of the season, but he has also supported the former three-time All-Star on countless occasions. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-ben-simmons-reveals-reason-offensive-resurgence-following-dennis-schroder-trade">Simmons has accepted these challenges</a>, and has embraced his increased role since Schroder’s departure.</p><p>“I think it’s that [the role change] and just time in the gym,” Simmons said recently regarding his mentality shift. of his sudden shift. “Just staying on it. And then focusing every day. I come in and try to get better every day, and it’s gonna show… It’s been an adjustment [without Dennis], but obviously, practice sessions help a lot. And then watching film helps a bunch. So the more we play together and the more we get some rhythm, the easier it will be.”</p><p>The Nets remain open to discussing Simmons in trade conversations at this time, sources said. Any team looking to instantly free up a massive chunk of cap space next offseason would hold a level of interest in Simmons. On the other hand, Brooklyn has made it clear to rival teams that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-nets-refusing-long-term-contracts-trade-discussions">they don’t want to take back significant, long-term salaries</a> in any deal they could potentially make. When trading Schroder to Golden State, the Nets received De’Anthony Melton, who will be a free agent after this season, and three second-round picks.</p><p>If there was a trade to be had involving Simmons before the trade deadline, a few teams would likely be involved for salary purposes. However, it is much more likely that trades involving Johnson, Finney-Smith, or Sharpe occur. In fact, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-nets-dayron-sharpe-drawing-trade-interest-several-teams">Brooklyn has been receiving interest from multiple teams inquiring about Sharpe</a>, league sources told ClutchPoints’ Nets reporter Erik Slater.</p><p>Johnson perhaps holds the greatest trade market out of all the players in Brooklyn, as several playoff-contending teams have expressed interest in trading for the 28-year-old wing. The Nets are not urgently looking to move Johnson like they were with Schroder, leading to the widespread belief that Marks and his front office will continue to increase their asking price for Johnson before the trade deadline. He still has two more years left on his contract past the 2024-25 season.</p><p>With their rebuild in full force, the Nets will continue to allocate more minutes to the youth that exists on their roster. In terms of Simmons, it remains unlikely that either he or the organization will seek to split before the offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Sources: Nets, Ben Simmons hold ‘zero interest’ in buyout amid trade rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-brooklyns-dennis-schroder-trade-having-desired-effect-as-offense-plummets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Dennis Schroder trade having desired effect as Ben Simmons-led offense ranks dead last');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Brooklyns-Dennis-Schroder-trade-having-desired-effect-as-offensive-woes-continue.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Dennis Schroder trade having desired effect as Ben Simmons-led offense ranks dead last</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-24T06:19:27-08:00">December 24th, 6:19am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-24T06:26:05-08:00">December 24th, 6:26am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-sean-marks-reveals-motivation-dennis-schroder-trade-tank-speculation-grows">Brooklyn Nets aimed to bottom out to juice their draft lottery odds</a> when they traded Dennis Schroder. Four games removed from the deal, things are right on schedule.</p><p>The Nets fell 110-95 to the Miami Heat on Monday, their third loss in their last four games. Without Schroder’s shot creation and facilitation, their offense continued to look inept, as they shot 33-of-84 (39.4 percent).</p><p>Brooklyn <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/advanced?LastNGames=4&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" rel="noopener">ranks dead last</a> in offense over its last four games, averaging 97.4 points (30th), 22.5 assists (28th) and 18.3 turnovers (27th) on 40.5 percent shooting from the field (30th) and 29.3 percent from three (29th).</p><p>“We’re just trying to find our identity,” Cam Johnson said. “Figuring out what we want to do and how we’re gonna score and what those shots look like. We’ll continue to develop that and get better at that, I think… We have just a different flow [without Dennis]. It’s just how it is.”</p><p>Different could be swapped out for unquestionably worse. Schroder was having the best season of his career with the Nets, averaging a career-high 18.4 points and 6.6 assists per game on 45/39/89 shooting splits. Brooklyn’s offense was 11.6 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor, the fourth-highest mark among NBA point guards, per CleaningTheGlass.</p><p>Without him, the team has no player who is a threat to dribble, pass and shoot.</p><h2>Nets’ offensive struggles continue post-Dennis Schroder trade</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ben-Simmons_800218.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-ben-simmons-reveals-reason-offensive-resurgence-following-dennis-schroder-trade">Ben Simmons has replaced Schroder</a> as Brooklyn’s lead guard. Since rejoining the starting lineup, he’s made a noticeable effort to ramp up his aggressiveness, averaging 10.3 points, 8.5 assists, and 4.5 turnovers per game. However, his fit alongside Nic Claxton as a non-shooter has well-documented issues.</p><p>Simmons had an encouraging first half against Miami, posting four points and eight assists on 1-of-2 shooting. His performance alongside Johnson and Noah Clowney kept Brooklyn within one point at the break.</p><p>However, as has been the case throughout his Nets tenure, the three-time All-Star disappeared as the game progressed. He posted one assist while failing to attempt a shot in the second half as the Heat outscored the Nets 52-38.</p><p>Simmons’ lack of scoring as Brooklyn’s lead guard has some Nets counting the days until Cam Thomas returns to the lineup. The team’s leading scorer has been sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.</p><p>“It’ll be nice when we get Cam Thomas back just to have a real halfcourt bucket-getter, halfcourt scorer. That’ll be good. We’re missing him right now a lot,” Nic Claxton said. “It’s different for everybody [without Dennis]. You got a lot of people in different spots, so our offense is different now, and we all just have to adjust. It’s part of the game. We’re all professionals. It’s not easy. It’s definitely a challenge, but we’ll get there, and then, like I said, when we get 2-4 [Thomas] back, that’ll help.”</p><p>With Simmons replacing Schroder, Claxton’s struggling offensive numbers have taken a hit. The sixth-year center, who signed a four-year, $97 million contract this offseason, has averaged 7.8 points on 44.8 percent shooting over the last four games.</p><p>Luckily, he won’t have to wait long before <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-cam-thomas-receives-encouraging-injury-update-amid-absence">Thomas returns to the lineup</a>. The 23-year-old participated in five-on-five scrimmages on Monday and “is getting close,” according to head coach Jordi Fernandez.</p><p>Thomas was having the best season of his career before injuring his hamstring. He averaged 24.7 points and 3.4 assists per game on 46/39/87 shooting splits, all career-highs. The Nets ranked eighth offensively over their first 18 games before he went down. They rank 26th over 11 games since.</p><p>The Nets will have two days off before Thomas’ next chance to return to the lineup. They play host to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets’ Dennis Schroder trade having desired effect as Ben Simmons-led offense ranks dead last

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-ben-simmons-reveals-reason-offensive-resurgence-following-dennis-schroder-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Ben Simmons reveals reason for offensive resurgence following Dennis Schroder trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ben-Simmons-addresses-being-benched-during-loss-to-Celtics.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Ben Simmons reveals reason for offensive resurgence following Dennis Schroder trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T13:00:34-08:00">December 23rd, 1:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T15:20:54-08:00">December 23rd, 3:20pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Brooklyn Nets point guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-ben-simmons-blunt-reaction-benching-during-loss-to-celtics">Ben Simmons was settling into a bench role</a> early this season. However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-nets-warriors-dennis-schroder-trade">Nets’ decision to trade Dennis Schroder</a> has thrust him back into the starting lineup.</p><p>The benching may have been the motivation Simmons needed to regain the offensive assertiveness of his Philadelphia 76ers days.</p><p>Since rejoining the starting unit, the three-time All-Star has turned in his most aggressive stretch as a Net. Over Brooklyn’s last three games, he’s averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.3 assists while attempting 9.0 field goals and 3.7 free throws per game.</p><p>“I think it’s that [the role change] and just time in the gym,” Simmons said of his sudden shift in mentality. “Just staying on it. And then focusing every day. I come in and try to get better every day, and it’s gonna show… It’s been an adjustment [without Dennis], but obviously, practice sessions help a lot. And then watching film helps a bunch. So the more we play together and the more we get some rhythm, the easier it will be.”</p><p>Head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-ben-simmons-receives-jordi-fernandez-challenge-first-games">Jordi Fernandez has pleaded with Simmons to attack the basket</a> throughout the season. The message appeared to finally get through during Saturday’s 105-94 loss to the Utah Jazz.</p><h2>Ben Simmons attempting to regain aggressiveness as Nets’ lead point guard</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ben-Simmons.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Simmons looked like a different player from the opening tip, frequently penetrating the teeth of Utah’s defense. He finished with 15 points and 10 assists on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. It marked his first time attempting double-digit field goals in a game since Jan. 17, 2023, and his first time making five free throws since June 2, 2021.</p><p>While Simmons finally attempting to do the things that made him great during his 76ers days was a breath of fresh air, his performance was far from stellar. He turned the ball over six times as the Nets’ offense remained stuck in the mud without Schroder.</p><p>“[Too man] turnovers. We need him to be better,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. “I like his aggressiveness. I like how he pushed the ball… I also wanted him to rebound better. But I liked his performance. I like how fast he made us play. He’s taking positive steps. Right now, it’s back-to-back games where he’s playing higher minutes. He’s been aggressive; he’s been trying to organize his teammates use his voice. I’m happy to see that.”</p><p>Simmons has averaged 5.7 turnovers during the three-game stretch. He said he should improve in that area with more reps as Brooklyn’s lead guard.</p><p>“Just putting yourself in different situations. Over time, you’re gonna learn from your mistakes,” Simmons said of how he’ll fix his turnovers. “And then watching the film. I think that’s the biggest thing for me. Watching film helps me a lot.”</p><p>While Simmons’ numbers have improved since replacing Schroder, the Nets’ offense has fallen off a cliff. Over the last three games, they rank 29th, averaging 98.7 points and 19.3 turnovers on a league-worst 40.9 percent shooting from the field and 26.5 percent from three.</p><p>Despite this, the Aussie should have plenty of leeway to regain his offensive footing during the second half of the season. Brooklyn’s decision to trade Schroder <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-sean-marks-reveals-motivation-dennis-schroder-trade-tank-speculation-grows">was a glaring admission of their tanking direction</a>. With the veteran floor general out the door, Simmons is the team’s only point guard option.</p><p>Simmons is in the final year of a five-year, $177 million contract. His close to the season as the rebuilding Nets’ lead ball-handler could determine whether he’ll see a feature role in the NBA moving forward, whether with Brooklyn or any other team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets’ Ben Simmons reveals reason for offensive resurgence following Dennis Schroder trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/celtics-news-boston-shockingly-favored-to-be-ben-simmons-next-team-if-he-leave-nets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Celtics shockingly favored to be Ben Simmons’ next team if he leave Nets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Celtics-news-Boston-shockingly-favored-to-be-Ben-Simmons-next-team-if-he-leave-Nets.jpg"></figure><h1>Celtics shockingly favored to be Ben Simmons’ next team if he leave Nets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T20:06:15-08:00">December 17th, 8:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T20:24:56-08:00">December 17th, 8:24pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Now that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/warriors-news-stephen-currys-optimistic-dennis-schroder-take-will-hype-up-fans-after-trade">Brooklyn Nets have traded away Dennis Schroder</a>, one of their best players to begin the 2024-25 season, it appears as though the entire roster, except for perhaps Cam Thomas, will be made available on the trade market. Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, in particular, have been drawing plenty of interest on the market from contending teams. But there is a chance that Ben Simmons could find himself on the move as well, especially when he’s in the final year of his contract.</p><p>While it’s unlikely to find a taker for Simmons and his expiring $40 million contract, there could still be value to be had with the former All-Star point forward. And perhaps shockingly, the Boston Celtics have emerged as the betting favorite to be Simmons’ next team if he leaves the Nets.</p><p>According to the latest odds on BetOnline, the Celtics <a href="https://twitter.com/cpbetting/status/1869103909345878035" rel="noopener">have the best chance</a> of snagging Simmons should the Nets waive him later this season, or he ends up being bought out in case of a trade. Their odds of acquiring the mercurial point forward are at +150.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">As the NBA season goes on, we must begin to think of some faces going to new places, so, here are a couple of interesting things to look at…</p><p>Ben Simmons being favored to go to the Celtics 😳 <a href="https://t.co/MxITcvhxZA">pic.twitter.com/MxITcvhxZA</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints Betting (@CPBetting) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPBetting/status/1869103909345878035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Other teams with contending aspirations are also in the mix, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and Indiana Pacers joining the Celtics in the top five. It’s clear that bettors are seeing the potential value that Simmons can bring to a winning team, where he no longer has the pressure to live up to his huge contract. In fact, just coming in sixth place are the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that’s looking like biggest threat to the Celtics’ championship defense.</p><p>Simmons appears to be the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-take-flier-on-rookie-point-guard-as-part-of-dennis-schroder-trade"> Nets’ full-time starting point guard</a> now that Schroder has been traded away, and contending teams will have an extended look at whether or not he still has some gas left in the tank.</p><h2><b>Assessing Ben Simmons’ potential fit on the Celtics</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ben-Simmons_e16855.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Celtics have a complete team; they have two-way players in every position, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-ex-nba-player-payton-pritchard-admission-attention">best Sixth Man in the league</a> thus far this season in Payton Pritchard, and quality role players such as Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and Neemas Queta. Thus, there really isn’t a pressing need for them to bring Simmons in.</p><p>Simmons, however, can help grease the wheels on offense in some lineups as a short roller who is adept at making plays with the basketball. The Celtics could certainly use the luxury of having a versatile point forward who can play center as well given the gaunlet they will have to face in their bid to defend their NBA championship.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics shockingly favored to be Ben Simmons’ next team if he leave Nets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/76ers-news-stephen-a-smith-ben-simmons-joel-embiid');   ga('set', 'title', 'Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/76ers-news-Is-Joel-Embiid-playing-vs-Hornets-Latest-injury-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T09:29:40-08:00">December 17th, 9:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T11:28:41-08:00">December 17th, 11:28am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Stephen A. Smith has an attention-catching message for Joel Embiid. The ESPN analyst said the Philadelphia 76ers star is on the verge of drawing Ben Simmons comparisons. Smith <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1869066324812644788" rel="noopener">made the comments</a> on ESPN First Take, via ClutchPoints.</p><p>“Let me say this to Joel Embiid in all seriousness… You’re about a tad bit away from being compared to Ben Simmons,” Smith said. “It’s starting to look that bad. Now let me tell you something right now, you bring up the injuries and all of that stuff. I look at the disinterest on his face… the lack of enthusiasm.”</p><p>Embiid has been limited by injuries in recent seasons. Although <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-joel-embiid-gets-crucial-update-face-injury">Embiid is once again dealing with injury trouble</a> during the 2024-25 campaign, Smith seems to have more of a problem with his attitude on the floor.</p><p>“We can talk about his injuries… But here’s the problem,” Smith continued. “You were injured last year, you only played 39 games. In the playoffs, obviously you got bounced in the first round by the New York Knicks. You didn’t look that way in the Olympics. You looked pretty d*mn happy… And then inexplicably you ain’t ready to go come this season.”</p><p>Of course, you can’t blame a player for being injured. However, Smith said that Joel Embiid “looked happy” in the Olympics but was unable to play to begin the 2024-25 NBA season. The 76ers center has appeared in only six games overall during the 2024-25 campaign so far.</p><p>There was a time when Ben Simmons was considered to be one of the best guards in the NBA. At 6’10”, he could guard any position on the floor. Simmons was also a tremendous playmaker and finisher. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-ben-simmons-drops-knee-injury-revelation-magic-game">Injuries have ultimately forced Simmons to miss a significant amount of time</a>, however.</p><p>Injuries are part of sports. It is unfortunate to see players have to miss time, but it is the harsh reality of the situation. Stephen A. Smith seemingly wants to see Joel Embiid look more motivated for NBA games, though.</p><p>What do you think of Smith’s take on Embiid’s situation?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid

Anthony Davis

Blake Griffin

Klay Thompson

John Wall

Ben Simmons

Kyle Kuzma

Ja Morant

Draymond Green

Jimmy Butler

Trae Young

2x All Star

2017-18 ROY

2017-18 All-Rookie

2019-20 All-Defensive

2x All-Defensive

2019-20 STL Champ

2019-20 All-NBA

3x All Star

Philadelphia 76ers

Brooklyn Nets

3 seasons

Career

https://twitter.com/BenSimmons25/status/1557013734752718850/

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I’ve teamed up with the @Woolmark to combine luxury and performance, all in the name of opportunity. The ‘Equalize’ shirt is 100% Merino wool, and inspired by communities around the world that love and celebrate basketball. 

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2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.0	5.3	6.8	0.5	0.9

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.0	5.3	6.8	0.5	0.9

Ben
Simmons

Latest Ben Simmons News

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Stephen A. Smith sends Ben Simmons warning to Joel Embiid

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