Who knows if Simmons is even on the Nets in 3 years? He could get traded or injured or quit playing by then. Harden was never going to just walk with his huge salary number. The Nets getting players in a sign and trade is the most likely scenario no matter where Harden decides to go.
Harden and Durant were 1st in the East despite all the injuries, lack of spacing, and QAnon Kyrie being MIA…I really doubt Ben Simmons and Durant would have done the same Sixers were barely .500 without Embiid the past 2 seasons KD u can basically pencil in to miss 20+ games every year, and if Kyrie isn’t randomly missing games for whatever reason, he’s also injury prone Simmons might be significantly younger than Harden, but he’s not carrying role players/scrubs in the regular season Simmons puts more pressure on injury prone KD to score the ball moving forward
My point was anything could happen. They are good enough to be a top seed or a bottom seed. If KD comes back they should make the playoffs. We will see.
Simmons could not even get to the NCAA playoffs on his own, so I have no idea why you think he has no issue getting to the playoffs.
Simmons has never lead a team to the playoffs including college. it amazing where folks get this silly idea he's some #1 guy capable of leading a team to wins at an elite level. he doesn't
No one is saying he's elite. I'm saying Simmons with some mediocre talent in a bad conference can lead the team to the play-in game, or somewhere close to it. Harden is coming apart. He's not as good as Simmons right now - he doesnt play defense, offensively is a wreck, and turns the ball over a lot. Maybe some of this has to do with his hamstring, who knows. But it's also possible that he's just plain declining. We are better off with the Nets having old declining players than collecting young ones in their prime that can put up 16 a game, distribute the ball effectively, and defend.
plenty of folks act like he's elite. Simmons as your #1 player and mediocre talent is easily a lottery team. Simmons is no where close to being good as harden. Nor will he ever. Stop the nonsense
Because it's not just him. You put a decent roster around him and he'll play okay, even have some really good nights. Simmons is 25, Harden is now an injured 32 who is slowing down. There's no comparison in my view, and if we're hoping for top picks, Harden staying on the Nets is our best shot.
I agree, I'm not as concerned about Simmons going to the Nets. If anything, I'll be concerned if they also acquire Maxey since he seems to be heading in the right direction. A solid 2nd or 3rd option. KD is not going to be fully healthy the rest of his career and Kyrie, is Kyrie, who knows what the Nets do with him this offseason. My concern is that they move on from Kyrie and find a willing S&T partner where they get more talent, assuming Kyrie cooperates.
Ben Simmons is the one who needs to be carried because he doesn’t score Big 3 barely played together in 1.5 seasons…it will likely be the same moving forward with KD, Kyrie, and Simmons except Simmons isn’t providing the scoring and playmaking that Harden does before the 4 point game against the Kings, Harden was averaging 26 and 11 since Christmas…Ben Simmons would need 2 games to score 26 points
Olidipo is not much better and is a bigger injury risk than Levert and WTF would Olynyk do for this team? Levert just got a 1st round pick what did Olidipo and Olynyk bring? Nope, Simmons leading a team is lottery bound he does not raise other guys around him, him being the focal point would be hilarious, with him refusing to shoot jumpers.
KD will die if he loses not just Harden, but also Kyrie’s scoring as well teams don’t historically receive much in a S&T, and I doubt teams are giving up much for Kyrie and his fckery it would be 34 y/o KD and a bunch of guys that can’t score…he might just ask out
Harden's freshman year, AS was picked to finish ninth in the Pac-10. AS went 21–13 (9–9) and finished tied for fifth in the Pac-10. They were considered a bubble team for the tourney. They actually exceeded expectations. Meanwhile LSU and simmons loaded with top recruits could only go 19-14 and not earn a spot
It’s not even his lifestyle. It’s the toll on his body from trying to carry the Rockets all those years.
