Brooklyn Nets welcomed two good things on Monday: the easy win over the Utah Jazz and the return of Ben Simmons after three months of lay-off.
The 2018 Rookie of the Year missed his team's last 38 games due to a back injury.
It was a triumphant return as Simmons scored a near-triple double of 10 points, 11 minutes, and 8 rebounds in under 19 minutes. He was +27 in the game, the second-highest next to Mikal Bridges.
The anticipation for his return did not have that much hype, primarily because of his declined performance ever since his fallout with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022.
Ben Simmons' contract has been the subject of scrutiny. Fans and NBA executives rip the deal that came with acquiring Simmons, saying it is one of the most invaluable contracts in the league right now.
He only played 48 games before the Jazz and has been less effective during his All-Star years with the Sixers.
Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicted in 2023 how the Nets found themselves in a tight situation by acquiring Simmons.
"It's tempting to drown yourself in offseason optimism and believe this will be the time when Ben Simmons finally gets back on track," he said.
"But would you bet $78.2 million on that happening? Of course not. He has looked broken since his disastrous playoff run with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021. He seemingly lost all confidence in that series, memorably passing up a potential dunk on a possession the Sixers had to have. It may have pushed him past the point of no return.
Maybe the Jazz game is the start of something great.
Simmons is the Nets' highest-paid player
ESPN's Bobby Marks said Simmons only deserves a minimum contract as he has not been reliable for a long time.
That's now the type of contract he is getting. He is the Nets' highest-paid player.
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He received $73 million in his first two seasons at the Barclays Stadium.
For this season, he will receive $37.8 million and then $40 million in the next.
The payment is part of the five-year $177 million contract extension he signed with the Sixers in 2019.
At that time, many questioned the contract's terms due to his game's limitations, including his outside shooting.
Simmons defended himself, saying he had been working on his outside game with then-teammate Tobias Harris.
How can the Nets maximize Simmons's contract?
Simmons must prove he is still a top player in the league right now. His recent outing was a good start.
The Nets, for their part, can only maximize Simmons' wage if they find him a dominant partner, just like Joel Embiid was for him.
The 27-year-old is the type who needs to have the ball in his hand as a pure point guard. He wants to run and set teammates up for a better shot. They will be in good hands if the Nets can find an All-Star-level player to put alongside Simmons and Bridges.
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