Ben Simmons, Nets To Work Together On Return To Court Over Summer

Nets newcomer Ben Simmons and his representatives will have a sit-down with GM Sean Marks and the front office to try to devise a plan for his return to play, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Simmons missed all of this past season, which began with the 76ers, and is coming off back surgery.

“We will work together with the Nets on a summer plan,” a source close to Simmons told Lewis. “Everyone is confident.” 

While the Nets still had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, they were bounced by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. So a third All-Star such as Simmons presumably can only help matters.

“The Nets want the rehabbing Simmons to be in Brooklyn as much as possible, putting Philadelphia as far in the review mirror as he can,” Lewis wrote. “The 25-year-old finally is offloading his South Jersey mansion, which can only help toward that end, one small step.”

Marks sounded as if a plan for Simmons is in place. He has already held a meeting with Simmons and agent Rich Paul.

“From the communications I’ve had with him multiple times since the surgery, he’s feeling relief already and feeling great. He knows that, it goes back to that five months, he has a big buildup to get ready and contribute,” Marks said, via Lewis. “Regarding Ben post-surgery, I don’t want to speak for him, but I can sense there’s a relief. There’s a new lease on life, so to speak. When you are able to take a problem and say that should be fixed and move that out of here and now it’s on to the rest.”