Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said he hasn’t even considered whether Ben Simmons will have time to gel with his teammates if he does get healthy as a cloud hovers over the Aussie’s return to the court this year.
Injured Simmons still hasn’t started practised with the team and has been limited to individual workouts, in a telling sign he may not return to the court this season.
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The Nets announced on Saturday that Simmons has been diagnosed with a nerve problem in his back and will remain sidelined as the team determines the best long-term course of treatment.
Brooklyn’s 116-114 loss to Cleveland on Friday was the 15th consecutive game that Simmons has missed with left knee and back soreness.
Speaking after the match, Vaughan gave an indication that Simmons is nowhere near ready to play,
“That’s the great thing, is I don’t even think that far ahead. I don’t even complicate my life that way,” Vaughn said.
“I’m concerned about 1679704747. If those questions present themselves, I’ll be more than willing to see how it fits with the group and answer them at that time. But I don’t want to look that far ahead.”
Simmons has barely played all season, and when he has he’s been left to come off the bench, giving Brooklyn lack of value when the team traded for him in the James Harden deal.
He hasn’t played since getting PRP injections before the All-Star break on February 15. Simmons has managed only individual work, but no team drills, Vaughan added.
“It is not with teammates, so I’ll say that piece of it. So, he hasn’t scripted with our group, our second group, first group, or anything of that nature,” said Vaughn.
“Ben is in the same position he was the last time I talked to you, nothing further to comment on. I don’t think I can give you anything else. There’s been no … there’s been no nothing to add, really.”
Since the Kevin Durant trade became official, Simmons has played just three games, all of them off the bench.
Brooklyn’s new nucleus of Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton and Spencer Dinwiddie have pushed the Nets into playoff contention, but Simmons has not had an official practice with his new teammates.
It strongly suggests Simmons has been shelved and won’t play a part in the rest of the team’s season, despite being the biggest earner on the team.
Simmons has played in just 42 games this season amid multiple nagging injuries.
When on court, Simmons has averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
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