NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons could take over as Nets starting point guard
Ben Simmons finished last season coming off the bench before the Brooklyn Nets shut him down entirely due to back issues. Health, both mental and physical, has been a great source of struggle for Ben Simmons since he demanded a trade out of Philadelphia in the summer of 2021.
With three All-Star teams, one All-NBA team, and two All-Defensive teams on his résumé, Simmons is one of the most accomplished 27-year-olds in the NBA. If your first experience with Simmons was last season, however, you'd be under the impression that he's a bench warmer making max money.
Simmons looked completely passive in his first "full" season with the Nets, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. He only appeared in 42 games (33 starts) and was benched down the stretch before injuries rendered him completely unplayable.
A lightning rod for discourse ever since his trade demand, the exact source of Simmons' struggles is up for debate. Some pin it entirely on the mental side of the game after his complete meltdown in the Sixers' 2021 postseason collapse. Others cite the very tangible problems with his knee and back, which the Nets couldn't stave off last season.
Now, Simmons is 100 percent healthy, per SNY's Ian Begley. Simmons' agent, Bernie Lee, said the point guard will be ready for day one of Nets training camp. ESPN's Marc J. Spears took it one step further with his source, who said the expectation is that Simmons will resume his duties as Brooklyn's primary ball-handler next season:
"I would say he's in the final stage of prep for the season and he has passed every benchmark and is as healthy as he has ever been since his last year in Philly. Brooklyn has been incredibly supportive and the plan is for him to be the Nets' point guard and primary ballhandler this coming season. The expectation is he will fully resume his career at the level he has [played at] prior to leaving Philadelphia." (h/t CBS Sports)
NBA Rumors: Mavs eyeing trade for Hawks' Clint Capela
The Atlanta Hawks are expected to listen to Clint Capela trade offers in the coming weeks. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks are a team to watch.
For the Mavs, Capela presents a quick solution to their center problem. The odds of No. 12 pick Dereck Lively II playing consistent, winning basketball as a rookie are slim. Otherwise, the Mavs' center rotation is pretty dire. Dwight Powell, Richaun Holmes, and Maxi Kleber are all NBA bigs, but are any of them starting caliber NBA bigs? Probably not.
Capela is no longer the defensive world-beater of his prime Houston days, but he can still vacuum up rebounds and nimbly defend the paint. On the offensive end, Capela is a tried and true lob threat with years of pick-and-roll experience playing alongside some of the best passers in the NBA. James Harden, Chris Paul, Trae Young — Luka Doncic is the logical next step.
The Hawks, meanwhile, are stuck between two conflicting goals. Ownership is cheap and the roster is littered with promising young talent. On the other hand, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray demand a win-now timeline.
Either way, Capela has two years and $45.9 million left on his contract. Atlanta has to pay Onyeka Okongwu soon and he's ready to take over the reins in the starting lineup. The Hawks already shipped out John Collins to clear room for A.J. Griffin and Jalen Johnson. It's not hard to see the direction the team is trending.
The Mavs probably aren't the only team interested in Capela, but few teams need him more urgently. One has to imagine the two sides will hammer out a deal before the season. Where there's smoke, there's fire.
NBA Rumors: Joel Embiid torn between Team France and Team USA
Joel Embiid has French citizenship and has long been tied to the French National Team when projecting toward the 2024 Olympics. Embiid is also a citizen of the United States, however, and there have been not-so-subtle efforts from Team USA to sway Embiid's loyalties ahead of next fall's global event.
USA ambassador Grant Hill spoke with NBA insider Marc Stein about the possibility of Embiid joining Team USA.
"Joel Embiid is an incredible talent and he has options. And I guess that's a good thing. I'll just say this: I've had some discussions with him, and he knows our desire to have him a part of our program. So we'll see sort of where that goes. But we'll certainly, as we get through this World Cup and start to sort of plan for next summer, we'll continue with those conversations, and hopefully by then, I'll have some numbers and percentages to give you in terms of where the possibility stands." (h/t HoopsHype)
Frankly, Embiid joining Team USA feels a bit redundant. The United States will have the best overall talent, even if none of the top-shelf superstars join the team. Names like Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards highlight the FIBA World Cup roster and the bigger names tend to show up for the Olympics. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kyrie Irving all have a history with USA basketball.
Embiid joining the French team is a far more exciting proposition as far as competitive parity. France already has a tremendous amount of NBA talent on the roster, highlighted by Wolves defensive extraordinaire Rudy Gobert and Spurs No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama. Let's get weird and roll out the three 7-footers lineup. France jamming it down the United States' gullet with size stacked on top of size has a certain entertainment appeal. Embiid and Team USA running roughshod over the rest of the world is a less tantalizing possibility.