ESPN analyst says Nets should trade NBA star Ben Simmons as coach rolls his eyes at latest injury

A trade for ‘unplayable’ Australian NBA star Ben Simmons should be considered by the Brooklyn Nets before the deadline, claims Kendrick Perkins.

The former Boston Celtics centre has been critical of Simmons’ limited production this season – he is averaging 7.6 points a game – and feels the Nets should be considering his value on the trade market to increase their title chances. 

‘If I’m the Brooklyn Nets and the trade deadline is on the way, I might consider trading Ben Simmons,’ Perkins said on ESPN’s NBA Today. 

Kendrick Perkins (right) thinks the Brooklyn Nets should consider trading Ben Simmons (left)

Perkins cited the fact that with the game in the balance against the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday, Simmons had to watch from the bench as he wasn’t trusted to be on the floor. 

Simmons is a below-average free throw shooter – he is averaging 44.6 per cent this season – and so he is seen as not trustworthy late in close games when opponents deliberately put him on the foul line.  

‘The simple fact is I’m watching the game late in the fourth quarter last night when it got close and he couldn’t play. You couldn’t put him on the floor,’ Perkins fumed. 

‘With the development of (Nic) Claxton and the way he’s been balling out, you can’t play those two together…  seriously, Seth Curry, he’s balling out, Claxton, he’s doing what he do. You’re paying Ben Simmons top dollar to be, what? A back-up center when Kevin Durant get back?’

Simmons had a burst in the third but was hooked in the fourth and Perkins is unimpressed

Simmons went scoreless in the first half against the Sixers, his former team, attempting just a single shot. 

The former NBA All-Star did come to life in the third quarter, scoring 10 points from five shots. 

He played just three minutes in the fourth before being hooked. 

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn has made it clear he won’t carry passengers – offensively or defensively – on the floor and that was highlighted in benching Simmons in crunch time. 

He also appeared to roll his eyes in the post-match media conference when asked about Simmons latest injury.

 ‘Knee soreness,’ he said when asked for his diagnosis before a long pause and the apparent eye roll.

‘I think overall it’s the message I kind of talked about before the game. We’re going to get every guy, and that’s including Ben [Simmons] to value every possession,’ Vaughn said of benching Simmons after the game, which the 76ers won 137-133. 

‘To play hard every possession. And just because you play the first half, it doesn’t mean you’re going to play the second half.

Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn defended his decision to bench Simmons in the fourth

‘We really want to get to a point where your teammate is dependent on you. Dependent on you to do your job every single night and every single possession.’

He added: ‘Ben showed more ability to play with force in the second half, which paid off, which is what we need, which is great for our team. And then down the stretch, with us being down, I just wanted to space the floor and get more shooting out there. See if we would climb back into the game no matter what the size was or anything.’

Simmons is under contract through until 2024-25 season, when he is due to pocket in excess of $40million.  

Thursday, February 9 is the NBA’s trade deadline should the Nets take Perkins’ advice.