Time is working out on Ben Simmons and the Nets, however the group hasn’t given up on him returning this season.
Regardless of Simmons having not performed since Feb. 15, head coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned earlier than Thursday’s 101-96 loss to the Kings at Barclays Middle, “There’s zero dialogue about him not enjoying. We count on him to be again, we’re ready for him to be again.”
Vaughn added that Simmons, who has been coping with each knee and again soreness, has returned to engaged on the court docket — although the coach declined to debate any specifics about what Simmons was doing or a possible timeline for his return to sport motion.
The group has simply 12 video games remaining, however Vaughn insisted he was inspired by the progress Simmons has made from late.
“He’s simply making an attempt to get to a spot the place he feels good and he feels good again on the court docket, and get to a spot the place he’s not having soreness or irritation and he’s able to hoop,’’ Vaughn mentioned. “We would like him again to hoop, he desires to be again to hoop, and that’s positively the purpose.”
Requested if he anticipated Simmons to return this season, Vaughn mentioned, “We’re positively working with that perception.”
The group has been inspired by the actual fact Simmons hasn’t gone backward, bodily, of late.
“He’s had no setbacks,’’ Vaughn mentioned. “He’s progressing. It’s nice to see him doing a little work on the court docket proper now. As extra dates [for activity] come, I’ll give them to you guys, nevertheless it’s good to see him again on the court docket, getting work in.”
Requested for an outline of what, precisely, Simmons is doing when he’s on the court docket as he makes an attempt to play once more, Vaughn responded, “I’m simply gonna say ‘on court docket,’ so we have now no interpretation of how many individuals are on the court docket, what number of balls are on the court docket [or] what number of defenders.”
As as to if there was a possible return date set, Vaughn once more mentioned, “There’s no timetable for him. The final word purpose is we don’t have a recurrence. We get suggestions each time he’s on the ground, what strengthening he has carried out on each his again and his knee, and he’s had no setbacks, which is nice.”
It’s unclear precisely how extreme the soreness and irritation has been for Simmons, although Vaughn mentioned the 6-foot-11 Simmons has skilled discomfort in each areas.
That is the fourth — and longest — stretch of video games the 26-year-old has missed this season.
The Nets are engaged on including one other heart to exchange the departed Nerlens Noel.
After they opted to not convey Noel again on a second 10-day contract, the Nets had been anticipated to signal 7-foot-2 heart Moses Brown on Thursday, in accordance with reviews.
Since he wouldn’t have performed Thursday, the Nets may wait till Saturday to signal Brown, giving him an opportunity to follow with the group earlier than their subsequent sport towards Denver on Sunday in Brooklyn.
The 23-year-old New York native, who performed at Archbishop Molloy Excessive Faculty, is in his fourth season within the NBA and spent a part of this 12 months with the Clippers, the place he averaged 4.6 factors and 4.1 rebounds in 34 video games.
Brown was waived by the Clippers after which signed to a two-way contract by the Knicks final week, however he was quickly waived and have become an unrestricted free agent.
