After latest setback, Nets' Ben Simmons trade is unmitigated disaster

Simmons is out with a lower back problem, reportedly similar to the back problem that cost him 38 games last season. 

For his Brooklyn career, he's played in 57 of a possible 169 games. He's been paid $73.42 million to average 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 43.1 percent from the free-throw line. That's roughly $1.28 million per game.

It's been tough for Brooklyn, who can't rely on Simmons to be on the court, and they aren't getting production from him when he's there. But what makes the trade sting is what Philadelphia managed to trade James Harden for this season.

In sending Harden to the 76ers in 2022, the Nets got back Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and first-round picks in 2023 and 2027, with the latter protected for picks 1-8.

By contrast, when Philadelphia traded Harden to the L.A. Clippers a year and a half later, the 76ers got a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2028 first-rounder and a 2029 first-round pick swap. 

They also got the expiring deals of Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum and Marcus Morris, all of whom are giving Philly quality rotation minutes, plus KJ Martin and two second-round picks. In addition, Philadelphia dumped P.J. Tucker's $11.5 million salary for next season.

It's like selling a stock and watching it immediately go way up in value. Meanwhile, Simmons' value has plunged, even from the low point it hit in the 2021-22 season when he refused to play for Philadelphia. 

He might have some value as an expiring contract at the deadline next season, but at this point, Brooklyn is waiting for his deal to expire.

Brooklyn traded the 2023 first-rounder for Royce O'Neale in the summer of 2022, then traded O'Neale for three future seconds at this year's deadline. So they have even less to show for in dealing Harden than previously thought.

To make the deal look even worse, Harden is thriving with the Clippers while the Nets are floundering. It's hard to imagine Simmons helping Brooklyn return to the playoffs next season, while they'll be paying him more than $40 million.

All in all, it was a disastrous trade for Brooklyn that's looking worse every day.