Ben Simmons' first season with Nets mercifully comes to a close

Simmons was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2022 in a blockbuster deal that sent former MVP James Harden to the Sixers. While the move also featured players like Andre Drummond, Paul Millsap and Seth Curry — plus a host of future draft picks — Harden and Simmons were by far the biggest parts, and Tuesday's news further solidifies that Philadelphia handily won the trade.

Harden has starred as a great complement to MVP candidate Joel Embiid and rising youngster Tyrese Maxey with the 76ers, helping the team reach the second round of the playoffs last spring. The lefty made his 10th All-Star team this winter and has, at times, looked like an MVP candidate himself, averaging 21.4 points, 10.8 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals over 53 games this season while posting a .441/.384/.867 shooting line.

Simmons, meanwhile, has failed to make any sort of significant impact with the Nets. He ended up sitting out the entire 2021-2022 campaign, and with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving being traded last month, the former Rookie of the Year is the last of the "Big Three" (which never came to fruition) left in Brooklyn.

Simmons suited up for 13 straight games this season over a one-month span from Dec. 12 to Jan. 12, which marks the only time since he joined the organization where he was on the court for a streak of contests that reached double digits. From Feb. 7 through Feb. 15 — around the time both Durant and Irving departed the team — the Australian southpaw played in five straight tilts, which were his final five of the season.

Even when on the court, Simmons has shown hardly any glimpses of the star he used to be. In his career-low 42 contests (33 starts) this season, the former No. 1 overall pick finished with career lows across the board in points (6.9), rebounds (6.3), assists (6.1), steals (1.3) and minutes per game (26.3).

Simmons still has two years remaining on his contract, which pays him $37.8 million next season and $40.3 million during the 2024-2025 campaign.

It's hard to find another player in the NBA who has had quite the fall from grace over the last two years that Simmons has had, and Tuesday's news is only the latest in the 26-year-old's tumultuous journey.