The Brooklyn Nets might have already found the ideal wing-man for their team. Jonathon Simmons, who is having a breakout campaign with the San Antonio Spurs this postseason, is poised to get serious offers from the Nets this off-season.
More money for ‘the Juice’
Simmons is bound to get more money this summer after putting up strong numbers in the Spurs’ playoff campaign. The undrafted wing player averaged just 6.2 points in 17 minutes per game in the regular-season, but slowly gained more playing time from Gregg Popovich as the season progressed.
Already on free agency radar of some teams, Simmons further jacked up his free agency stock after playing a big role with the Spurs this postseason. In the series vs. the Houston Rockets, the former Houston standout averaged 13.2 points on 47 percent FG shooting and employed "lock-down" defense on James Harden, particularly in the last two games of that playoff match-up.
Simmons, who earned $874K this season, is projected to pocket a significantly larger contract. The Spurs have the ability to match any offer sheet for the dynamic wing-man since they possess his Larry Bird right. However, with the Spurs tied up with $93M guaranteed salary next season, there’s no telling if they can go beyond the cap to retain his services.
Simmons Brooklyn-bound?
Nets general manager Sean Marks stressed during the exit interviews that his plan is to rebuild the franchise strategically. While several marquee free agents will be available this summer, it’s very unlikely that the Nets will pursue these max-level players since they want to keep cap flexibility beyond the 2017/18 season.
“But you don't want to go and sign free agents, and next thing you know, your payroll is capped out and you're a 25-win team. So we're going to have to build this strategically, have patience with it...we're going to have a big-picture view on this looking down the road,” Marks told Greg Logan of Newsday.
Simmons isn’t going to demand a max-level contract, but he can command a contract worth $8M to $10M per year.
The Nets will attempt to pounce on him at this price range, knowing the quality of player they can get in Simmons.
He may not be an explosive scorer, but his hustle and ability to defend the perimeter makes him perhaps the most intriguing non-max free agent on the market. Moreover, Marks can be assured that Simmons is coachable, since both of them played under the tutelage of Popovich.
In a report by NBA Insider Nick Salva, upgrading the wing position comes as the top priority for Marks and his front office team. The Nets have been linked to promising 3-and-D youngsters like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, though the Detroit Pistons can also match any offer sheet presented to their restricted free agent. Simmons, on the other hand, might come out cheaper and more effective than Caldwell-Pope -- both at present and down the road.
