Nets PG/PF Ben Simmons has resumed light on-court workouts and remains hopeful a return to action in the playoffs, according to a report Friday by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
“Nets three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has resumed light on-court workouts, sources tell me, and the hope remains that he will be able to ramp up for a potential return in time for the playoffs,” Charania said. “The Nets and Simmons have worked together on managing his back issue, which flared up when he was previously aiming for a mid-March return.
“And now with the Nets jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference, a Simmons return makes the team’s ceiling even greater for a potentially deeper run.”
Simmons, 25, has not yet played in a game during the 2021-22 season. The Nets acquired Simmons in a Feb. 10 trade with the 76ers that additionally landed Andre Drummond, Seth Curry and two future first-round NBA Draft picks for James Harden.
As of Friday, the Nets are in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets at 40-37 for the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed. After a 120-119 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets hit the road and face the Hawks Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Following this weekend, the Nets have just four more regular-season games remaining — Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, Wednesday at the Knicks and Friday versus the Cleveland Cavaliers before hosting the Indiana Pacers next Sunday in the finale. The Nets are two games back of the Cavs (42-35) for the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed.