10 Players the Nets may replace Ben Simmons with by the trade deadline
By Tyler Watts
6. Zach LaVine
LaVine often pops up in trade rumors, and those are back with the 76ers reported interest after dealing James Harden to the Clippers. The two-time All-Star is an elite scorer who could give any contender some star power and offensive punch.
Ben Simmons is making plays and running the show in Brooklyn, but averaging just 7.3 points per game. The 27-year-old has not been the same since that 2021 playoff series against the Hawks where he was passing out of open layups. Can the Nets survive with Simmons on the floor in the postseason where teams will leave him unguarded and force him to score?
If the Bulls trade Zach LaVine, they are likely headed toward a full-scale teardown. Chicago missed the playoffs last season and looks like a team that will be fighting for a Play-In Tournament berth this year. If they want to be serious contenders, the Bulls must remake their roster.
LaVine has three years and $138 million remaining on his contract after this season. The Chicago Bulls may look to dump his long-term money and be willing to take back Ben Simmons who becomes a free agent in the summer of 2025. If the Bulls teardown, LaVine will not be the only player available to the Nets.