The finer points of the deal remain unclear, but it has been revealed Ben Simmons could be on his way to the Golden State Warriors for the 2024-25 NBA season.
The Australian, who is a former number one draft pick, has never quite hit his stride as an NBA player.
Commencing his career at the Philadelphia 76ers where he played until the end of 2022, when he moved to the Brooklyn Nets, he is a three-time NBA All-Star and has been on the defensive team of the year twice, as well as being named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018, but injuries have hampered his progress enormously.
The 27-year-old hasn't played more 58 games in a season since 2019-20, with the last two seasons in Brooklyn bring totals of just 42 games and 15 games.
According to journalist Sean Wright however, that hasn't stopped the Golden State Warriors throwing their hat into the ring to secure the services of Simmons on a trade.
The #Warriors and #Nets have held trade discussions tonight around a deal that would send Ben Simmons to the Bay.
— Sean Wright (@SeanWrightNBA) July 3, 2024
Simmons has a single year left on his current contract in Brooklyn, and a move to the Bay where he would line up alongside the likes of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green could be the fresh start the Australian so desperately needs to jump-start his career.
According to Wright, the deal which could potentially see Simmons jump to the Warriors is "not close", but is being favoured by the Warriors' ownership.
It's also believed per sources the Nets would be interested in moving Simmons on for the right players.
The Warriors are also believed to be in serious talks to acquire Buddy Hield from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Just In: The Golden State Warriors are in serious talks on a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Buddy Hield, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Warriors and 76ers have been in deep discussions, working to finalize the deal for one of the NBA's best three-point shooters. pic.twitter.com/s3sajpWx69
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2024
The Nets finished 11th in the Eastern Conference in the most recently completed season, while the Warriors scrapped into the Play-In tournament with a 46 and 36 record, but were eliminated by the Sacramento Kings, who went on to fall short of the Playoffs proper at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans.