NBA Atlantic

Ben Simmons is excited about what he can accomplish alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets as he prepares to return to the court after sitting out the entire 2021-22 season.

The three-time NBA All-Star discussed his outlook with the Nets, who acquired him in a February trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, during an appearance on The Old Man and The Three podcast (around 44-minute mark).

"I think this team right now is just a great fit for what I do and what I bring to the game," Simmons said. "I feel like it's Philly on steroids kind of in terms of what we have. ... It's exciting knowing I'm going to play with those guys and knowing their games—I don't have to f--king guard Kyrie and Kevin."

Simmons skipped the start of last season with the Sixers to focus on his mental health. He was expected to return following his trade to the Nets, but he suffered a back injury that required surgery in May.

He posted a picture in late June with the caption: "Feeling incredible."

While Simmons recovered, Brooklyn navigated a drama-filled summer. Durant requested a trade and Irving also became the focus of trade rumors, mostly linking him to a potential reunion with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers.

KD rescinded his request after the Nets didn't receive the type of offers they wanted for the 12-time All-Star, and the Kyrie speculation faded away once it became clear the team wasn't heading toward a full-scale rebuild.

Questions remain about whether the roster can come together to maximize its potential, but from a pure talent perspective, Brooklyn can challenge any team in the NBA.

Durant, Irving and Simmons are joined by Seth Curry, Joe Harris, Patty Mills, Cam Thomas, Royce O'Neale, T.J. Warren, Nic Claxton, Day'Ron Sharpe and Markieff Morris.

It's a group that features both the high-end star power and the necessary depth to seriously contend for a championship.

Whether that'll actually come to fruition depends heavily on whether chemistry can be built, both on the floor and in the locker room.

It's a great sign for Brooklyn that Simmons, whose ability to reestablish himself as one of the league's top distributors and defenders will be crucial to the club's success, is sounding an optimistic tune.

The Nets tip off the regular season Oct. 19 when they host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Barclays Center.

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons was unable to tune out the constant discourse regarding his jump shot while a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons said on the newest episode of The Old Man & the Three podcast that the intense focus on his shooting messed with his head.

"I didn't really realize that early on in my career because this started building up and I'm like, 'They're saying I can't. Should I not? I'm f--king confused now,'" he explained at the 24:42 mark. "... It did f--k with me a lot. But I kind of found peace in a place where I'm just like f--k it, it's basketball."

The 6'11" playmaker is a 56.0 percent shooter for his career, but more than half (54.2) of his attempts have come within three feet of the hoop, per Basketball Reference, and he's hitting 59.7 percent of his free throws.

His inability to expand his range with the Sixers became almost inexplicable before things came to a head in the 2021 playoffs. He looked totally bereft of confidence on offense, to the point where he turned down what appeared to be a wide-open dunk at a critical moment of a loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Simply telling the 26-year-old to shoot more isn't the solution because the problem clearly goes beyond that.

Simmons told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan in 2020 that he was working with a sports psychologist.

"I know it's going to come," he said of improving as a shooter. "It's a matter of me being comfortable doing it. Some of that is getting the reps in. I can take a hook shot from the elbow because I've done it so many times; I'm confident it will go in. It's second nature."

JJ Redick, who was teammates with Simmons for two seasons, said in March on Pardon My Take he thought the three-time All-Star might be better off using his right hand as his strong hand.

At this point, working around his limitations might be the best route for Simmons. The Nets can theoretically highlight his best skills while hiding his glaring flaws as well.

Brooklyn retained Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, so the team doesn't need Simmons to shoulder a heavy scoring load; he can focus instead on his playmaking. His perimeter defense is sorely needed as well, and his stock will climb significantly if he makes the Nets a top-half team defensively.

Simmons may never be a great or even good shooter, but that doesn't have to prevent him from being a valuable contributor on a contender.

Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka is facing potential disciplinary action, which includes a "significant suspension" for having a consensual relationship with a woman on the Celtics staff, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski noted that Udoka's job is not currently in jeopardy and that a decision on the length of the suspension could come on Thursday. He also reported that Udoka could be sidelined for the entire 2022-23 season.

The Celtics hired the 45-year-old Udoka last offseason. Udoka had spent 2012-2021 as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

In his first year as head coach, Udoka guided the C's to their first Eastern Conference title since 2010. Boston fell to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

The Celtics are less than a month away from opening their season, as they start the 2022-23 campaign on Oct. 18 at home against the Philadelphia 76ers. There's now a significant possibility that Udoka won't be at that game given the latest news.

Coming off a strong second season, Obi Toppin could see even more playing time for the New York Knicks during the 2022-23 campaign.

Per SNY.tv's Ian Begley, members of the Knicks coaching staff think Toppin might play a bigger role for the team.

The Knicks used the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft to select Toppin. He played sparingly as a rookie when they were a surprise playoff team.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau has been criticized at times in his career for not giving minutes to young players. He has shown a willingness to change during his time in New York, with players like Toppin, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley carving out roles for the team.

Toppin saw his playing time increase from 11.0 minutes per game in 2020-21 to 17.1 in 72 games last season. The 24-year-old made 10 total starts in 2021-22, including eight in the final 11 games. He averaged 19.1 points and 5.5 rebounds with a 44.1 three-point percentage on 5.4 attempts per game during that stretch.

New York made a significant financial commitment to Julius Randle prior to the start of last season. He signed a four-year, $117.1 million contract in August 2021 that kicks in this season.

After being named to the All-Star team in 2021, Randle disappointed in 2021-22. He led the team in scoring (20.1 points per game), but his field-goal percentage (41.1) was the worst of his career in a full season. (He shot 33.0 percent in one game as a rookie in 2014-15.)

If Randle's struggles carry over to this season, Toppin's strong closing stretch at least gives Thibodeau the option to increase his minutes if he doesn't want to move the more-experienced Randle to the bench.

This is shaping up to be an important season for the Knicks. They gave Jalen Brunson a four-year, $104 million contract in free agency, hoping he can provide a spark to the offense at point guard after his breakout year for the Dallas Mavericks.

New York's 41-31 record in 2020-21 is the franchise's only winning season since 2012-13. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Atlanta Hawks. The team missed the playoffs and play-in tournament last season with a 37-45 record.

With a roster spot available, the Boston Celtics appear to have their sights set on adding a big man before the 2022-23 season begins.

The C's expressed "a little interest" in LaMarcus Aldridge during free agency, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who also noted that Dwight Howard could be an option for the franchise.

Boston's interest in adding a veteran center comes as little surprise following the news that Robert Williams III will reportedly be sidelined four-to-six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery this week.

The "cleanup" procedure comes six months after Williams underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He is expected to miss the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign.

Williams emerged as a key contributor for the Celtics in 2021-22, averaging 10 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks in 61 games—all starts—while shooting 73.6 percent from the floor.

Behind Williams, the Celtics have Al Horford and Luke Kornet on the depth chart. Horford will see the majority of minutes at center to begin the season, but having Kornet as his backup isn't ideal.

Aldridge, 37, is undoubtedly past his prime. However, he was still a key contributor for the Brooklyn Nets in 2021-22, averaging 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 47 games while shooting 55 percent from the floor.

The seven-time All-Star might not be set on returning to the NBA in 2022-23, though. During an appearance on The Crossover NBA Show, Chris Mannix and Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated reported that Aldridge will "likely" retire this offseason.

If that's the case, the Celtics would need to do some heavy convincing in order to get the veteran to return to the court.

If Aldridge does retire, the C's could pivot to Dwight Howard, who had a decent season off the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22. He averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 60 games while shooting 61.2 percent from the floor.

Hassan Whiteside, Tristan Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins are among the other centers still available for the taking.

Luckily for the Celtics, Williams shouldn't be sidelined for too long. However, as they look to get back to the NBA Finals in 2022-23, adding another veteran big man could be a wise decision.

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams will reportedly undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee that will require four-to-six weeks of recovery, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com.

Williams is expected to have the procedure at some point this week, per Deveney.

The Celtics begin their regular season on Oct. 18, exactly four weeks from Tuesday.

The 24-year-old also underwent knee surgery in March, which limited him throughout the team's playoff run to the NBA Finals.

Williams was initially diagnosed with a torn meniscus, which cost him the final seven games of the regular season, but he returned in the playoffs after less than a month off the court. He ended up missing seven games during the postseason run, but the team was confident he would return to full strength by the start of the 2022-23 campaign.

"There is no long-term concern about his knee injury," Brian Robb of Mass Live reported. "No surgery was needed so ample rest this summer should have him at 100 percent in camp."

The latest issue now raises question marks heading into a season where the Celtics have high expectations.

Williams is coming off his best season in the NBA, averaging 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 73.6 percent from the field. He became a full-time starter in his fourth season in Boston, and rewarded the coaching staff with a team-high 9.9 win shares, per Basketball Reference, seventh-best in the league.

Losing the top rim-protector for an extended stretch would be damaging for Boston as it battles for seeding with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Veteran Al Horford will become even more important in the early part of the season, while Luke Kornet and Grant Williams will likely also see extra minutes at center.

The Boston Celtics reportedly have "optimism" they'll agree to a contract extension with power forward Grant Williams ahead of the NBA's Oct. 17 deadline.

Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports reported Tuesday the sides haven't talked since earlier in the offseason and there are no further discussions currently scheduled, but one source involved in the process believes the deadline may spur action in the coming weeks.

"You don't know sometimes until you get down to the final few days," the source told Deveney.

Williams has steadily developed into a highly effective role player for the Celtics, who selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 draft.

The former University of Tennessee standout is coming off a 2021-22 season where he averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 threes across 77 games (21 starts). He shot 47.5 percent from the field, including 41.1 percent from beyond the arc.

His combination of outside shooting and strong defense—plus-2.7 defensive RAPTOR across three NBA seasons, per FiveThirtyEight—makes him an ideal fit for a stretch 4 in the modern game.

Williams is expected to seek a four-year extension in the range of $55-60 million while using the leverage of there being an "influx of teams under the salary cap and able to present contracts of greater value than what the Celtics can give" next summer, per Deveney.

The 23-year-old North Carolina native would be a restricted free agent next offseason, giving Boston the ability to match any offer sheet he received.

In July, the 6'6'' forward said he hoped the sides could agree on an extension before that potential foray into free agency.

"I think both parties are hopefully mutually understanding that we want to get this thing done and make sure that we come together and have a successful next few years," Williams told reporters. "Because I love Boston, I love the fact that I not only get to be there and be around the team that I'm with, cause I have great relationships with the guys. But I also just love the city and being able to live there."

The Celtics are scheduled to open training camp next week ahead of their Oct. 2 preseason opener against the Charlotte Hornets. It wouldn't be a surprise to see contract talks heat up in the near future, though it might take until the deadline to strike a deal.

Williams is once again ticketed to serve as a key frontcourt reserve behind the starting tandem of Al Horford and Robert Williams III for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

Money will not be an issue for the Boston Celtics or team president Brad Stevens as they try to build a contender this season.

"I think we're spending about $200 million on the roster this year, and Brad has the green light to spend more," Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe (h/t Hoops Hype).

The Celtics have a payroll of about $170 million this season, fifth-highest in the NBA, which comes with a luxury tax bill of $44.5 million, per Spotrac.

After reaching the NBA Finals last season, the squad remained aggressive this summer with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon. They were also involved in talks for Kevin Durant before the superstar decided to return to the Brooklyn Nets.

Grousbeck explained the team's strategy with a title within reach:

People can write or think whatever they want. Or, you can actually look at what we do, which is do whatever we possibly can to win a championship. And we’re in the mode right now of completely adding on. Are you going to trade future draft picks and young players under 30? Hopefully not. But money is not a consideration whatsoever, and this roster shows that.

The Celtics earned the No. 2 seed in the East last year and completed an impressive run through the playoffs, beating the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. The team still lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games, which was enough to spur an active offseason.

"Do whatever it takes to get better, because we weren't good enough," Grousbeck said of his message to Stevens.

With Brogdon added to a roster that already includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brrown and more, Boston will look to take the next step this season.

Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai personally recruited veteran Markieff Morris to the franchise this summer, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

Morris signed a one-year, $2.9 million non-guaranteed contract with the Nets earlier this month.

"The Nets were desperate to add a veteran who could command the respect of stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and believe Morris has the gravitas to speak up when necessary like he did in Los Angeles alongside James and Davis," Stein wrote.

During his tenure with the Lakers during the 2019-20 campaign, Morris earned the respect of James and Davis by stepping up and speaking his mind.

The 33-year-old appeared in 14 regular-season games for the franchise, averaging 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds off the bench. In 21 playoff games off the bench, he averaged 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist.

Morris helped the Lakers win the NBA title in 2020, so it's reasonable to believe Tsai is hoping he can play a similar role in Brooklyn in 2022-23 and help the franchise get over the hump.

With the return of Ben Simmons alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this coming season, the Nets have a bona fide big three. The franchise also has key role players in Joe Harris, Patty Mills and Seth Curry.

In addition, the Nets signed T.J. Warren and Royce O'Neale in the offseason to provide some added depth off the bench.

All of these factors could contribute to the Nets being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference in 2022-23. However, it won't be easy for the franchise to compete with the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers for one of the top spots.

In addition, a key to Brooklyn winning a title will be the health of Durant, Irving and Simmons, who have had their fair share of injuries over the past couple of seasons. If they can remain healthy, they should be able to compete with the best teams in the East.

The Brooklyn Nets may have reached a detente in their relationship with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but it appears there's still work to be done in regaining trust behind the scenes.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Nets' recent signing of Markieff Morris was rooted in a desire to acquire a veteran voice willing to stand up to the two superstars.

"The Nets were desperate to add a veteran who could command the respect of stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and believe Morris has the gravitas to speak up when necessary like he did in Los Angeles alongside James and Davis," Stein wrote.

The Nets front office spent all of last season dealing with a mess centered around Irving's refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Irving was limited to just 29 regular-season games due to that choice, which ultimately played a part in the Nets being the No. 7 seed in the East and James Harden's midseason trade request.

Controversy carried over into the offseason when the Nets refused to commit to a long-term contract with Irving and then reached fever pitch levels when Durant requested a trade. That months-long saga played out largely in the media before Durant rescinded his request and ultimately recommitted to Brooklyn.

Suffice it to say the Nets are understandably wary of allowing Irving and Durant to set the organizational tone moving forward.

Morris is a no-nonsense player who has never shied away from standing up to teammates when needed. It's unclear if that tact will work with Durant and Irving, who are among the NBA's most headstrong players.

That said, the culture established over the duo's first two seasons was untenable. Adding Morris to the mix and potentially trying something a little different may ultimately prove fruitful.