Nets expect Ben Simmons to be healthy for training camp: ‘No setbacks’
LAS VEGAS — The Nets’ top two offseason goals — priorities 1A and 1B — were re-signing Cam Johnson and getting Ben Simmons healthy.
The first has been done, and head coach Jacque Vaughn sounds bullish on the second.
Simmons was shut down last season due to a nerve impingement in his bad back.
The former All-Star managed to avoid surgery and had hoped to play for Australia in the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
But though he has pulled out of that tournament, he’s back on the court working out, in constant contact with the Nets and progressing toward a healthy start to training camp at the beginning of October.
“We’ve had contact for sure. All of our guys have been locked-in, really keeping us informed. … I’m looking forward to a healthy Ben Simmons and coaching him,” Vaughn said Friday, when he watched the Nets’ 101-97 Summer League loss to the Cavaliers. “I’m not going to get into any dates or anything. My expectation is I look forward to coaching him healthy and our entire group being able to start the year together and go through training camp together. Those things are important for our group.”
Vaughn was coy when asked whether Simmons was doing full contact, 5-on-5, and when pressed for details of the 26-year-old’s progress.
He intimated Simmons missing the World Cup was more of a mutual decision to ensure he’s as close to 100 percent as possible for training camp.
“I’m not going to give you all that. He is on the court … no setbacks. I talked to him a day, two days ago. We’ll continue to see him [improve],” Vaughn said. “I’m going to go with Ben’s statement. We always want to look forward to the athlete being in the right frame of mind, the right space to be on the floor.”
The Nets’ other top priority was locking up Johnson, a restricted free agent.
They re-signed him to a four-year extension before he ever got an offer sheet from another team.
“Yeah, really good feeling,” Vaughn said of keeping Johnson. “Just overall just an incredible human being that’s also good at basketball. So that combination for our franchise moving forward at the age that he is, I think he’s just going to continue to get better, continue to be a great teammate. So really fortunate as an organization to move forward with him.”
While Simmons won’t be playing in the World Cup, both Johnson and Mikal Bridges — best friends who were acquired from the Suns in the Kevin Durant trade — will suit up for Team USA.
And Vaughn saw tangible value in that.
“Yes, great,” Vaughn said. “I think it’s great. We want our guys playing more in the offseason. I think that’s something that I love to trend towards. Most guys get their personal trainers and they spend an exorbitant amount of time by themselves. There’s something to a team component of seeing your teammates in the offseason.
“Cam and Mikal get a chance to compete and play at a high level in the offseason. I think it’s going to give them an extreme amount of confidence, leadership, they’ll see other really good dudes around them, how they participate, how they dive into their own future. So I think it’s great that they’re playing.”
