Kendrick Perkins Says Nets Should Consider Ben Simmons Trade amid Star's Struggles

Ben Simmons has been a member of the Brooklyn Nets for less than a year, but ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins believes it's already time for the team to part ways with the three-time All-Star.

Perkins said on Thursday's episode of NBA Today that Simmons' continued struggles should warrant consideration for him to be traded by the Feb. 9 deadline.

Simmons recorded 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in Wednesday's 137-133 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He showed flashes of the player he once was with a 10-point third quarter, but he was on the bench late in the fourth quarter with the game still in reach.

Perkins believes Simmons' apparent ineptitude in late-game situations indicates that he's not a good fit with the Nets while he's playing like this.

"I might consider trading him for the simple fact that I'm watching the game late in the fourth quarter last night when it got close, he couldn't play—you couldn't put him on the floor. ... You're paying Ben Simmons top-dollar to be what...a backup center when Kevin Durant gets back?" Perkins said.

The 26-year-old has played in 36 games with 31 starts this season for the Nets (29-18). He's averaging career lows of 7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 27.5 minutes and 6.0 field-goal attempts per game. While he's played solid defense throughout the year, he's a shell of the player Brooklyn thought it was getting when it acquired him ahead of last year's trade deadline in a deal that included James Harden.

After the loss to Philadelphia, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn told reporters he expects more from Simmons and he hopes he received the message with his late-game benching.

"We're going to get every guy, and that's including Ben, to value every possession, to play hard every possession," Vaughn said. "And just because you played the first half doesn't mean you're going to play the second half."

The Nets will look to get back on track on Thursday night when they host the Detroit Pistons (12-37).