4 Nets on Thin Ice After Jacque Vaughn Firing
There are a few Brooklyn Nets who have a lot to prove until the rest of the season.
By Cem Yolbulan
The Brooklyn Nets fired the underperforming head coach Jacque Vaughn on Monday. With a 21-33 record and 2.5 games out of the tenth seed, the Nets underachieved significantly so far this season, especially on the defensive end.
With the organization clearly desperate to make a run in the final stretch of the season and make the play-in tournament, moving on from Vaughn was the right decision. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that assistant Kevin Ollie would be the interim head coach for the rest of the season. How the Nets perform the rest of the season will determine the future of a few key individuals.
Here are four names that need to show more for the rest of the season or they could be the next ones out the door in the summer.
Ben Simmons
Simmons is finally healthy again and played in six of the last nine games for the Nets. In 12 games this season, Simmons is averaging 6.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. This is in line with his performance the prior year in Brooklyn. At this stage of his career, Simmons will be this: rarely available, unwilling to shoot when he plays, and not aggressive on either end of the floor.
Unfortunately for the Nets, Simmons will be making $40.3 million next season to do that. The only way he would stay in Brooklyn is if the Nets can't find a trade partner to take him on. His massive expiring salary is the best way for Brooklyn to add star talent in a trade in the offseason. But they will need a team to be willing to take him on.
Simmons is 27 years old. There is a chance he can still be a contributor somewhere but his Nets days are likely over.