In this episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, the hosts analyze several NBA players' lucrative contracts, scrutinizing their on-court performance and contribution to team success. They highlight concerns surrounding Ben Simmons' injury struggles and high salary with the Nets, and Jordan Poole's inconsistent play despite a hefty extension with the Warriors.
Their assessment extends to Zach LaVine's lack of playoff appearances, DeAndre Ayton's underwhelming impact compared to his hefty price tag, and LaMelo Ball's commitment to winning amid potential distractions of fame and wealth. The discussion weighs these players' current on-court production against the significant investments made by their respective franchises.
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Ben Simmons has played just 57 games since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets due to injuries and mental health issues, as Bill Simmons and Wosny Lambre point out. Despite this, the Nets are paying him $40 million, leading Lambre to call it a contract "burning a hole through their books." There are doubts about Simmons' ability to rehabilitate for next season.
Jordan Poole signed a $126 million contract extension but has struggled this season. Bill Simmons cites Poole's poor shooting percentages, turnovers in clutch time, and questionable decision-making. Joe House calls him "Literally the Dumbest basketball player" when it comes to winning.
In his 10-year NBA career, Zach LaVine has played only 4 playoff games despite a $198 million contract, the 7th largest in the league. Joe House groups LaVine with overpaid players like Bradley Beal given the team's lack of postseason success.
Bill Simmons admits defeat in defending DeAndre Ayton, who hasn't justified his $30+ million salary with the Blazers. Wosny Lambre notes cheaper centers outplaying Ayton, whose impact has been minimal.
Simmons highlights LaMelo Ball's injury issues, questioning his ability to be the second-best player on a winning team. Lambre doubts Ball's incentive to develop a winning mindset given his earnings. Simmons suggests Ball may be remembered more for highlights than achievements.
1-Page Summary
Ben Simmons' contract situation has been a major talking point, with critics pointing out his lack of contribution to the Brooklyn Nets despite his substantial salary.
Ben Simmons has played in only 57 games since the Nets acquired him during the 2021-2022 season. His play has been affected by a variety of issues, including back surgery, mental health concerns, and an injury sustained while trying to get back in shape for the season. On the day of the podcast, news was reported of Simmons having back surgery for the second time in three years.
Bill Simmons notes that Ben Simmons was high on his board for the "worst NBA contracts draft," indicating Simmons is seen as overpaid. Wosny Lambre describes Simmons as a "complete zero" on the court, and when he does play, he's not effective. Lambre states that Simmons, who is owed $40 million for the next year, is effectively a backup center being paid a starter's salary.
Bill Simmons and Joe House discuss the financial burden that Simmons' contract presents. The Brooklyn Nets are effectively paying $40 million for Simmons to not contribute due to his injuries and mental health issues. It is implied that the team will be relieved when his contract expires next year.
Furthermore, there are doubts about whether Simmons will be able to rehabilitate and return to play in the upcoming season after his back surgery. House speculates that Simmons might take the $40 million and retire or move back to Australia, considering that it might ...
Ben Simmons' Contract
Despite the large contract extension Jordan Poole secured, his performance has increasingly come under scrutiny due to a series of on-court struggles.
Jordan Poole, who was the ninth pick in the previous year's "worst contracts draft," is currently in the first year of a four-year, $126 million contract. However, his performance is not living up to the expectations that come with such a substantial deal.
Bill Simmons points out Poole's poor net rating, ranking 173rd out of 179 players playing over 25 minutes per game, with a net rating of minus 11. Poole’s shooting accuracy is highlighted as a significant issue as he makes just 32% from three-point range while taking an average of 6.8 three-pointers per game.
Poole has the dubious honor of having the most turnovers without an assist in clutch time for any guard since the 1996-97 season. This alarming statistic underscores his difficulty in executing during critical moments of a game.
Joe House harshly labels Poole as "Literally the Dumbest basketball player" when linking his talent to winning basketball. This harsh criticism stems from Poole leading all NBA players in fouls committed beyond the three-point arc and being the top offender among guards for travelling violations.
Simmons reflects on Poole's performance in the last couple of finals games as an "instant offense off the bench" player but alludes that his performance has deteriorated since the incident with Draymond Green. Moreover, Wosny Lambre characterizes Poole as a negative influence on defense and criticizes his high usage rate compare ...
Jordan Poole's Struggles
Concerns arise over Zach LaVine's performance and contract in light of his minimal playoff experience throughout his 10-year NBA career.
Zach LaVine, in his 10th year in the NBA, has an impressive contract for four years worth $198 million, making it the seventh largest in the league. Despite this financial valuation, LaVine has played in only four playoff games during his entire career. His limited postseason play raises questions about the justification of such a contract, especially considering how the Bulls performed in his absence due to injury this season.
LaVine's injuries have been a talking point, with at least one serious knee surgery for a torn ACL and a foot condition affecting his play. Notably, when he was available for trade, interest from other teams was almost nonexistent, except for expressed interest from LeBron ...
Zach LaVine and Never Making the Playoffs
Bill Simmons and his guests discuss the performance issues surrounding NBA player DeAndre Ayton since being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, casting doubt on his value relative to his max contract.
Bill Simmons directly questions whether DeAndre Ayton is justifying his $30 million salary. Despite Ayton’s potential, Simmons finds himself unable to continue defending Ayton any longer, admitting defeat with regard to his expectations for the player. Ayton’s contract, worth $102 million over three years, is a considerable investment for any player, and Simmons indicates that Ayton has not lived up to this price tag in his new role with the Blazers.
When compared to a much less expensive player like Luke Cornette, Ayton’s performance falls short. Simmons implies that the high salary of Ayton is not matched by his on-court impact, especially since joining the Blazers. Revealing statistics, Simmons notes that Ayton averages 15 points and 11 rebounds a game but questions his effort and highlights a net rating of minus 6.7, casting further doubt on Ayton’s effectiveness.
Wosny Lambre criticizes Ayton for not making his presence felt on the court for long stretches. He remarks that Ayton’s impact during games has been minimal, suggesting that he is not playing at the standard expected of one of the better starting centers in the NBA. Ayton’s salary would suggest he should be among the top performers at his position, but Lambre implies that cheaper centers are outperforming him, underscoring a lackluster return on investment.
J ...
DeAndre Ayton Not Living Up to Max Contract
Simmons, Lambre, and House share their concerns about LaMelo Ball's discipline, focus, injury woes, and overall fit into a winning team culture.
Simmons highlights LaMelo Ball's injury record, pointing out that he played only 58 games in the past two seasons and is often seen not in uniform but in street clothes during games, which suggests a worrying pattern of unavailability due to injuries. House echoes this concern, noting the broader problem of the Ball family's injuries affecting court time.
Simmons also questions Ball's ability to be the second-best player on a winning team and raises concerns about his leadership potential and overall fit within the team's culture. He metaphorically refers to "a whole presidential term" to emphasize the significant amount of time given to assess Ball's impact, finding no positive signs.
Moreover, Lambre questions what incentive Ball has to develop a more serious approach to the game when he already earns a significant income with minimal achievement in the NBA. This adds to skepticism about B ...
LaMelo Ball's Commitment to Winning and Max Contract Questions
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