NBA Rumors: ‘Optimism’ Ben Simmons will return for first-round of playoffs

NBA Rumors: According to a recent report, there’s some optimism that Ben Simmons will be able to return for the NBA Playoffs.

If the Brooklyn Nets can win their way into the NBA Playoffs, there’s reportedly some optimism that Ben Simmons will be able to play when the team takes the floor for the first round of the postseason.

Currently, the Nets are projected to play in the 7-8 game in the Play-In Tournament. However, that could change several different ways depending on how the final slate of games plays out Sunday afternoon.

Though, as it currently stands, the Nets will have to just win one game to officially make the playoffs. Couple that with the fact that there’s still hope that Simmons will be able to return in the first round and there’s a very real chance that the Nets could be the most dangerous 7th or 8th seed in playoff history.

I don’t believe that this is a “Simmons will return” report, but just that if things continue to move in the right direction, there’s a chance we could see Simmons at some point in the playoffs.

Even without Simmons, the Nets are still going to be a tough out in the first round. No matter who the opponent is. If Brooklyn enters the playoffs as the 8th seed, they will play the Miami Heat. However, if the team enters as the 7th seed, they will face the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks (depending on how Sunday’s slate ends).

Either way, this is intriguing news, to say the least. It adds another storyline to watch over the next week – from the start of the Play-In Tournament to the first round (assuming that the Nets qualify for the playoffs).

There’s a chance that the Nets could get much more dangerous as a first-round opponent, as if this team needed to get any more weapons.