Author: Monojit Mandal
Despite his questionable absence from games in an attempt to secure a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, the NBA has granted Brooklyn Nets player Ben Simmons a year of service for the 2021-22 season. During the collective bargaining agreement discussions, the issue of Simmons’ length of service came up, with some club executives expressing doubts about granting him credit.
According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, several team executives opposed Simmons getting service time credit for the season. However, he finally received a “stand-alone” credit for the season, with the NBA emphasizing that this decision does not set a precedent for future situations. The forward refused to play for the Sixers due to mental health problems and continued to sit out even after being transferred to Brooklyn, citing knee and back problems.
Simmons had financial consequences during his standoff with the 76ers, as the franchise withheld around $20 million of his salary for not reporting. In response, he filed a complaint to recover the money withheld, and the two parties negotiated a settlement in August 2022, although the specific details have not been disclosed.
The NBA’s decision to offer Simmons an exemption from existing regulations remains unknown. Notably, Lowe notes in his article that if another player, such as James Harden, refuses to play for the 76ers this season, he could be denied a year of service time and could even be barred from accessing free agency.
Simmons’ year of credited service brings his official NBA service time to seven years, which is important for calculating his future earnings through the league’s pension plan and other related routes. The new collective bargaining agreement offers players $1,001.47 per month for each year of service in the NBA.
Although the decision may not have a significant impact on Simmons, whose star level has declined over the past two seasons, it could make him eligible for a 10-year maximum contract (equivalent to 35% of the salary cap) a year earlier than if the NBA had not granted him the additional year of service time. This can affect your future contract negotiations and financial prospects.