Nets GM Sean Marks on Ben Simmons: 'No real timetable,' will start ramp-up 'hopefully by the end of next week'

Kevin Durant will be back when the Brooklyn Nets host the Miami Heat on Thursday at Barclays Center, his first game since Jan. 15. It remains something of a mystery, however, when he will share the court with new teammate Ben Simmons.

Simmons, acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers at the Feb. 10 trade deadline, is dealing with back stiffness and has yet to make his Brooklyn debut. As a result of his holdout in Philadelphia, the last time Simmons played in an NBA game was Game 7 of the Sixers' second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on June 20. In an interview with YES Network's Michael Grady on Thursday, Nets general manager Sean Marks said that they hope he'll be able to begin ramping up his return-to-play program by the end of next week.

"Unfortunately his back stiffness has delayed his ability to get on the court with his teammates. so he's been rehabbing this last sort of week to 10 days," Marks said. "And then now he'll progress throughout this week with some individual [work]. Hopefully, by the end of next week he's getting more into the team environment, and then we can really ramp up and start him getting into sort of game shape and so forth.

"Although there's no real timetable, we've got to take it day by day and see how he responds. And hopefully sooner the better. We need to get this group together and get minutes together on the court."

This jibes with what coach Steve Nash said on Monday before Brooklyn hosted the Toronto Raptors (and shortly before Nash was placed in health and safety protocols). "He's just doing some light shooting and just physical therapy," Nash said, describing Simmons' back issue as a "little flare-up." In general, before the Nets clear a player to return from a lengthy absence, he must complete three high-intensity workouts (i.e. full-contact, five-on-five scrimmages).

Brooklyn is 32-31 on the season and eighth in the East after losing both sides of a home-and-home against Toronto. Following the Heat game, the Nets will hit the road to play the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and, on March 10, the Sixers, Simmons' former team. Based on Marks' comments, next Sunday (March 13 against the New York Knicks) is the absolute earliest Simmons could return, but even that is probably optimistic.

After that matinee Battle of the Boroughs at Barclays, only 14 games will remain before the playoffs begin.

Related news: Nets guard Kyrie Irving remains ineligible to play at home because he's unvaccinated, and sharpshooter Joe Harris is still out with an ankle injury. Nash said Monday that no decision has been made about about a possible second surgery for Harris, and the team is "just trying to see how much improvement he can get over the coming weeks."

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