Basketball 2022: Ben Simmons deactivates Instagram as the NBA’s free agency frenzy fires up

Australia’s Ben Simmons has clamped down on social media as the NBA trade and free agency frenzy fires up, while a bunch of Aussies take off for the NBA Summer League.

Joe Ingles and Patty Mills have both secured new contracts in the NBA. Pics Adam Head

Aussie NBA star Ben Simmons has shut down his Instagram account as the circus surrounding the trade and free agency frenzy fires up.

Simmons’ Instagram is officially deactivated, less than a week after Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant requested a trade to leave the Nets.

Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving also wants out, most likely to join LeBron James at the Los Angeles Lakers, which is set to leave Simmons without the team’s two biggest stars.

The Melbourne-born guard was hoping to form a super team at the Nets when he joined the franchise mid-season as part of a deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.

Ben Simmons says the Nets are going to be scary 👀 pic.twitter.com/YzKBv7DhMO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 15, 2022

Simmons even told reporters in February that the prospect of playing alongside Durant and Irving was “going to be scary” for the rest of the league.

Sadly, the only thing scary is the reality for Brooklyn fans that their franchise won’t be the same championship force without two of the NBA’s best players.

Durant’s trade demand and trade talks involving Irving to the Lakers in a swap for Russell Westbrook will leave an almighty hole in Brooklyn.

Simmons will be left to clean up the mess at the Nets as one of the franchise’s higher paid players.

Ben Simmons is set to lose to massive names at Brookyn Nets.

It’s why his move to deactivate his Instagram account is a timely one given the constant speculation and talk about Brooklyn in free agency discussions.

On a brighter note for Australian basketball, a cast of local and NBL players will compete in the NBA Summer League, starting this week in California and Utah before moving to Las Vegas.

The standout story is three Australian NBL players being named in the Phoenix Suns’ pre Summer League mini-camp in Dejan Vasiljevic (Kings), Duop Reath (Hawks) and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Ex-United).

The trio will push for selection to use the Summer League stint with the Suns as a potential gateway to the NBA if they can impress in the annual pre-season tournament.

Championship-winning Sydney Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic has picked up a spot with the Phoenix Suns for the NBA Summer League. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Vasiljevic, who is coming off an NBL championship with Sydney, can’t wait to test himself against some of the best players in the world.

“The opportunity is just unreal honestly,” he said.

“To play in the NBL and have the Phoenix Suns monitor how you’ve been playing, then to bring me over has just been surreal.

“The culture here is amazing, the coaching staff is welcoming, and just the entire organisation from the front office to the athletic trainers make you feel like a part of their family.”

Vasiljevic feels equally blessed to play alongside Reath and Lual-Acuil Jr — two rivals who he normally enjoys beating.

“Duop and JLA are funny guys honestly,” he said.

“You hate to play against them in the NBL because they are great players but to have Aussies around you makes it easier to hoop.

“I’m excited for the opportunity, but most importantly just learning from everyone.

“If it doesn’t work out, I can’t wait to bring what I’ve learnt to the Kings and chase another championship.”

Looking good in the new threads, @DysonDaniels! 👌

📸: @PelicansNBApic.twitter.com/U705EfuuPe

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) July 1, 2022

Australia’s most recent NBA talent — Bendigo’s Dyson Daniels — will make his first appearance at the Summer League since the Portland Trailblazers selected him with the eighth pick in this year’s draft.

Daniels will make his debut for the Trailblazers against the Detroit Pistons in Las Vegas on Friday, April 8.

Aussies and NBL players in the NBA Summer League:

Ousmane Dieng (OKC)

Luke Travers (Cleveland)

Hugo Besson (Milwaukee)

Jack White (Denver)

Tahjere McCall (Washington)

Akoldah Gak (Chicago)

Dyson Daniels (New Orleans)

Justinian Jessup (GSW)

Yudai Baba (GSW)

Makur Maker (Chicago)

Vic Law (Utah)

RJ Hampton (Orlando)

Didi Louzada (Portland)

Dejan Vasiljevic (Phoenix)

Duop Reath (Phoenix)

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Phoenix)

Aussies on NBA move as Durant sparks free agency frenzy

Boomers veteran Joe Ingles has agreed to a one-year deal to join Giannis Antetokounmpo at the Milwaukee Bucks as the NBA free agency started with a flurry of major moves.

The entire free agency landscape was flipped upside down in the early hours of Friday morning when Durant requested a trade to depart the Brooklyn Nets, despite having four years left on his multimillion dollar deal.

The two-time champion will now hit the market, with Phoenix and Miami among the teams on his wishlist.

Durant’s request to leave Brooklyn comes as Boomers star Patty Mills has agreed to return to the Nets on a two-year, $14.5 million (US) deal.

Mills had been linked to several clubs, including the Boston Celtics, however it appears he will remain in Brooklyn for the foreseeable future.

End of the road? Patty Mills and Kevin Durant embrace during their time together at Brooklyn.

Fellow Australian Ingles also received positive news with a move to Milwaukee, the 2020-2021 NBA champions.

The veteran swingman is currently back home in Melbourne as he looks to recover from a season-ending knee injury.

It has been an eventful year for Ingles, with his knee injury coinciding with a mid-season trade from Utah to Portland.

However, his signing with the star-studded Bucks could be a career changer, especially if he can stay fit.

Ingles’ wife Renae took to Twitter on Friday to reveal her husband’s good news.

BREAKING NEWS:

Sources very close to free agent @Joeingles7 can confirm that he has agreed to a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

CEO of the house, Renae Ingles, is thrilled for Joe and their family.

Joe himself, is said to be very bucking happy.#nba#nbanewspic.twitter.com/4yra9gQst3

— Renae Ingles (@RenaeIngles) June 30, 2022

Joe Ingles suffered a season-ending knee injury last season playing for the Utah Jazz.

Friday was a busy day for the Australia’s NBA contingent, with Boomers big man Jock Landale has left the San Antonio Spurs to join the Atlanta Hawks as part of a trade package that sent Spurs guard Dejounte Murray to the Hawks.

Landale thanked the San Antonio club and fans for his one season at the franchise.

“Will be forever grateful for my first opportunity in the NBA,” Landale said on his Instagram account.

“Excited for what is next. Side note, this is doing great things for my jersey collection.”

In other news, former Boomers coach Brett Brown has returned to the NBA as an assistant coach at San Antonio.

Brown had been in limbo after being fired by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020.

He will reunite with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who he has previously worked under in various roles from an assistant to a director of player development.