After meeting with Brooklyn Nets, mental health remains focus of Ben Simmons' return, sources say

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In a meeting with Brooklyn Nets leadership on Monday afternoon, Ben Simmons and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul spoke about the physical and mental hurdles remaining in the All-Star's pursuit of a return to play, a discussion that made clear to the participants a need to keep addressing the

Simmons said he wants to play and perform for the Nets as soon as possible, and still isn't ruling out that happening this season should the Nets survive Monday. Boston leads the best-of-seven series.

Sources said that the Nets told Simmons and Paul that they would continue to give the three-time All-Star every resource necessary.

Simmons returned to the team's practice facility on Sunday with back pain, and the Nets and Simmons believed he was on the verge of playing. Simmons had been out for a while with a back injury and had expressed his desire to come back in this series and possibly provide some defense on the Celtics' wing players.

On Sunday, the Nets were disappointed to hear Simmons describe his physical setbacks, but conversations with Simmons and Paul on Monday were described as candid and detailed about the challenges that remain and reiterate the idea that Simmons is determined to find his way back to the court, sources said.

Simmons has three years and $114 million left on his contract after this season.

Simmons hadn't been able to scrimmage with the Nets' starters, but there was still hope that his presence on the court could provide some help to a flailing team, and allow him to get back into an NBA game for the first time this season.

A lackluster performance in the Eastern Conference semifinals as a member of the 76ers set into motion a turbulent 10 months of trade requests, mental health issues and back trouble. Simmons arrived with the Nets in a blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the 76ers. Simmons filed a grievance to get his salary back from the 76ers.

Simmons was in violation of his contract under the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and National Basketball Players Association and had the right to recover the money advanced to him before the season. The NBA and NBPA have been at odds on the issue, and now it could set a precedent on how future matters of mental health and contracts might be handled. Simmons failed to show up for the start of training camp and refused to play during the preseason and regular season, which the 76ers said was a violation of his player contract.

Simmons arrived in Philadelphia at the end of the preseason and cited his mental health as the reason that his participation in team activities was limited. Simmons and the 76ers disagreed about the degree of access that the team and its doctors were given to diagnose and affirm his mental health.