Nets announce Ben Simmons will have back surgery

Brooklyn Nets say Ben Simmons will undergo surgery on his back on Thursday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Brooklyn Nets say Ben Simmons will undergo surgery on his back on Thursday.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 4, 2022

Not too long after, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Simmons is expected to need 3-to-4 months to make a full recovery on back surgery. The expectation is that he'll be ready to return well ahead of training camp.

Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons is expected to need 3-to-4 months to make a full recovery on back surgery, sources tell ESPN. The expectation is that he'll be ready to return well ahead of training camp.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 4, 2022

ANALYSIS: While it's good to see that Simmons is getting the treatment he needs, why were there earlier reports stringing everyone along that he could have made an appearance in the first round if he needed the surgery the whole time? If that's the case, shouldn't he have gotten the surgery right away? It sounds like the Nets and Simmons wanted different things this season.