Lewis: Ben Simmons’ agent says point guard ‘100% of himself ready to go’

As Brian Lewis wrote Tuesday, in the midst of everything that’s been going on with the Brooklyn Nets, Ben Simmons has been “out-of-sight, out of mind” since he underwent his second back surgery in three years back in March.

Now, though, the 6’10” point may be, may be ready to compete again at the highest level, according to his agent Bernie Lee. In an interview with Lewis, Lee said he expects Simmons to be a big contributor for Brooklyn.

“Ben has been doing his rehab and prep work for the upcoming season in Miami. He is through the rehab stage and has moved on to strength and conditioning,” Lee told The Post. “Because there have been so many starts and stops previously I’ll simply say, he’s in a great place and the expectation is he’s able to start the season 100 percent of himself ready to go.”

That of course would be positive for the Nets ... unless you want them to go 0-82 to help secure the overall No. 1 pick in an historic draft next June when Duke’s Cooper Flagg and a host of others will be available.

Of course, Skepticism may as well be Simmons middle name. He has played just 57 games in parts of three seasons with Brooklyn since being acquired in the James Harden deal at the deadline in February of 2022. Simmons had just sat out most of that season after demanding a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Still, Lee won’t back down on his client’s prospects even after they’ve lost Mikal Bridges and reportedly looking to dump Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith.

“An outsider sees uncertainty but someone living it sees opportunity,” Lee said. “Ben is excited to play basketball healthy. Which isn’t something he’s been able to do since he’s been in Brooklyn,” he added in his conversation with the Nets beat writer.

“So if he shows up to training camp and he’s sharing the backcourt with the Brooklyn Knight and Mr. Whammy, he’ll figure it out. He’s focused on having the best year of his career and if he does I’m pretty sure all of that uncertainty will quickly disappear.” (Get ready to lace ‘em up, Bruce!)

With Simmons manning the point on both offense and defense at the beginning of last season, the Nets looked like a functioning team. He particularly helped Cam Thomas, Lewis noted. Thomas averaged 24.9 points and 3.1 assists in 15 games playing alongside him.

And while others may have gotten early warnings on the Bridges trade, Simmons did not. However, Jordi Fernandez chose to make one of his first trips as head coach to Miami to meet Simmons and talk basketball.

Fans and pundits alike don’t know what to expect. Many in the fanbase were left frustrated even angry when a similar wave of optimism crashed on the Nets shore last year. Bobby Marks, the former Nets assistant GM now an ESPN insider, remains skeptical, telling Lewis, his best value under the Nets current strategy would be play well enough to get some value back at the February trade deadline. Lee says in response, watch this space.

“Overall, look … Ben is 27 years old … he’ll be 28 in a few weeks. Because of the last few years it sometimes seems easy to forget he’s a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-Defensive player and an All-NBA player,” Lee said. “His ability hasn’t changed, he was simply injured … it happens, he’s done the work to stop the cycle and seek out the answers and execute the work.