Depends who you listen to (my post was also somewhat tongue-in-cheek as I would still be surprised if Simmons suits up at all in the playoffs; and there's a possibility that Nets-Bucks will be a first round matchup...which would start in 2 weeks). But anyways...
https://www.netsdaily.com/2022/4/1/23006763/dueling-athletic-reporters-have-different-takes-on-ben-simmons
Joe Vardon apparently wrote this yesterday morning -
Ben Simmons is not close to playing for the Nets. He is not likely to be ready for the start of the playoffs, I was told Thursday, as he’s still trying to recover from a recurring back injury that required an injection last month.
This is about two different things: It’s about trading for a former All-Star, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate who is 6-foot-10, can run the floor, move the ball and doesn’t need to shoot, and maybe not having him at all.
Since his (epidural) injection, Simmons has been at practice more, even near the court (or on it) while teammates are out there, which has caused some teammates to voice their optimism. But he isn’t close to returning, let’s be clear.
But then Shams reported this yesterday afternoon -
“Nets three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has resumed light on-court workouts, sources tell me” said Shams. “And the hope remains that he will be able to ramp-up in time for the playoffs. The Nets and Simmons have worked together on his back issues which flared up when he had previously aiming for a mid-March return. And now with the Nets jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference, a Simmons return makes the team’s ceiling even greater for a potentially deeper run.”