Exclusive: Ex-NBA scorer and Simmons teammate in talks with NBL sides over potential move

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A former NBA first-round pick and teammate of Ben Simmons has contacted multiple NBL teams about making the switch to Australia.

Sources close to Fox Sports Australia indicate T.J. Warren, 32, is open to a move, seeking a fresh chapter outside the NBA and G League.

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Australia has been strongly recommended by those close to the experienced forward as an appealing destination both on and off the court.

Several clubs are expected to explore the possibility of adding the proven scorer to their roster.

The former No. 14 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has played nearly 400 NBA games, including a stint with the Brooklyn Nets alongside Simmons during the 2022-23 season.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 20: Ben Simmons #10 and T.J. Warren #1 of the Brooklyn Nets boxes out during the game against the Utah Jazz on January 20, 2023 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

At 6’8”, Warren would arrive as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players. His standout campaign came with the Indiana Pacers in 2019-20, where he averaged 19.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting an impressive 40.3% from three-point range.

Sources told Fox Sports Australia that multiple NBL teams have already been contacted to gauge interest in Warren making the move. If it materialises, it would mark the first time in his career he has played professionally outside the United States.

Most recently, he suited up for the Westchester Knicks, the G League affiliate of the New York Knicks, averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists across eight appearances.

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Injuries have played a role in his journey, most notably a serious navicular stress fracture that sidelined him for two full seasons between 2020 and 2022. Since then, he has worked his way back through an extensive rehabilitation process.

It’s also understood Warren has sought advice from former teammate and current NBL champion Torrey Craig. Having played together at both the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns, Craig offers a strong example of how players can successfully transition to the NBL while maintaining a lifestyle close to what they’re used to in the United States.

SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 24: Terrence Ross #8, Torrey Craig #0, T.J. Warren #21, and Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 24, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

With free agency about to open and a long off-season ahead, the potential arrival of Warren looms as a move that could quickly elevate any team into genuine contention.

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