LONG ROAD: Ben Simmons return to play filled with ups, downs and head-scratching turnabouts

It’s been a frustrating journey for the Nets, their fans and Ben Simmons. There was a lot of hope that Simmons would ramp up and be ready within a few weeks of the Nets’ decision to trade for him in early February, but back issues, specifically a herniated disc, have kept him off the court ... until now. On Friday, Simmons said it’s “reasonable” he’ll play Monday vs. the Celtics at Barclays Center.

Things have been so frustrating with the ups and downs, head-scratching turnabouts and imprecise (at best) language that some fans have bought into skeptical, even cynical, conspiracy theory on what’s been keeping Simmons off the court.

Here’s our chronology of the events beginning with the trade…