Ben Simmons' availability still might have been in question for Game 4 of the first-round series between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics even if he had been in uniform, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Charania reported Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show that Simmons wasn't guaranteed to play in what proved to be Brooklyn's season finale. His presence alone, though, would've sent a message to his teammates.

Many questioned the logic behind having Simmons make his Nets debut—his first NBA game in nearly a full year—in the potential closeout game of a postseason series. Especially given how much last season's playoffs seem to continue to weigh on him, that might have done more harm than good.

By declining to definitively rule Simmons out or making it clear he was unlikely to play, the Nets also put the onus on the player.