After agreeing to a buyout with the Nets, Ben Simmons has reached a deal to sign with the Clippers, league sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Los Angeles was one of three teams rumored to be in the mix for Simmons, who will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday after being officially waived by Brooklyn on Saturday. Cleveland and Houston were among the other clubs said to have interest in the former No. 1 overall pick.
Simmons’ career got off to an impressive start in Philadelphia, where he earned 2018 Rookie of the Year honors, made three All-Star teams, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2021. However, he had a falling out with the team that resulted in a lengthy holdout and a trade to Brooklyn.
Simmons, who has also dealt with a series of back issues that required multiple surgeries in recent years, has been limited to just 90 total games since being dealt to the Nets at the 2022 deadline. He averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per contest across those 90 appearances.
While Simmons’ extremely limited shooting ability make him a tricky piece to incorporate alongside other non-shooters, he’s still a talented play-maker, defender, and rebounder who should have more significantly value as a low-cost addition on the buyout market than he did on his previous maximum-salary contract.
After making a series of moves ahead of the trade deadline, L.A. entered the day with an open roster spot and $1.9MM in breathing room below the luxury tax line, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
The Clippers still have a portion of their mid-level exception available and could use it to pay Simmons more than the prorated veteran’s minimum, but it’s unclear whether they’ll do so. Either way, it seems safe to assume they won’t cross the tax line as a result of signing Simmons.
As a result of their trade deadline machinations, the Clippers sent out guards Terance Mann, Kevin Porter, and Bones Hyland, so Simmons and fellow newcomer Bogdan Bogdanovic should have an opportunity to earn regular minutes in the backcourt. Given his unique skill set, Simmons could also serve as a de facto big man in certain lineups.
Harden and Simmons on the same team lmao
And then…it works.
Clips ain’t winning anything this year.
Quoting that to come back to it. Haha.
Won’t hold it against you if they surprise and do.
We haven’t seen the Clipps best yet…
Man, I’ve been pretty consistent for years in my doubt for the Clippers. Kawhi is too injury prone and I’ve seen Harden enough up close as a Sixers fan to say long rely on him. Norman can only do so much.
Oh but we have certainly seen Hardens best
Their best was at the bubble against the Nuggets before they came crashing down when PG hit the side of the backboard.
Yup towin, no one has seen the CLIPS best yet. Ever.
Why trade them for each other when u can have both ?
Good for him. Hopefully he realizes this is one of the few chances he has left. Will help their defense and create easier transition baskets for others.
If Lue can’t make him a better player nobody can.
The amount of tampering in the NBA is just stupid. Can some of the other teams in the league at least get a chance to offer an opportunity??? Potential destinations should not be negotiated ahead of time. Everybody should get a chance to make a pitch.
I’m sure a lot of teams are heated at not getting in on the Simmons sweepstakes
Ahh I wanted to see Simmons, Jimmy, Draymond bullying everyone on D…Warriors gotta fire Kerr or else no one will ever come here again smh
Its worth it to take a look. Just not interested in Ben anymore. Can’t support players who don’t care about playing……. He should be run out the keague.
Still haven’t told what’s wrong with his back. He came from Philly with no back issues. Then after sitting out for most season. Ge came to Nets. And suddenly he developed a bad back. They say he had Surgeries. I thought it was one. Have not read about it or researched it. And woder why the public has not been informed correctly if it. Ben is wasted talent imo. Going going gone ……. We never knewYa
Because the public gets . Probable, questionable, doubtful and out. It’s none of your business how many surgeries he’s had abs what part of the body.
.
It’s everyones business clown. Only the uniformed and clueless follow sports they don’t understand.
1 Microscopic partial discectomy.
2 Herniated Disk.
He’s also faking mental illness according to some. Yet, I’m pretty sure it runs in the family. Heard his sister open her mouth….bad s**t crazy. Accused her half brother, Ben’s manager of raping her before retracting statements stating, she just made it up.