Ben Simmons reportedly passed on offer from East contender

Attributable to their proximity to a hard cap, the Knicks aren’t capable of provide greater than the veteran’s minimal to any free agent, so it’s secure to imagine that’s what their provide to Simmons was price. In keeping with Stein, the previous No. 1 general decide stays hopeful of signing a contract price greater than the minimal.

Simmons, 29, was the NBA’s Rookie of the 12 months in 2018, made three All-Star groups from 2019-21, and was the Defensive Participant of the 12 months runner-up in 2021. One of many NBA’s finest passers and defenders earlier in his profession, he signed a maximum-salary rookie scale extension in 2019 that ran from 2020-25 — he was purchased out of that deal this February earlier than signing with the Clippers for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

A number of again surgical procedures have slowed Simmons lately and his offensive numbers have fallen off when he has been wholesome sufficient to play. Whereas he was by no means a lot of a shooter, the previous LSU standout was extra prepared to aim area targets earlier in his profession. His shot makes an attempt per 36 minutes have declined in each single certainly one of his NBA seasons, from 13.2 in 2017-18 to 7.2 in ’24-25.

Though he accepted a rest-of-season minimal cope with the Clippers in February, Simmons appears to be struggling to come back to phrases with the concept that he’s now being thought-about a minimum-salary participant, as Jake Fischer detailed in his newest Bleacher Report dwell stream (YouTube link). Recent reports indicated that agent Bernie Lee has parted methods with Simmons and that the three-time All-Star isn’t 100% positive he desires to proceed enjoying.

In keeping with Stein, the Knicks and Celtics are the groups that expressed probably the most important curiosity in Simmons this summer season. Boston would doubtless even be capped at a minimum-salary provide as a result of group’s proximity to the tax aprons.