‘Unthinkable’: Ben Simmons arrives at $252 million crossroads

Ben Simmons is an NBA free agent and noises coming from around the NBA show he still has some lifelines left to save his career.


CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 26: Ben Simmons #25 of the LA Clippers looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on February 26, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

It was an oversight that, once unthinkable, was completely understandable.

Lost in the wash-up of the obituaries of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 playoff run after last weekend’s Game 7 capitulation against Denver – and there were many of them – was discussion about the future of a player who has gone from number one draft pick and rookie of the year to being waived by one team and signed by another to become a free agent.

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But that’s the lot of Ben Simmons, who didn’t hit the court for the Clippers in the final two games of the Nuggets series after playing primarily as a spot-minute back-up centre assigned to three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic on the occasions where he made a brief cameo.

Which begs the question: what now?

Simmons’ freefall from his 2017-18 rookie of the year accolades and three All-Star appearances in Philadelphia to his playoff flame-outs and subsequent trade to Brooklyn before being bought out by the Nets in February has been well documented, and benefits no repeating here.

Signing with the title-aspiring Clippers once he cleared waivers in Brooklyn on February 10, the 28-year-old’s contributions on a veteran team were modest, but appreciated.

Now comes the hard part: working out where the Australian ends up next.

In 18 games with the Clippers, Simmons averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in 16 minutes a night; in the playoffs, those contributions dwindled to 0.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in eight minutes a night before he was benched as the series reached its crescendo.