The Los Angeles Clippers are set to make another splash and intend to sign Ben Simmons through the buyout market once the former number-one overall pick clears waivers. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report.
It has been a far fall from glory for Simmons who will be hopeful to find his footing out in Los Angeles. The three-time All-Star has not played more than 42 games in a season since the 2020-21 campaign. Back injuries and trade requests have derailed what once looked like a star trajectory for the Australian guard. Across the 33 games he played with the Nets this season, Simmons was held to just 6.2 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game.
There also is an interesting connection as Simmons now joins James Harden on this Clippers team. In early 2021, Simmons was nearly the centerpiece of Harden’s trade out of Houston. After the following playoff loss in which Simmons self-imploded against the Atlanta Hawks during the 76ers’ second-round loss, the two-time All-Defensive team member requested a trade of his own. Simmons held out and remained away from the team despite the Sixers’ efforts to get him on the court until 2022, when he eventually was traded in a deal centered around James Harden. Philadelphia proved not to be the right destination for either of these floor generals and they will hope their future together with the Clippers treats them better.
At his peak, Simmons was a triple-double threat on a nightly basis while having a case as the best defender in the league. He averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game across the 2018-19 season. Simmons also finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting the following year before finishing second in the race in the 2020-21 season and 12th in MVP voting.
Los Angeles has exceeded expectations to start this year. The Clippers sit seventh place in the Western Conference with a 28-23 record. Harden has been successful in keeping the team afloat and Kawhi Leonard has now returned to the court and is in the process of ramping up to a full workload. They have embraced a defensive-minded identity which Simmons can help with… if his body will allow. It will be interesting to see how significant of a role Simmons takes on and what the 28-year-old still has left in the tank. This is a low-risk, high-reward move by Los Angeles and if Simmons can turn back the clock and produce it could end up being a very positive signing.
The Clippers currently hold the fifth-best odds of winning the Western Conference at +1400 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook and hold +3000 odds of winning the NBA championship, tied for the seventh-best odds in the league.
