7:00 pm: The Knicks never made a formal offer to Simmons, league sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
The question of whether or not a “formal offer” was made can come down to semantics — it’s possible Simmons indicated he wouldn’t accept a minimum-salary offer from New York before the team ever officially put it on the table.
12:06 pm: The Knicks offered Ben Simmons a one-year contract at some point this offseason, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Substack link), who reports that the free agent guard passed on that proposal.
Due to their proximity to a hard cap, the Knicks aren’t able to offer more than the veteran’s minimum to any free agent, so it’s safe to assume that’s what their offer to Simmons was worth. According to Stein, the former No. 1 overall pick remains hopeful of signing a contract worth more than the minimum.
Simmons, 29, was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2018, made three All-Star teams from 2019-21, and was the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up in 2021. One of the NBA’s best passers and defenders earlier in his career, he signed a maximum-salary rookie scale extension in 2019 that ran from 2020-25 — he was bought out of that deal this February before signing with the Clippers for the rest of the 2024/25 season.
Multiple back surgeries have slowed Simmons in recent years and his offensive numbers have fallen off when he has been healthy enough to play. While he was never much of a shooter, the former LSU standout was more willing to attempt field goals earlier in his career. His shot attempts per 36 minutes have declined in every single one of his NBA seasons, from 13.2 in 2017/18 to 7.2 in ’24/25.
Although he accepted a rest-of-season minimum deal with the Clippers in February, Simmons seems to be struggling to come to terms with the idea that he’s now being considered a minimum-salary player, as Jake Fischer detailed in his latest Bleacher Report live stream (YouTube link). Recent reports indicated that agent Bernie Lee has parted ways with Simmons and that the three-time All-Star isn’t 100% sure he wants to continue playing.
According to Stein, the Knicks and Celtics are the teams that expressed the most significant interest in Simmons this summer. Boston would likely also be capped at a minimum-salary offer due to the team’s proximity to the tax aprons.
The Mike Brown effect lol.
More like it is a vet minimum offer and he already knows what it is like playing in NYC. He could take a vet minimum elsewhere and not have to face the media and fan scrutiny he would playing for the Knicks.
Agree it has to do with being under the microscope of NY media. They are the toughest media in the NBA.
But he will never get any minutes anyway, or at least shouldn’t.
DarrenDreifortsContract:
Mike Brown? What in the world does he have to do with? This has nothing to do with him. This is about Simmons wanting every dime he can get and not realizing/ accepting that he’s not worth more than a minimum contract at this point in his career.
Or he just doesn’t want to play for a second rate team like the Knicks.
Highwaymenace:
Why even post something so ignorant?
He’s made money. His brand has taken a beating. He has an opportunity to improve it by contributing to a team that is the favorite to come out of the east and passes on the offer like an open three point attempt. If he sees himself more than the minimum vet salary then he has an unrealistic sense of how he sees himself in the league. He needs to build his foundation up again and stabilize it before expecting more. A bit self entitled.
The favorites? lol
He literally means the favorites, as in betting odds.
link to vegasinsider.com
Cavs are essentially tied with their odds, though.
The Cavs to me are like those Atlanta teams a decade ago that were always high in the standings and got cooked in the playoffs because they’re soft. I don’t view them as a threat to anything in the east. If they ran into the Magic they’ll fold like paper.
DarrenDreifortsContract:
One of the favorites, for sure.
Did you forget the Cavs exist?
*one of the favorites* I think you meant
No. I didn’t.
Aint no way a softie like Simmons wants to play in NYC, which is home to all of the worlds best sh-t talkers lol
You realize he played for Brooklyn…
You realize he had no power in that decision…
Such a tired narrative. New York media is no different than anywhere else. The Knicks are a second/third rate team that has been horrible for decades. They can’t convince any good free agents to sign and have to trade for guys. Everyone who plays for the Knicks has already resigned to the fact that they will never play for a championship.
He laid on the trainers table in Brooklyn
He also had back surgery, but don’t let facts get in the way of your narrative.
I expect he’ll end up taking the min somewhere – I hear the Kings are a possibility
NBA is OK:
Why would you think he’ll take the minimum somewhere? Everything seems to indicate that he won’t do that. If he turned it down from the Knicks, why is he taking it from another team? This guy just wants more money than he’s worth.
@Miken31
Because if he gets 10 years he gets the max NBA pension. IMO he doesn’t like the scrutiny that comes with playing in NYC.
After what he’s made you think he’s worried about the pension? That’s lunch money to him.
NBA is OK:
We have no idea how he really feels about playing in New York. This seems more like the guy doesn’t want to play for minimum money. The guy holds out for every dime possible.
Does anybody care?
You clicked on the article, read it, and commented to show you don’t care?
totally understand why money would be a sticking point .. not like he’s only played 98 games the last four seasons while getting paid max money .. good to see he’s still clueless as ever
I’m going to say it he wants to be able to get a decent pay check along with a team that has no problem paying him even when he takes a bunch of time off for mental health. Don’t get me wrong I understand mental health is an issue and should be taken seriously but this guy has abused it and gotten a lot of money he didn’t earn period
Since May of 2022 most of his time off has been because of a back injury.
True but back injuries are the easiest injury to fake
Good thing the universe existed before May of 2022, and the preceding years still count.
Yes but his role would be limited. I think this was the best fit for him and the Knicks but he would have been the 9th man.
Bronson/Simmons
Bridges/McBride
OG/heart
Kat/gur
Mitchel/kat/hulk
Bronson is playing 36-37 minutes most nights were his min coming from. Can’t play him with Mitchell and Heart. Not shooting. Unless you have a lead. Defense would be great. So for him he wants to play somewhere were he is getting 20 minutes a night. Honestly he is a 7-10 player now so I would have gone for the chip.
Stay away from NY. ……….
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing him in NY. His perimeter D is still solid and can spell the point for 5-7 minutes a game. Seeing him, Bridges, OG, Mitchell and McBride on the floor at the same time and I’d say that’s a pretty solid defense when needed.
Ben Simmons passed…gas lol
Come on that’s a fact everyone does it. So I’m technically a reporter. Hit like if you agree
I’ll hit mute instead.
Any chance he is thinking of going back to Australia to try his hand at Australian rules football? He grew up loving the sport and is always at games during the NBA off-season
Would like to see him sign with the Brisbane Bullets…. Simmons has already proved himself…now he is just laughing at all the haters…