The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to sign former Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons following his official buyout on Saturday. It marks the first West Coast stop of Simmons’ NBA career after spending his entire tenure in the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia 76ers and Nets.
Simmons originally landed in Brooklyn in 2022 as part of the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia. While expectations were high, injuries ultimately defined his stint with the Nets.
Persistent back issues limited Simmons to just 90 games across three seasons. Two back surgeries severely impacted both his availability and offensive role.
During that stretch, Simmons averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56% from the field, per StatsMuse. The production was a sharp decline from his All-Star and All-Defensive prime in Philadelphia.
Still, his defensive versatility and passing ability remained evident when healthy.
Simmons will officially clear waivers on Monday at 5 p.m. ET. While he is no longer the scorer he once was, his size and mobility still make him a valuable connective piece.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons gives the Clippers another playmaker who can initiate offense, push in transition, and alleviate some of the ball-handling burden placed on James Harden. Head coach Tyronn Lue can deploy Simmons in defensive lineups while maximizing his strengths as a facilitator.
Despite losing Paul George in free agency, the Clippers have exceeded expectations. They sit at 28–23, five games over .500, and just one game behind Minnesota for the sixth seed and an automatic playoff berth.
However, offensive efficiency remains a concern. Los Angeles ranks 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 25th in assists per game, and 23rd in offensive efficiency.
Adding Simmons—one of only five active players to average at least seven rebounds and seven assists for his career—directly addresses those weaknesses.
Simmons was owed $40.3 million this season, which sharply limited his post-buyout options. Under current CBA rules, teams above the first apron cannot sign waived players whose prior salary exceeded $12.8 million.
As a result, contenders such as the Celtics, Nuggets, Lakers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks, and Suns were prohibited from pursuing him.
The Clippers, sitting $9.2 million below the first apron and $1.2 million below the tax line, were well-positioned to strike. In a twist of fate, Simmons now reunites with Harden—the player he was traded for three years ago.
With Simmons officially off the books, the Nets can now commit fully to a rebuild. Brooklyn’s focus shifts toward player development and positioning itself for a high selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
For Simmons, the move represents a fresh start—and a chance to redefine his impact on a playoff-caliber roster.
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