Although the chances were low, the LA Clippers hoped that signing Ben Simmons to a new conference, with a change of scenery, would spark the old version of himself to come alive on a veteran minimum contract. Hence, the Clippers signed him after a buyout with the Brooklyn Nets and had plans to keep him for an extended period had he performed well against the Denver Nuggets in the postseason.
However, Simmons was an offensive liability, and once the postseason ended, the front office indirectly made it clear that his spot as the team's backup guard-center would be taken by someone else this summer.
This is where Chris Paul and Brook Lopez entered the picture, as they each produce more than Simmons, and most importantly, are not scared to shoot their shots when left wide open in the half-court.
The former first overall pick has gone unsigned, and the odds are high that he begins the 2025-26 regular season as a free agent. This is for multiple reasons, but the most significant is that his offensive flaws are apparent, and teams do not want to invest in a player who refuses to shoot, even when he is in open space.
Furthermore, the more complicated reason why no team has shown enough interest in Simmons to offer him a contract pertains to roster capacity and how this has shaped the free agent market for the former All-Star and others who are talented enough to be a reserve, at worst.
Rosters in the NBA are reaching high levels of capacity, and this has affected Ben Simmons' chances of finding a roster spot
Because he has All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year votes on his resume, Ben Simmons is still one of the most notable free agents on the market, and one who used to play for the LA Clippers, just like Russell Westbrook.
Conversely, the latest rumors delve into roster space and how the NBA Draft has presented an unexpected obstacle for Simmons even to secure a spot on the end of a coach's bench.
Additionally, aprons have played a role in why a talent like Simmons is unemployed. A contender could sign him once availability opens up, and if not, he will be forced to consider options overseas that will still allow him to be paid to hoop at a professional level.