With enough space to make an addition off the buyout market, the LA Clippers’ front office must study the film, meet with the candidates, and decide who meets their requirements. Head coach Tyronn Lue is short of scoring and playmaking, and the player signed will have to patch the gap.
Furthermore, Shams Charania, a familiar NBA insider, reported the Clippers’ top target, Ben Simmons, has agreed to a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets. Charania added that Simmons has meetings scheduled with LA and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ben Simmons is finalizing a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets to become a free agent, sources tell me and @WindhorstESPN. Simmons will meet with the Cavaliers and Clippers starting Friday as he decides his next home. pic.twitter.com/guz2MhmJ5A
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2025
Simmons, at 28, is not the same three-time all-star and Defensive Player of the Year candidate he was for the Philadelphia 76ers. He has regressed significantly, as his body has slowed him down due to injury.
However, Simmons is still an above-average talent worthy of the Clippers’ final roster spot.
With Simmons' signing, Lue and the front office will lean on him to remain healthy for a potential championship run. This risk could return a high reward if the coaching staff utilizes him on both sides of the ball.
Former All-Star Ben Simmons will fit perfectly for head coach Tyronn Lue and the LA Clippers’ bench.
The LA Clippers are prioritizing Ben Simmons higher than other suitors because of his experience, size, and skill set. Tyronn Lue does not need the all-star version of Simmons, but he will need the player who can play any position, defend, and see the floor above everyone else.
Moreover, Simmons allows for a level of creativity the Clippers’ franchise did not know they needed. At guard, he can run the bench unit and orchestrate the floor, and as a small-ball big man, the former LSU Tiger can rebound and post up with anyone.
For the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons played 33 games and stamped 6.2 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes. His field goal percentage was also 54.7%, which is worth noting on 5.2 attempts per game.
Contract-wise, the front office should offer Simmons a trial run through the rest of the season.
Conversely, it is in Simmons’ best interest to join a contender who gives him a solidified role in the rotation. Between the Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, LA wins as they just traded two backup point guards, Kevin Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland.
That said, the Clippers must sign Simmons to their roster once meetings are concluded and his buyout is finalized.