With three teams on the table, former three-time all-star Ben Simmons elected to sign with the LA Clippers once his buyout with the Brooklyn Nets was completed. This was a win for both sides, as Simmons needs the opportunity, and LA is stumbling with bench impact.
The details of Simmons’ contract with the Clippers have not been released, but the agreement for the former first-overall pick likely does not surpass this season. Executive Lawrence Frank must first see how he holds up before making further decisions.
If Simmons proves he can stay healthy, Frank will most likely sign him through the contract of franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard. This will keep him a part of LA’s championship base.
Head coach Tyronn Lue can begin planning on how to use the two-way stud with veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic and Co. This is a step ahead compared to what Lue had with talents like Kevin Porter Jr., Terance Mann, and Mo Bamba.
Moreover, Lue and his staff have a number of ways they can use Simmons’ playstyle if he plays the majority of the season. This is what makes him extremely useful and why he was valued above others in the buyout market.
A healthy Ben Simmons on the LA Clippers is a cheat code against every team in the NBA.
Though many are worried about Ben Simmons’ spacing, fans must rewind the tape to analyze how the LA Clippers made former MVP Russell Westbrook impactful past his prime. Lue informed Westbrook to pass, cut, and move off the ball to catch defenses while they were sleeping.
Westbrook may not have been the solution LA needed, but Lue showed other teams how to utilize him, even with his inabilities. Now, he is dominating with the Denver Nuggets.
Furthermore, Simmons chose the right destination to revive his career at age 28. If he takes his role to heart, the LSU product will still be great despite the injuries he has faced.
With Brooklyn this season, Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 25.0 minutes per contest. What should also be noted is that he has played 33 games thus far and is on track to appear in as many, if not more, than his last season with the 76ers.
That said, Simmons was the Clippers’ biggest addition within the month of February. He is a former all-star with a quality experience that can propel Lue to the end goal: a championship.