Few six-foot-ten point guards are in the NBA, so the LA Clippers made a season-alerting call by working with Ben Simmons on a minimum contract after his buyout with the Brooklyn Nets. This signing helps stars Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Norman Powell, as they have a floor general to soak in the ball pressure from perimeter defenses.
Although he is listed as part of the second unit, Simmons will play starter minutes and likely finish games, barring a change from head coach Tyronn Lue. Understandably, the former first-round pick has found ways to win games despite possessing an ineffective jump shot.
Jeff Van Gundy, in particular, is one of the several beneficiaries of Simmons' signing. He loves to trap and eliminate superstars' offensive production with his most versatile defenders. For context, the LSU Product has a seven-foot wingspan, the size of a big man with the quickness of a guard.
Moreover, as long as Simmons can avoid injury and help the Clippers' offense, he will be a beloved part of the team's fan base.
Conversely, health is Simmons' most significant red flag, as his track record does not support what the Clippers need. Lue and his squad are the sixth seed, and any additional injuries could push LA into the play-in tournament, which would risk their chances of returning to the postseason.
The Brooklyn Nets bought out Ben Simmons for a few reasons, which included his numbers and injury history.
Although the Brooklyn Nets traded a superstar in James Harden for Ben Simmons, they agreed to a buyout before he joined the LA Clippers because of his injury history. He missed plenty of games due to his back, which was caused by two surgeries in less than two seasons.
Simmons was relatively underwhelming during his stint with the Nets' organization. In 90 games, he averaged 6.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 6.2 rebounds over multiple seasons.
Additionally, Simmons grew more comfortable with load managing, as his body would have been at risk when playing back-to-back games. This may lead to problems in the playoffs, as games are usually played close together under high volumes of pressure.
Given the sub-par impact and his profiting by not playing, the Nets understood that a buyout was next in line for Simmons. He was still a good player, but they discovered the cons of rostering him and left the Clippers to make the realization themselves.