Reports indicate that the Brooklyn Nets and Ben Simmons are finalizing a contract buyout. Simmons is reportedly meeting with teams to find his next destination. A Nets and Simmons buyout agreement comes soon after the NBA trade deadline.
Nets and Ben Simmons Are Moving On
On Thursday, the NBA trade deadline passed without the Nets making any trades. They have maintained their current roster and continue to hold 31 draft picks. With a 17-34 record, they have the fourth-worst record in the Eastern Conference. The only movement the team made this season occurred in December when they traded Dennis Schröder to the Golden State Warriors and Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nets and Simmons Contract Buyout
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, the Nets and Simmons are finalizing a contract buyout, and Simmons is expected to meet with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers. Additionally, NBA insider, Chris Hayes reports that Simmons will meet with the Rockets.
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
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Nets acquired Simmons, a three-time All-Star, in February 2022, in a trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons is in the final year of his $177 million contract with the Nets. This season, he will earn $40.3 million and become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Over the past three seasons, Simmons has struggled with injuries and had two back surgeries. He has missed 207 out of 297 games across his two-plus years with the Nets. So far this season, he has played in 33 of the team’s 51 games. He is averaging 6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.
Nets Coach Jordi Fernandez has limited Simmons’ playing time to prevent him from playing back-to-back games, a strategy that allows Simmons to rest his back and avoid further injuries.
How Did We Get Here?
In December, Sports Illustrated’s Kyler Fox reported that the Nets would not consider a buyout agreement for Simmons’ contract. However, more recently, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints said that Simmons would approach the Nets about a buyout to join a contender.
Siegel wrote, “There has been some talk amongst teams that Ben Simmons will approach the Brooklyn Nets for a buyout to join a playoff-contending team.” Simmons was mentioned as a potential candidate for a contract buyout by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
What’s Next For the Nets And Simmons?
People once viewed Simmons as the next LeBron James due to his impressive skills in college, which led him to become the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. However, the bad reputation he gained with the 76ers and numerous injuries have tarnished that view.
If Simmons’ contract is bought out, the Nets will create salary cap flexibility for next season. Simmons’ time with the Nets will signal a restart in his NBA career. While he has not put up the expected numbers, his positivity and flexibility this season have not gone unnoticed. Simmons would contribute to any team’s defense, no matter where he lands.
For Nets fans, it will be another experiment with a player who had so much talent but did not deliver.
The post Nets and Ben Simmons Are Moving On appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.