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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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A New York Knicks insider has shut down a recent report regarding the team's interest in free agent former three-time All-Star guard Ben Simmons.
Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that Simmons demurred on a one-year contract offer from New York earlier this offseason. Given the Knicks' cap restrictions, the deal would have to have been for a veteran's minimum.
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Stein reports that the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, fresh off a $40.3 million deal in 2024-25 (although, granted, he agreed to a buyout from the Brooklyn Nets and took a minimum rest-of-year deal with the L.A. Clippers), had been angling for more money.
Per Ian Begley of SNY.tv, however, the 29-year-old vet received no such offer.
Begley observes that, though New York has chatted with Simmons a bit this summer and does have some interest, the team never actually tendered a contract his way. Begley notes that 2024-25 Knicks guard Landry Shamet and former Sixth Man of the Year combo guard Malcolm Brogdon are also being considered.
As of this writing, New York has three roster openings available for standard deals.
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Simmons has fallen mightily from his Philadelphia 76ers-era prime. A two-time All-Defensive Teamer, one-time All-NBA Third Teamer, and the 2018 Rookie of the Year, the 6-foot-10 LSU product has struggled with back, knee and mental health issues during his seven healthy pro seasons. He's been in the league nine years overall, but missed the entirety of 2016-17 and 2021-22.
He used to be a forceful downhill scorer, distributor and rebounder, but after a debilitating lower back injury, he has lost a lot of his edge as a scorer. He's never been a particularly good or engaged jump shooter, and his free-throw shooting cratered in the 2021 playoffs, reaching its nadir of 40 percent in 2023-24. Last season, he connected on a surprisingly competent 72.7 percent shooting from the foul line.
Last season, while splitting his time between the Nets and Clippers, Simmons averaged 5.0 points on 52 percent shooting from the floor and the aforementioned 72.7 percent from the charity stripe, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks a night.
Although he joined the Clippers, clearly angling to be part of a playoff contender, Simmons himself was deemed superfluous to the playoff cause. Head coach Tyronn Lue booted him out of his rotations, and ultimately Simmons only appeared in five games for L.A., averaging 8.4 spot minutes.
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