Report: Ben Simmons, Nets Finalizing Contract Buyout amid Clippers, Cavs Rumors

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 7, 2025

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Ben Simmons’ time with the Brooklyn Nets is coming to an end.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, Simmons and the Nets are “finalizing a contract buyout.” Simmons is expected to meet with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, Charania and Windhorst reported, as he looks to find a new landing spot after Thursday’s trade deadline.

NBA insider Chris Haynes added that Simmons intends to meet with the Houston Rockets before making a decision.

While Simmons is not away from the team for injury reasons this time, durability concerns have been a dominating theme in his career.

He played just 15 games for Brooklyn last season and 42 games in 2022-23 after he didn’t play a single game during the 2021-22 campaign. The LSU product hasn’t even reached the 60-game mark for a season since 2018-19.

Despite those overall concerns, he will still be a headline name on the buyout market.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft does have a Rookie of the Year, an All-NBA selection, two All-Defensive selections and three All-Star Game nods on his resume. There was a time when he looked to be a franchise building block for the Philadelphia 76ers and one of the best young stars in the league.

That is no longer the case.

Shooting woes have prevented him from fully living up to his potential, although he has found other ways to impact the game this season while averaging 6.2 points, 6.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds a night.

Whether it is the Clippers, Cavaliers or another contender that adds him, he likely won’t be asked to do much beyond being a role player who can help control the boards and facilitate in transition.

Doing that alongside players who draw more defensive attention and create space such as Donovan Mitchell or James Harden could lead to even better overall production.