Ben Simmons to join Clippers after reaching buyout with Nets: reports

The Ben Simmons epoch successful Brooklyn is over.

The injury-prone 28-year-old agreed to a declaration buyout with the Nets and intends to motion with the Los Angeles Clippers aft clearing waivers, according to aggregate reports. In leaving the Nets, helium gave backmost $1.1 million, the prorated minimum contract, successful his buyout, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The three-time All-Star would beryllium a low-risk, precocious reward summation for the Clippers, who are already equipped with playmakers James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell.

Simmons’ buyout comes aft an unsuccessful tenure with the Nets since landing successful Brooklyn successful a woody that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers successful 2022. Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists successful 33 appearances this play with the Nets. His 24 starts successful 2024-25 are the astir since joining the franchise.

Due to injuries, the erstwhile No. 1 prime failed to regain the stardom helium flashed arsenic a subordinate of the 76ers.

He wasn’t cleared to play successful back-to-backs this play aft undergoing offseason surgery. The 6-10 playmaker underwent a palmy microscopic partial discectomy successful March to alleviate the pinched nervus successful his little backmost that constricted him to conscionable 15 games successful 2023-24 — his 2nd country since helium was acquired successful the Harden deal.

Brooklyn went 13-20 with Simmons successful 2024-25 and are 44-46 with him each time. The squad failed to grounds a azygous postseason triumph during Simmons’ tenure. And overmuch to the ire of fans, Simmons’ inabilities connected the tribunal coincided with the Nets dealing with the last years of a lucrative five-year, $177 cardinal max hold helium signed with the 76ers. He’s acceptable to deed escaped bureau astatine the extremity of the season.

Simmons present heads to the Clippers (28-23) who entered Saturday successful the seventh effect successful the Western Conference. Tyronn Lue’s squad is conscionable a fractional crippled down the Minnesota Timberwolves, who ain the sixth and last guaranteed postseason spot.

The Clippers anticipation Simmons tin beryllium different contributor alongside the roster’s existent stars portion showing flashes of coagulated defence that awarded him 2 All-Defensive Team selections.

Simmons is scheduled to instrumentality to Barclays Center arsenic a Clipper connected March 28.