The Los Angeles Clippers signed Ben Simmons on Monday, two days after the Brooklyn Nets agreed to buy out his contract and waived the point guard.
The Clippers did not announce terms of his agreement. Simmons, 28, was in the final season of a five-year, $177.2 million deal, earning $40.3 million this season, when Brooklyn released him to end a disappointing, injury-marred three-year stay with the club.
A three-time All-Star and the former Rookie of the Year, Simmons joined the Nets on Feb. 10, 2022, after he was acquired in the five-player trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 6-foot-10 Simmons now will be Harden’s teammate and give Los Angeles additional help at point guard, while giving the team length on defense from the backcourt.
With the Nets, Simmons appeared in 90 games (69 starts) and averaged 6.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists over 25.4 minutes per game. He played 33 of those games this season.
His numbers in Brooklyn lagged behind those he put up with the 76ers, who made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2016.
In 275 games with the Sixers, the native Australian averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists.
He missed two full seasons with the Sixers — 2016-17 due to injury and 2021-22 because of a holdout and a back injury. Back issues have plagued him throughout his career.
–Field Level Media
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