The Ben Simmons era in Brooklyn is over.
The injury-prone 28-year-old agreed to a contract buyout with the Nets and intends to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers after clearing waivers, according to multiple reports. In leaving the Nets, he gave back $1.1 million, the prorated minimum contract, in his buyout, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The three-time All-Star would be a low-risk, high reward addition for the Clippers, who are already equipped with playmakers James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell.
Simmons’ buyout comes after an unsuccessful tenure with the Nets since landing in Brooklyn in a deal that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022. Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 33 appearances this season with the Nets. His 24 starts in 2024-25 are the most since joining the franchise.
Due to injuries, the former No. 1 pick failed to regain the stardom he flashed as a member of the 76ers.
He wasn’t cleared to play in back-to-backs this season after undergoing offseason surgery. The 6-10 playmaker underwent a successful microscopic partial discectomy in March to alleviate the pinched nerve in his lower back that limited him to just 15 games in 2023-24 — his second surgery since he was acquired in the Harden deal.
Brooklyn went 13-20 with Simmons in 2024-25 and are 44-46 with him all time. The team failed to record a single postseason win during Simmons’ tenure. And much to the ire of fans, Simmons’ inabilities on the court coincided with the Nets dealing with the final years of a lucrative five-year, $177 million max extension he signed with the 76ers. He’s set to hit free agency at the end of the season.
Simmons now heads to the Clippers (28-23) who entered Saturday in the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Tyronn Lue’s squad is just a half game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, who own the sixth and final guaranteed postseason spot.
The Clippers hope Simmons can be another contributor alongside the roster’s current stars while showing flashes of solid defense that awarded him two All-Defensive Team selections.
Simmons is scheduled to return to Barclays Center as a Clipper on March 28.