The 2025 NBA trade deadline is over, and it delivered some of the best basketball drama of all time. One of the teams who didn’t get involved in a blockbuster trade isn’t done making roster changes. That would be the Los Angeles Clippers, who have signed the best player available on the NBA buyout market.
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Los Angeles Clippers sign Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons, one of the NBA’s most criticized former superstars, is a four-time All-Star and two-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive team. Those honors earned the former NBA Rookie of the Year a five-year, $177 million contract.
Yet, his skills have diminished since suffering multiple back injuries, and now the Brooklyn Nets have bought Simmons out of his contract.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers have signed Simmons, beating out several other suitors. Previously, Charania reported that Simmons was set to meet with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets in addition to the Clippers.
While the Nets are out of contention, it’s possible Clippers coach Tyronn Lue can find a better use for Simmons, who’s averaging 6.2 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 6.9 assists per game to go with 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest.
The left-handed shooting 28-year-old was in the final year of his contract, with a cap hit of $40.3 million, but now he’ll join the Clippers for the rest of the season, bringing 34 games of playoff experience to Los Angeles.
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