The Los Angeles Clippers, who many predicted would drop off a bit following Paul George's departure last offseason, finished the year as the No. 5 seed in the West and suffered just one more loss than they did last year. However, they ultimately got sent home in the first round by the Denver Nuggets in seven games.
Following their early playoff exit, the Clippers may have some big decisions they need to make this offseason. This includes what their plans are for Ben Simmons, who signed with the team during the season after a buyout from the Brooklyn Nets.
Simmons, who appeared in 18 regular season games for the Clippers, will hit unrestricted free agency this summer. According to The Athletic's Law Murray, Simmons is not expected to remain in Los Angeles.
"[Simmons] is a free agent. He eventually faded out of the rotation completely for the Clippers. I don't expect him to be back. If he comes back it'd be on a very low number ... You need someone who's a threat on both sides of the ball," Murray said on a recent podcast with Yossi Gozlan.
Following the latest developments on Simmons, the Clippers are now predicted to land a former Boston Celtics guard who could be the former No. 1 overall pick's replacement.
While not the same player he was when he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2018, Simmons provides depth and versatility. If he leaves the Clippers, they will have to look for a replacement, and there is one specific player to monitor.
In the same podcast, Murray said that he considers Malcolm Brogdon "a primary target for the Clippers."
"I would consider Brogdon a primary target for the Clippers," Murray said. "They almost traded (for him previously). I think if Brogdon would have been a buyout guy, I think the Clippers would have considered him along with Ben Simmons."
Brogdon spent one season with the Celtics in 2022-23 and won the Sixth Man of the Year award. The Celtics initially traded him to the Clippers as part of the blockbuster trade that landed them Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards. However, following medical concerns, the Clippers backed out, and the Celtics ultimately sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies instead to complete the trade.
The former Celtics guard spent last season with the Washington Wizards, though he only appeared in 24 games for the team and did not see the court after the All-Star break. Brogdon is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and as it stands, it seems likely he will be on his fifth team in as many years next season.
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