Ben Simmons reportedly garnering interest from 76ers rival

Ben Simmons isn't the sought-after commodity he used to be, but the former first overall selection continues to find opportunities around the league.

After his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers went up in flames, Simmons spent two unremarkable and injury-riddled seasons with the Brooklyn Nets as the centerpiece of the James Harden blockbuster in February 2022. 

After failing to impress with the Nets, though, the 29-year-old managed to latch on with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2025, likely due to his former status as a bona fide All-Star with a unique skill set. Simmons failed to make an impact with the veteran-laden Clippers, though, prompting many to assume his NBA career may have run its course.

Enter the New York Knicks. 

After falling to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, it became clear that the Knicks' lack of bench depth was their most prominent weakness. New York amended this issue by adding versatile big man Guerschon Yabusele and a volume scorer in Jordan Clarkson. Those two will likely be the Knicks' most prominent signings of the summer, but it seems the franchise could make one more notable addition to their new-look second unit. 

In an SNY mailbag, veteran NBA insider Ian Begley was asked if the three-time All-Star is a viable option to fill New York's final roster spot. After years of decline and constant injury struggles, no team can expect too much from Simmons, but that doesn't mean the Knicks wouldn't love to add him on a risk-free deal.

"Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his decision," Begley responded. 

Simmons averaged just 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds between the Nets and Clippers in 2024-25. Simmons' height and build allow him to put up respectable numbers in rebounds and assists, but it's clear that the 6-foot-10 guard's confidence hasn't returned after once ranking among basketball's top young talents. 

If the Knicks can bring in Simmons, it will represent another reclamation effort for a player who has struggled mightily since his flameout in the 2021 postseason. 

The LSU product would be a low-risk, medium-reward signing that would allow New York to experiment with their bench rotation as they search to break through to the NBA Finals next season.