Ben Simmons may need to wait for his next NBA opportunity

Simmons went from a 14.3 points, 6.9 assists and 7.2 rebounds per night machine in 2020-21, where he finished 12th in MVP voting and second in the Defensive Player of the Year race, to producing just 2.9 points, 3.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds for the LA Clippers to close out the current season. 

The former first overall draft pick is still only 29 years old. He should be in the prime of his career. With his skill set, he was supposed to be a multi-time All-NBA selection and one of the best defenders the NBA has to offer.

Instead, he's currently sitting on the free-agent market, wondering whether a team is going to roll the dice on giving him a minimum contract. Yet, as ESPN's Bobby Marks noted on Monday, most teams around the NBA likely have their rosters locked in. 

"Simmons is in a numbers crunch," Marks wrote. "He is one of the nearly 75 players who finished the regular season on a roster but are still without a home for next season. The primary reason? It starts with the 41 players selected in the draft who signed first- and second-round contracts. Those players have replaced veterans, including Simmons, on rosters for next season." 

Simmons will likely need to remain patient in the coming months. He may not get an opportunity to suit up for a new NBA team until midway through the season, if at all this season. Years of underperforming have taken their toll. 

There are only so many times a team can sell itself on being able to get your career back on track until the truth begins staring them in the face.

Sooner or later, someone in the NBA will need playmaking and perimeter defense with size. The New York Knicks have been rumored to be interested in adding him, as they look to shore up their guard rotation. 

The Boston Celtics could certainly use an additional perimeter defender following Jrue Holiday's exit. Out West, the Denver Nuggets may view Simmons as high-level insurance for Jamal Murray. Whoever gets Simmons on a cost-controlled deal could come away looking like they got a steal. 

The problem is, there's no telling how long that wait could be. And the longer he's outside of the NBA bubble, the more he will be forgotten. 

Europe may come calling before too long, and that will be a decision Simmons must make if and when the opportunity arises.