Ben Simmons Rejects Knicks’ Veteran-Minimum Offer; Agent Drops Guard
Simmons turned down a reported veteran-minimum deal and was released by agent Bernie Lee as New York pursues other guard options, league sources say.
Ben Simmons rejected a veteran-minimum contract offer from the New York Knicks and has been dropped by his agent, sources told reporters, leaving the 29-year-old free agent without representation as teams continue to shape opening-night rosters.
The Knicks’ offer was for the veteran minimum — a deal valued at just over $3 million given New York’s current salary-cap situation — and was extended because the club viewed Simmons’ defensive upside and playmaking as a fit for a backup point-guard role, a league source said. According to NBA Hall of Fame writer Marc Stein and reporting by the New York Post, Simmons declined the offer and his agent, Bernie Lee, terminated the client relationship after signals that Simmons was not interested in the deal.
Simmons’ market has been constrained by a string of setbacks over the past four seasons, including back surgeries, prolonged inactivity, and fines for declining to play while with the Philadelphia 76ers. Those issues have raised questions around his health, conditioning and willingness to return to a consistent NBA role, and have contributed to skepticism among some executives about what level of interest he will draw at this stage of free agency.
The Celtics were reportedly among teams that had shown interest in Simmons, and former All-Star point guard Jeff Teague said on his podcast that Simmons’ playing career may be over, noting limitations in mobility. “It’s over. It’s over, bro,” Teague said on Club 520. The Post reported that Simmons has also questioned whether he wants to play in the NBA next season.
For the Knicks, the development arrives as they evaluate a single available veteran roster slot. Landry Shamet, who fought back from a separated shoulder last season to earn a place in the Knicks’ playoff rotation, is a primary candidate to fill the opening and has been working out in New York while pursuing a return. The team has also had contact with representatives for Malik Beasley, though the sharpshooter faces potential scrutiny tied to a federal gambling probe and is considered a long shot. Malcolm Brogdon, a veteran point guard, is another name the Knicks are monitoring, the AP reported.
Simmons, a former All-Star who was once regarded as a potential franchise cornerstone, has been viewed by some teams as a low-cost, high-upside addition because of his defensive awards and playmaking when healthy. But teams and analysts point to multiple seasons of limited availability and diminished trust as reasons his likely market this late in free agency would be at or near the veteran minimum.
The decision by Bernie Lee to part ways with Simmons removes an established agent from ongoing negotiations and could complicate the guard’s ability to secure a deal quickly. League sources said the split followed Simmons’ signals of disinterest in the Knicks’ terms rather than a collapse of talks over money.
With training camps opening and rosters tightening, the window for veteran free agents to find landing spots is narrowing. For the Knicks, the priority appears to be filling the veteran slot with a guard who can back up the starters and contribute immediately. For Simmons, the next steps will hinge on whether he re-engages with representation, clarifies his intentions about playing next season and finds a team willing to take a low-risk bet on his health and fit.