Ben Simmons is one of the biggest names that is yet to land with a team in this free agency. Rumors suggested that the Australian point guard was considering retirement after parting ways with his representation. Now, sources have claimed that the former 76ers guard rejected a veteran minimum offer from the Knicks.
However, according to a reliable beat writer, NY Daily’s Kristian Winfield, the Knicks never made a formal offer and only inquired with the player’s representation about a potential offer.
“Knicks never offered Ben Simmons a contract, per league source. They had interest but never made a formal offer,” wrote Winfield on X.
As per the initial report from the NBA Insider Marc Stein, league sources told him that the Knicks made a one-year contract offer to Simmons, which he swiftly rejected.
“The Knicks, league sources said, indeed offered a one-year contract to Ben Simmons that the former All-Star passed on. New York is limited to minimum contract offers as training camps draw near, and Simmons entered the summer hopeful of securing a contract above the minimum after he split last season between the Nets and Clippers.”
There has been a lot of speculation around Simmons’ future in the NBA. Some suggested that he is holding up the market for other veteran point guards like Russell Westbrook and Malcolm Brogdon, considering teams see a higher upside in investing in a younger player.
NBA fans, however, did not take this rumored rejection lightly. They seemed to troll Simmons on social media for reportedly rejecting this rumored offer.
“Beggars can’t be choosers, Brodie.”
“The fact that teams want to pay this man US currency is baffling.”
“No way, bro thinks he’s worth more than a minimum.”
“He rejected the only team that wanted him.”
Several such reactions flooded the internet after this report was published. It was also reported by NBA Insider Jake Fischer that the 76ers were interested in a potential reunion with Ben Simmons after he was bought out by the Nets.
This indicates that they might still be interested in him, but they will have to repair all the fractures and tension between Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons if they plan to pursue him.
Other than a miracle 76ers reunion, if the gates to Madison Square Garden are in fact closed for Ben Simmons, then it looks likelier with each passing day that Ben Simmons might just retire or begin the coming season as a free agent since he has no options left.
In my opinion, considering that Simmons is being treated like a joke around the league, he should seriously consider retiring instead of trying to revive his NBA career long past his prime.
