As Ben Simmons contemplates retirement, one team is quietly hoping that he’ll return for at least one more season to fill their final roster spot. According to Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, the New York Knicks have a vested interest in Simmons and have been in talks for weeks now on a potential deal.
“The New York Knicks have emerged as one of the leading suitors for former All-Star Ben Simmons, league sources tell me, with both sides showing mutual interest as recently as last month about one of the team’s final roster spots.”
The interest mostly comes from head coach Mike Brown, who has long coveted Simmons’ talents. Like other top Knicks executives, he believes Ben is worth the investment, even at this stage of his career.
“New Knicks head coach Mike Brown once “salivated” over the idea of adding Simmons when he was running the Sacramento Kings, and the franchise now views the 29-year-old playmaker as a potential low-risk, high-reward addition to its roster.”
This news comes after the report that Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, has cut ties with the former All-Star after being hired in 2023. Now, there are rumors that Simmons is considering retirement after receiving minimal interest in free agency. According to Brian Windhorst, he may have to settle for the league minimum if he decides to continue his career.
“The interest has been lukewarm,” said Windhorst. “The reality is, he’s looking at the minimum contract. He might even be forced to take a contract where he’s not guaranteed. At the end of the day, Ben Simmons’ stock has been falling dramatically for years.”
Simmons, 29, has had an unusual NBA journey. After going first overall in the 2016 draft, he rose to stardom on the 76ers alongside Joel Embiid. He was an All-Star for three straight years until an incident in the 2021 Eastern Semifinals that marked the start of his tragic downfall.
Between injuries and mental health struggles, Simmons could never return to form, and by the time he played through his first season in Brooklyn, he was a shadow of his former self. Now, he’s coming off the 2024-25 campaign, where he averaged just 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 43.4% shooting for the Clippers. He also averaged a career-low 16.4 minutes.
At 29 years old, Ben should have been in his prime, but now he’s fighting for a non-guaranteed contract for the veteran’s minimum. If Simmons retires now, his career will forever go down as one of the biggest “what-ifs.” But if he decides to join the Knicks, he’ll have one more chance to rewrite his legacy.
For a team that made the East Finals in 2025, Simmons could revive his career in New York if he can stay healthy, play with confidence, and demonstrate the elite defensive prowess that made him a two-time All-Defensive player.
Alongside Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, Simmons can find his role and give the team the edge they need to live up to their championship potential. If worst comes to worst, the Knicks can always cut their losses and replace Simmons with a better-fitting player.
