Ben Simmons remains a free agent with the start of the 2025-26 NBA season less than two months away, and he may have to dramatically lower his expectations if he wants to change that.
During a Thursday morning appearance on ESPN Australia, Brian Windhorst said the interest in Simmons has been “lukewarm” since the start of free agency in July. The reporter said there is not much of a market for veteran point guards, which is why Russell Westbrook has not found a new home, either.
Windhorst added that there is a chance the 6-foot-10 Simmons could sign with a team that likes him as a defender, but Simmons might have to agree to a non-guaranteed contract.
“If you’re looking at him as sort of a defensive big man, there’s a little bit bigger of a market,” Windhorst said. “The reality is he’s looking at the minimum contract, which is still about $4 million for him this year, but he might even be forced to take a contract where he’s not guaranteed, where he would have to sort of earn his way onto the team through training camp and maybe not know his status until midway through the season. If that’s the case, maybe he may want to wait a few months to see where a good fit would be, where he would join a team that would have a need for a point guard.
“At the end of the day, Ben Simmons’ stock has been falling dramatically for years. The fact that we’re into September and he doesn’t have a full-time, guaranteed job I think speaks to that.”
Ben Simmons may be forced to sign a non-guaranteed minimum contract, per @WindhorstESPN
“At the end of the day Ben Simmons stock has been falling dramatically for years.”
(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA )
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 4, 2025
A report on Wednesday claimed Simmons is considering retirement. If there has not been a team willing to offer him a guaranteed contract, even for the veteran minimum, that makes a lot more sense.
Simmons, who was a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-Defensive selection early in his career, averaged 5.0 points. 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game combined between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers last season. He has played in 108 of a possible 328 games over the past four seasons, though legitimate back issues were a factor in that.
Simmons has been linked to some interesting teams in recent weeks, but he may not be willing to sign without some sort of guarantee.