Free agent forward Ben Simmons has been regularly linked to the New York Knicks, though a team insider believes he may end up elsewhere.
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Simmons is one of the biggest names still available as a free agent.
He is a good defender with an impressive ball handle and playmaking vision, though his mentality on the court and aggressiveness have dwindled to the point where he provides minimal contributions on offense.
As the Knicks fill out the rest of their roster, they have been connected to Simmons for a while, but insider Ian Begley believes he may end up elsewhere.
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"Logic tells me to take the field because there are so many different variables here for the Knicks," Ian Begley said on SNY's "The Putback.
"They have interest, other teams have interest, and they have one spot unless they make a trade to open up another.
"So it seems to me you are looking at Landry Shamet or a Ben Simmons-type player. That is why I would probably take the field. Are the Knicks the favorite? I do not think so."
Simmons is a three-time All-Star and has made an appearance on an All-NBA Team, along with two on the All-Defensive squad.
At the age of 29, the Australian is still in his athletic prime, even if injuries have limited his availability and explosiveness.
During his first four seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, he averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.
He was a player who flashed superstar potential despite being limited in terms of scoring. Simmons has been a proficient finisher at the rim, but he always struggled to shoot from the perimeter.
The forward held out from playing with the Sixers for an entire season after going through a back injury and issues with his mental health, leading him to eventually get traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
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With the Nets - and subsequently the Los Angeles Clippers - he has not reached the heights he once did; instead regressing into a shell of his former self.
For the Knicks, Simmons can be a valuable reclamation project who helps during the regular season with minutes of defensive intensity and the ability to push the basketball up the court.
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