Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons got a fresh start with the NBA team last year. Now, he’s making a fresh start with his representation.
The former All-Star and his agents from the Clutch Sports Group have mutually decided to part ways ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, two sides Allegedly The decision was reached after talks earlier this week.
Clutch has counted Simmons as a client since he entered the NBA draft in 2016 and was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers after an All-America season at LSU. The agency helped negotiate the five-year, $177 million contract extension Simmons signed in 2019.
That partnership also saw Simmons land endorsement deals with Nike, Beats by Dre, Foot Locker, Upper Deck and others.
Where does Ben Simmons go from here?
Simmons’ career took a turn after Payday 2019. Clutch represented him during his ugly divorce from the Sixers after he sat out the season after demanding a trade and ultimately landed with the Nets. Those off-court woes then gave way to on-court ones, as Simmons looked like a different player with the Nets — and not in a good way.
The 26-year-old is currently averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 26.3 minutes per game, all career lows. Even when adjusting for time or number of possessions, he is scoring at the lowest rate of his career.
He also hasn’t played since February 15, sitting out the past month with what the Nets are calling left knee soreness.
The Nets, in the midst of rebuilding after the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trades, have Simmons under contract for two more seasons at a salary of $37.9 million in 2023-24 and $40.3 million in 2024-25.
Despite all the money that has tied Simmons to the Nets, his career future is as bleak as ever. At his best, Simmons was a defensive player of the year candidate and a capable distributor for the Sixers, but he hasn’t been that type of player in a Brooklyn uniform. Even taking the line of mutual separation as fact, it is easy to see why Clutch agreed to let her go.
John Krawczynski of The Athletic reported Simmons is expected to sign with veteran agent Bernie Lee, who represents several NBA veterans. If that’s the case, Lee could help navigate any number of consequences after Simmons’ contract expires.