{"id":158300,"date":"2025-09-08T15:39:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T19:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=158300"},"modified":"2025-09-08T15:39:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T19:39:15","slug":"should-knicks-shed-salary-sign-star-free-agent-ben-simmons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/08\/should-knicks-shed-salary-sign-star-free-agent-ben-simmons\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Knicks Shed Salary To Sign Star Free Agent?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deep into the 2025 NBA Offseason, 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook<\/a> and 2016 No. 1 pick Ben Simmons<\/a> are the two stars that remain unsigned.<\/p>\n

In the former’s case, the Sacramento Kings stick out as his most feasible future team<\/a>. Yet, he’s five years removed from his last All-Star season and retirement could be on the horizon<\/a>. Simmons, who is said to be considering signing out rather than signing up<\/a> for another season, is in a similar situation. However, a few teams have expressed interest in Simmons this summer (the Kings, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and quite possibly<\/a> the Toronto Raptors). A handful of teams (Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets) made overtures towards him following his buyout agreement<\/a> with the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n

Should Knicks Shed Salary To Sign Star Free Agent Ben Simmons?<\/h2>\n

Simmons’s issue isn’t so much that he’s on the outs as he doesn’t see himself as a minimum-salary player. Frankly, his desire to attract more lucrative offers may have played a part in him parting ways with agent Bernie Lee<\/a>. With that being said, Simmons would already be employed by an NBA team if he was willing to take a significant pay cut.<\/p>\n

The New York Knicks have offered him a one-year contract<\/a>, which he rejected, per The Stein Line insider Marc Stein. Handcuffed by the restrictive CBA, the most they could offer the three-time All-Star is the veteran’s minimum.<\/p>\n