&quot:28-year-old Simmons refuses to leave the Clippers, with averaging 5+5+5 per game still worth 40 million. Where to go for the next stop? "

On July 5, according to Clippers reporter Law Murray, Ben Simmons is expected to leave the Los Angeles Clippers this summer to end his short Clippers career.

This former No. 1 pick and three-time All-Star player is now standing at the intersection of his career. He clearly stated that he is unwilling to accept a basic salary contract, but hopes to find a better offer in the free market.

Looking back at the 2024-25 season, Simmons' performance is hard to say. He played for the Nets and the Clippers, playing in a total of 51 games, averaging only 5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, shooting 52% from the field and shooting 72.7% from free throws. Although the data is mediocre, his all-round attributes are still favored by some teams - the defensive switching ability, organizational connection vision, and occasionally flashing past talents have made some management willing to bet on his recovery possibility. In terms of salary, Simmons' total income last season was as high as $40 million (the Nets paid 39.25 million and the Clippers paid 750,000), but with the expiration of a five-year, 177 million contract, his market has shrunk significantly. Teams such as the Knicks have expressed interest, but the premise is that Simmons accepts a basic salary, which is obviously not in line with his expectations. The Clippers have not shown a strong desire to renew the contract, and it is almost a foregone conclusion that the two sides will part ways.

For Simmons, the decision to refuse a basic salary is not difficult to understand. At the age of 28, he is still at the golden age of a professional player. If he can recover some of his state in the new environment, he may be able to fight for a middle-class contract. But the reality is also cruel - his shooting shortcomings (only 13.9% from career 3-pointers) and injury history (less than 50% attendance in the past four years) are still the concerns of potential next homes.

When the Clippers signed Simmons in February, they hoped that he could fill the defensive vacancy after George left the team and share Harden's organizational pressure. However, his contribution was limited and the team ended up only as ninth in the West. Now, the Clippers' reconstruction direction may have shifted to a younger puzzle, and Simmons' next stop may be a mid-range team willing to give him more opportunities, or a playoff fringe team with a salary exception.

The door to the free market has just opened, and Simmons' whereabouts are still full of variables. Can this genius, who was once highly anticipated, find a new starting point in the trough of his career? Time will give the answer.