Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons started a new life in the NBA last year. Now he is getting a fresh start with his performance.
The former All-Star and his agents at Klutch Sports Group have decided to part ways. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Two sides reportedly came to a decision after talking earlier this week.
Klatch has considered Simmons a client since he entered the 2016 NBA draft and was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers after the LSU All-American season. The agency helped negotiate a five-year, $177 million contract extension that Simmons signed in 2019.
As part of this partnership, Simmons has also signed deals with Nike, Beats by Dre, Foot Locker, Upper Deck and more.
Where will Ben Simmons go next?
After that payday in 2019, Simmons’ career took a turn. Klatch represented him during his ugly divorce from the Sixers, when he sat out the season after demanding a trade and ended up with the Nets. Those off-court troubles then turned into on-court problems as Simmons looked like a different player on 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, a career low. Even when adjusted for timing or possessions, he’s scoring the lowest number of his career.
He also hasn’t played since Feb. 15, having missed the final month with what the Nets describe as a left knee soreness.
The Nets, in the midst of a rebuild following the trade of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, signed Simmons to a two-season deal for $37.9 million in 2023-24 and $40.3 million in 2024-25.
Even with all this money tying Simmons to the Nets, the future of his career is as bleak as ever. In his prime, Simmons was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a capable distributor for the Sixers, but he wasn’t such a player in Brooklyn uniform. Even taking the line of mutual separation as fact, it is easy to understand why Klatch agreed to let him go.
John Kravchinski reports to The Athletic. Simmons is expected to sign with veteran agent Bernie Lee, who represents a number of NBA veterans. If that’s the case, Lee could help navigate any number of outcomes once Simmons’ contract ends.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
