Inglewood, California – On Monday, the Los Angeles Clippers made a significant addition to their roster by signing Ben Simmons, a former first overall draft pick who has faced numerous challenges with his health and performance during his 2.5 seasons spent with the Brooklyn Nets.

At 28 years old, Simmons joins a team that boasts experienced players such as Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Norman Powell. As of Monday, the Clippers held a record of 29 wins and 23 losses, positioning them seventh in the Western Conference standings.

Simmons was recently released by the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday after both parties reached a contract buyout agreement. Currently, he is making $40 million this season and is set to enter free agency at the end of the year.

This season, Simmons has averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game. His career began with excitement; he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2017-18 while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers and enjoyed three consecutive All-Star selections. Known for his exceptional passing and defensive abilities, Simmons has struggled to develop his shooting skills, particularly from beyond the arc. He faced intense scrutiny for his lack of offensive aggression during the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Sixers were eliminated by the Atlanta Hawks.

Standing at 6-foot-10 and hailing from Australia, Simmons has not attempted a three-pointer since the end of the 2022-23 season and holds a disappointing career shooting percentage of just 13.9%, having made only 5 out of 36 attempts from long range.

Following the trade deadline in 2022, Simmons was acquired by the Nets in exchange for James Harden, but he quickly faced setbacks due to a back injury that occurred while he was attempting to regain fitness after a lengthy absence from the game. This back issue, related to nerve damage, continued to impede his performance, leading to him participating in only half of the 2022-23 season and playing just 33 out of a possible 52 games this season.

In an effort to strengthen the team’s bench as the trade deadline approached, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank implemented several strategic moves, bringing in players such as Bogdan Bogdanovic, Patty Mills, Drew Eubanks, and MarJon Beauchamp.