Three teams Australian point-forward Ben Simmons could help in the 2025-26 NBA season

Australian free agent Ben Simmons has three potential National Basketball Association suitors just days before the start of the 2025-26 season.

They are the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons.

Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek identified those three landing spots based on their team needs after three-time NBA All-Star, 2018 Rookie of the Year, two-time All-NBA Defensive First Team member (2020 and 2021) and 2020 NBA Steals leader wasn’t renewed by the Los Angeles Clippers after last season.

Simmons, 29, should be smack bang in the middle of his prime but the past five years have been mired in injury, hold-outs, trades and buy-outs after the Philadelphia 76ers signed him to a maximum five-year USD $177.2M extension in 2020.

Instead, Simmons is now searching for a landing spot, for veteran league minimum, that suits both camps.

The Melbourne-born point-forward was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets before the trade deadline last season and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, alongside fellow Australian Patty Mills, for the remainder of the season.

Simmons was reportedly offered a one-year deal by the New York Knicks, which he rejected.

“You know, the interest has been lukewarm. There are a few teams that are interested. Frankly, if you’re looking at him as a point guard, there’s not that many teams out there that are in need of a point guard who has guaranteed playing time,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst told Kane Pitman in early September.

“If you’re looking at him as sort of a defensive big man, there’s a little bit bigger of a market.

“But the reality is he’s looking at the minimum contract, which is still, you know, about (USD) $4 million for him this year.  

“He might even be forced to take a contract where he’s not guaranteed — where he would have to sort of earn his way on to the team through training camp and then maybe not know his status until midway through the season.”

If Simmons does sign with the Timberwolves, he will be third Australian on the Minnesota roster, boasting Joe Ingles and rookie Rocco Zikarsky.

Polacek wrote of the Wolves’ potential: “Adding Simmons would be a small improvement. For as consistent and reliable as Mike Conley has been throughout his career, he is 38 years old and appeared to slow down at times last season. Bolstering the backcourt depth, especially with someone like Simmons who can handle the ball and facilitate, would only help the Timberwolves keep Conley fresher as the season progresses. Simmons’ defensive prowess would also be a boost for Anthony Edwards because the former could guard the opponent’s best wing player for extended stretches on a nightly basis.”

Ben Simmons — 2024-25 Season Stats

Team: Clippers
Games Played: 18 │ Minutes: 16.4 │ Points: 2.9 │ FG%: 43.4 │ 3PT%: 0.0 │ Rebounds: 3.8 │ Assists: 3.1 │ Steals: 0.7

Team: Nets
Games Played: 33 │ Minutes: 25.0 │ Points: 6.2 │ FG%: 54.7 │ 3PT%: 0.0 │ Rebounds: 5.2 │ Assists: 6.9 │ Steals: 0.8

Ben Simmons’ Rookie Contract (Philadelphia 76ers)Drafted: 2016, No. 1 overall by the 76ersContract: 4 years, (USD) $26.6M (rookie scale)Details: Signed July 2016. First two years guaranteed (~$16.4M), final two years team options.Notes: Missed entire rookie season (2016–17) due to foot injury.Ben Simmons’ Rookie Extension (Philadelphia 76ers)Signed: July 2019Contract: 5-years, (USD) $177.2M max extension (Designated Rookie Scale)Details: Kicked in starting 2020–21 season. Fully guaranteed.Annual Salary Breakdown:2020–21: $30.6M2021–22: $33.0M2022–23: $35.4M2023–24: $37.9M2024–25: $40.3MTrade to Brooklyn Nets & Buy-outDate: February 10, 2022Deal: Simmons traded from Philadelphia to Brooklyn in the James Harden trade.Contract Status: Continued playing under his 5-year, $177M extension.Buy-out: The Nets bought out the remainder of Simmons’ contract and he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline in 2025.