Latest news with #LosAngelesClippers
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Sixers star James Harden comes in ranked No. 34 on all-time list
It's ranking time in the NBA offseason as everybody gives their thoughts and opinions on who the best player in the world is and debates on where each player ranks in the history of this great game of basketball. Former Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden is one of the best players to ever play this game and he showed off his skill in his 1.5 seasons in the City of Brotherly Love. He averaged 21.0 points, 10.6 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game while leading the league in assists in the 2022-23 season playing next to MVP Joel Embiid. The Beard was then sent to the Los Angeles Clippers early in the 2023-24 season as he looked for greener pastures. Bleacher Report ranked their top 100 players of all-time and Harden came in ranked No. 34 on the list: Harden's best years came with the Houston Rockets, where he led the league in scoring three straight times from 2017-18 to 2019-20 and concluded a run during which he also led the NBA in free-throw attempts per game in seven of eight seasons. One of the most devastating pick-and-roll forces the game has ever seen, Harden also developed into an unstoppable isolation threat. Elite quickness, strength and craft made it impossible to stay in front of Harden, and then he perfected a step-back three-pointer so deadly that opponents actually preferred to play defense behind him. An extremely heliocentric star who has led the league in usage rate twice, never consistently defended and couldn't lead his team to a title, Harden has more than his share of detractors. Harden's time with the Sixers was short, but it was memorable as he was the one who led an efficient offense and made life easy for Embiid on that end of the floor. He was also influential for Tyrese Maxey as he earned his first All-Star appearance in 2024.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Not everyone thinks the Boston Celtics should sign ex-Clippers backup big man Ben Simmons
While there have been plenty of very good cases made for why the Boston Celtics ought to sign him, not everyone thinks that the Celtics should risk signing former Los Angeles Clippers backup big man Ben Simmons. For some, the sins of his past stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are unpardonable, for others, his lack of a shot from beyond the arc (or even an attempt at developing one in-game) make him a non-starter for Boston. There is a case to be made that even the minimum salary is not worth the opportunity cost (and the minutes he would be taking from some of the Celtics' younger players), with this eternally polarizing player not appealing to a significant subset of Boston fans and analysts. We can count among them WEEI's Meghan Ottolini, who recently took some time on "WEEI Afternoons" to talk about why Simmons isn't the right fit for the Celtics. Check it out below!
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bradley Beal officially gets Suns buyout, will sign 2-year deal with Clippers
The post Bradley Beal officially gets Suns buyout, will sign 2-year deal with Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Phoenix Suns and Bradley Beal have officially agreed to a contract buyout on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Beal will receive his more than $50 million annual salary for the upcoming season. The insider is also reporting that Beal will sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. While some thought there were other options (stretch and waiver or waiving his no-trade clause), the franchise believed this was the best-case scenario. However, the team has until the end of August to stretch and waiver Beal. According ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Suns are expected to stretch and waiver the former shooting guard. Phoenix would take on $19.4 million each season over the next five years as a dead cap hit. The organization is ripping the band-aid off a tumultuous two seasons. In Beal's first year, the Suns were swept in the opening round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Still, he only played 53 games that season, a worrying sign of what was to come. Then, in his second season with the team, Mike Budenholzer stepped in as head coach and made some interesting moves. One of the main ones was the Suns' benching of Bradley Beal at the start of 2025. While the latter took it in stride, it was an uncomfortable sign, considering that he was making close to $50 million, for him to come off the bench. Towards the end of the season, and with the Suns trading for Jalen Green, courtesy of moving Kevin Durant, the writing was starting to appear on the wall. Having three guards in the lineup and potentially having an even-worse Big 3 without Durant isn't a good look. Hypotheticals highlighted Bradley Beal's time with the Suns No one will truly know how good the previous Suns Big 3 with Beal, Durant, and Devin Booker could have been. There was a beaming light with only Durant and Booker. However, once Beal was added to the mix, it created a seismic shift in the offensive chemistry. All three players have similar skill sets, and didn't necessarily complement well off one another. Still, the biggest what-if was if everyone stayed healthy. As mentioned earlier, Beal only played 53 games in 2023-24, and it was the same a year later. There was never a true chance to showcase the dynamic of the three stars on a consistent nightly basis. This prior season, the team went a combined 19-18 with the three stars playing together. It felt as if Beal was the odd man out, considering what happened with Booker and Durant a season before Beal arrived in Phoenix. Either way, the band-aid coming off stings, but it's better than an alternative where he's eating up the cap sheet for four or five seasons. Safe to say that the Bradley Beal in Phoenix experiment flopped as badly as it can get. Still, plenty of contending teams could have used a scorer and a veteran presence like him, and now the Clippers get to try to get the most out of the polarizing superstar. Related: 10 most disappointing college basketball stars in the NBA in recent memory, ranked Related: NBA rumors: Jonathan Kuminga's desired salary that Warriors don't want to pay
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks rumors: New York ‘checks in' with Ben Simmons
The post Knicks rumors: New York 'checks in' with Ben Simmons appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Knicks have reportedly expressed preliminary interest in free agent forward Ben Simmons as they look to reshape their roster ahead of the 2025–26 season. According to Ian Begley of SNY, the team has 'checked in' on Simmons following a turbulent 2024–25 campaign that saw the former All-Star split time between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons, 28, is coming off his seventh NBA season. He appeared in 51 total games between the Nets and Clippers after being bought out by Brooklyn midseason. With both teams, Simmons served primarily as a reserve and rotational piece, averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field across 22 minutes per contest. His role diminished further after joining the Clippers, where he averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists over 18 games. He logged just 16.4 minutes per night and shot 43.4 percent from the field. In the postseason, Simmons was used sparingly in the Clippers' first-round series loss to the Denver Nuggets. He played in five of the seven games and averaged just 8.4 minutes and 1.4 rebounds per game. Knicks eye Ben Simmons as Jordan Clarkson signing nears and coaching search intensifies Once viewed as a franchise cornerstone and elite two-way talent, Simmons' career has been derailed in recent years by injuries, inconsistent performances, and limited offensive production. However, his size, playmaking ability, and defensive potential may still appeal to a Knicks team seeking versatility and depth at multiple positions. New York's check-in on Simmons comes on the heels of other reported moves. Earlier this week, sources confirmed that former Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson intends to sign with the Knicks following his own contract buyout. Clarkson's addition would provide scoring and veteran experience to a backcourt led by Jalen Brunson. The Knicks are also navigating a coaching transition after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau in May. The franchise reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000 before being eliminated in six games by the Indiana Pacers. With expectations rising, the organization is actively searching for its next head coach. Recent reports have identified former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown as a leading candidate for the position. Brown, known for his defensive schemes and playoff experience, is emerging as the frontrunner as the Knicks plan for the next phase of their competitive window. As front office decisions unfold, New York's reported inquiry into Simmons signals a willingness to explore value-based additions, particularly those with upside. While no deal appears imminent, the Knicks' interest in Simmons adds another layer to an active offseason. Related: Who is the Knicks newest free agent signing? Related: Top assistant coach eyed by Knicks for Mike Brown's staff, but there's a catch
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How could Ben Simmons help the Boston Celtics next season?
Ben Simmons spent the second half of last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. The former Philadelphia 76ers star has struggled in recent years following a significant back injury. His tenure with Ty Lue's team failed to secure him a longer stay in Los Angeles. Now, it would appear that the Boston Celtics are among the teams to have checked in on him over the summer. Simmons would help plug a couple of gaps within the Celtics rotation. He could ease the loss of Jrue Holiday due to his defensive versatility, and he could help eat some of the playmaking load Jayson Tatum was forced to vacate due to an Achilles tendon injury. Furthermore, Simmons would likely be available on a minimum contract, ensuring there's minimal risk to the Celtics, should they explore the idea further. Kayla Burton, Tom E. Curran and Mike Giardi discussed the idea of acquiring Simmons and how he could help the Celtics rotation during a recent episode of NBC Sports Boston's "Early Edition." The trio debated the pros and cons of bringing Simmons into the roster and whether the veteran ball-handler would be worth the money on a veteran minimum deal. You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
