NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that Ben Simmons rejected a contract offer from the Knicks.
An unrestricted free agent after finishing last season with the Clippers, Simmons has been connected with multiple teams this offseason, including the Celtics and Knicks. However, he reportedly turned down a one-year offer from New York. The Knicks are limited in what they can offer a veteran due to the salary cap, which may have factored into Simmons’ decision to pass. New York can realistically only offer the league minimum to avoid the second apron. Simmons can be impactful as a defender and playmaker, but his limited scoring ability can be problematic if he isn’t the only non-shooter on the floor.