“Who might the Knicks sign with that veteran’s minimum deal? They have continued to touch base with Ben Simmons during the free agency period. I’m sure they have touched base with other vets as well. Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook are among the lead guards still on the market. Teams are wondering if Washington will agree to a buyout with veteran guard Marcus Smart.”

— IB

OP’s Opinion: Knicks could use some defense off the bench, so perhaps for a 1-year veteran minimum, signing Simmons (who does have size) wouldn’t be so bad.

33 comments

  2. Please for the love of god no. I’d rather have Westbrook. Anyone but this douchebag.

  3. The tradeoff with Simmons imo is he’s probably the best contributor available for the regular season (or at least he’s up there…still a plus rebounder/defender/passer), but you don’t want him seeing a single minute in the playoffs.

    I’d probably pass because ideally we settle into a nice regular season rotation. It would also be really tough to balance Simmons/Hart/Mitch all getting minutes without screwing up spacing for long stretches of the game.

  4. I just don’t understand how you run a viable rotation, never play an awful lineup, and keep everybody satisfied with Simmons and hart on the roster

  5. The front office seems to be looking for a backup PG that has height and could pass/rebound/defend- Simmons does fit that mold even though he is scared to death of even attempting to score.

  6. That bench will enjoy his presence for all 82 regular season games he sits out and will continue his legacy of that into the postseason.

  15. Delon Wright gives you already the defense and playmaking without the shooting.

    Give me either Wright or Shamet.

  16. Might be good…If it wasnt for his bad vibes. I can see him by midseason checking out mentally.

  17. Just put him on the squad to round out the roster. Who gaf? Maybe he’ll give us a total of 200 minutes on the year and at least not turn the ball over.

  18. I know no one wants him, but shit if he happens to have an insane career comeback on this team, I welcome it lol

  19. I don’t mind taking a flyer on Simmons since he’ll be on a minimum deal and 10th guy off the bench. But Middleton or even Westbrook would be preferable.

  20. Please, Lord, let this come to its logical conclusion and we sign this vet-min beast 🙌🏾

  21. Only interested if he’s demonstrated that he’s humbled himself & ready to accept that he’s a *very* situational player.

    If that’s the case, honestly he’d be very valuable as a ~12th man who’d specialize in end-of-game defensive scenarios.

    You absolutely don’t want him eating up a lot of minutes during normal gameplay, but endgame offense/defense subs determine more games than people realize.

    But ONLY if he’s matured, won’t be a locker room cancer, loves his role and loves winning.

  28. Listen, I used to like Ben Simmons game even though he used to kill us. But we really don’t need another guy who can’t shoot and can’t shoot free throws

  29. On the vet min I am surprised how people don’t see this as a low risk /high reward. He is an above average defender, gives us another ball handler who can run the pick n roll, gives us more size at the wing spot, and gives us much more flexibility in the lineups we can roll out.

    My only concern would be you don’t want Simmons and Hart to share the court a ton, but I am sure Mike Brown can figure that out.

  30. The bench could still use better passing and a switchable defender with size. Simmons might not be a starter anymore, but he can legit defend both a wing and a full-sized scoring Center.

    I trust the FO either way.

  31. If Ben Simmons was willing to be a screen setter/DHO guy and offensive rebounder in the half court, be switchable big on D, and then only play like a guard on the break- grab and go off the glass plus outlet passes he could have value as a backup. He’s never accepted that he isn’t a guard and tanks his own value as a result,

  33. I hate Ben Simmons and he doesn’t actually care about basketball. If the front office somehow thinks he will put all of his effort in this, I will welcome it because he becomes the best passer this team has had since Pablo Prigioni lol

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