Ben Simmons Current Contract and Salary Structure
Ben Simmons is currently under contract with the Brooklyn Nets after being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers in a four-team deal during the 2022 offseason. His existing deal carries a guaranteed salary of $33.1 million for the 2024-25 NBA season, with a player option for the 2025-26 season worth $36.6 million. The contract was originally signed as a five-year, $170 million maximum rookie extension in 2017, and the remaining guaranteed years reflect the original terms with the 76ers before the trade. The structure includes standard NBA salary cap protections and no trade kickers, which affects how teams can move him. For the latest official salary figures and contract terms, see the NBA salary database on Spotrac.
The contract guarantees Simmons a total of approximately $168 million through the 2025-26 season if the player option is exercised. His cap hit remains one of the highest in the league, ranking among the top 20 highest-paid players despite his limited availability and production in recent seasons. The guaranteed money includes all base salary plus any incentives that are fully guaranteed under the league's collective bargaining agreement. The Nets absorbed the full contract without receiving a salary matching asset in the original trade package, which was centered on draft picks and players. Detailed breakdowns of each season's guaranteed salary are available on the official NBA salary cap page on Basketball-Reference.
Trade History and Contract Movement
Simmons was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster four-team transaction completed on February 10, 2022. The trade sent Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and a 2022 unprotected first-round pick to Brooklyn in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap. The 76ers absorbed the remaining years of his contract, while the Nets took on the final two guaranteed seasons with the player option. The move was driven by the 76ers' desire to acquire a star scorer in Harden and to clear cap space for future flexibility. The trade details and official transaction log are documented by ESPN.
Prior to the Nets trade, Simmons had been a holdout from the 76ers during the 2021-22 season, missing 58 games and requesting a trade. His absence during the 76ers' playoff run drew significant scrutiny and impacted his market value, though the guaranteed salary remained unchanged. The contract's no-trade clause was not present, allowing the 76ers to facilitate the deal without his explicit approval. The Nets later used Simmons as a trade asset again in discussions, but no second trade was completed before the 2024 deadline. The full timeline of the holdout, trade, and subsequent roster moves is covered by The Athletic.
Contract Status, Player Option, and Future Outlook
Simmons holds a player option for the 2025-26 season, which is valued at $36.6 million and must be exercised by a specific deadline in the summer before the season begins. If he declines the option, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team, though his current production level may limit his market. The Nets have not publicly indicated whether they plan to pick up the option, and the decision is expected to depend on his health, defensive role, and fit within the roster. The option decision timeline and implications are analyzed by NBA insiders on The Athletic.
The contract's impact on Brooklyn's salary cap remains significant, with the $33.1 million salary consuming a large portion of their available cap space for the 2024-25 season. The Nets are not currently positioned as a clear championship favorite, and Simmons' role as a primary ball-handler and defender is under scrutiny given his