Ben Simmons could be on the radar for the Toronto Raptors as they reshape their roster and front office leadership heading into the 2025 offseason.
According to Michael Grange of SportsNet, Simmons’ name was mentioned internally during a Raptors basketball operations meeting last Friday, led by general manager Bobby Webster. This took place shortly before Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment introduced Keith Pelley as the organization’s new CEO and began evaluating candidates to replace Masai Ujiri as president.
Simmons, 28, is now an unrestricted free agent after his one-year, $1.08 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers expired. He appeared in 51 total games this season—33 with the Brooklyn Nets before a February buyout and 18 with the Clippers following a midseason signing.
Though injuries continued to limit his availability, Simmons posted solid per-36 numbers in a reduced role, averaging 9.2 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. His playmaking and defensive versatility remain areas of intrigue for teams seeking low-risk veteran additions.
In five playoff games this spring, Simmons logged just 8.4 minutes per contest, averaging under a point per game. Yet, his defensive instincts and passing vision still show flashes of what once made him a three-time All-Star.
The Raptors finished 11th in the Eastern Conference at 30–52, missing the play-in tournament. With the franchise undergoing a top-down evaluation following another losing campaign, bringing in a former No. 1 pick like Simmons—under the right financial terms—could offer a low-cost upside play.
Since winning Rookie of the Year in 2018, Simmons’ career has been derailed by back issues and offensive regression. His reluctance to shoot, especially from outside, has made him a polarizing figure around the league.
