Reporter Stein:Simmons rejected the Knicks' proposal for a one-year minimum salary contract...

Since being drafted first overall in 2016, he has never accepted a minimum salary contract, having previously signed a 4-year $26.62 million rookie deal and a 5-year $170 million maximum contract. Last season, he made $40.34 million combined with the Nets and Clippers.

The problem is, Simmons is no longer the NBA prodigy he once was, nor an All-Star caliber player. He’s now a liability with poor attendance, frequent injuries, and games where he scores zero points. Teams offering him minimum contracts should actually be grateful he’s even willing to consider them.

It can only be said that past rumors were not baseless — at just 29 years old, Simmons has thoughts of retirement, so a minimum salary offer holds little appeal to him.

The Eastern Conference looks weak for the new season; top teams like the Celtics, Pacers, and Bucks have lost their championship competitiveness. The well-rounded Knicks are seen as the most likely team to break through from the East next year. This means if Simmons wanted to join them, he might have a chance to earn a championship ring before retiring. Unfortunately, he has no interest in that.

Because Simmons missed his rookie season due to a right foot fracture before it began, his NBA career officially started in the 2017-18 season. As mentioned, he might retire by the 2024-25 season. Over those 8 years, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per regular season game, while in the playoffs he averaged 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.

The stats show Simmons is a remarkably versatile tall forward with strong defensive skills, which justified him being the number one pick and dubbed the next LeBron. Unfortunately, his development fell short of expectations: his shooting never improved, he’s heavily affected by public opinion, and his physical condition has deteriorated, all combining to ruin his career.

However, considering he has earned around $203 million, enough to live lavishly for several lifetimes, there’s little regret in ending his NBA career. Simply put, with that kind of money, there’s nothing to worry about.