Ben Simmons Says He 'Felt Wanted' by Clippers After Nets Contract Buyout

After his buyout with the Brooklyn Nets, Ben Simmons is joining the Los Angeles Clippers.

A handful of teams were interested in the former All-Star, but he ultimately felt like the Clippers made him feel "wanted."

“I felt wanted," Simmons told reporters on Tuesday. "And that’s something you want to feel going to work."

Simmons added that the Clippers' transparency made picking them an easy choice.

“I think just speaking to Ty Lue, everyone was just very transparent," Simmons told reporters. "They know what I'm capable of and what they expect from me… I think it’s easier when teams are transparent and understand what you are, what you need, how they can help, and how I can help them. So for me, I feel comfortable.”

A few years ago, adding Simmons could have been the difference between being a contender and missing the playoffs. That's not quite the case for Simmons this year.

Simmons, 28, is putting up 6.2 points, 6.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game this year. The former No. 1 overall pick and three-time All-Star isn't putting up the same numbers he once did, but he could still be a valuable role player for the Clippers.

Of course, Simmons' value will be judged based on his health. He hasn't played more than 60 games in a season since his second year in the league and played just 15 games a season ago. He's been on the court more this year, appearing in 33 games for Brooklyn, and will look to stay in good health in Los Angeles.

Along with signing a solid playmaker in Simmons, the Clippers landed veteran sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanović at the trade deadline, giving them another scoring option.

With a revamped roster, Los Angeles will look to stay in the playoff mix in the second half of the season. The Clippers are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference at 29-23.