Ben Simmons, Sixers Agree to Terms
Source: Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America)
The future is now upon us.
Happy to say I'm a part of the family #Sixers @Sixers pic.twitter.com/FYa2IE8PMS
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) July 3, 2016
That's right. Ben Simmons has officially signed his rookie contract, and is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers organization. Word of the pending deal surfaced within the last 90 minutes, as ESPN's Marc Stein first broke that the two sides were working to hammer out a deal.
The Sixers and Ben Simmons, league sources say, are putting the finishing touches on his first NBA contract tonight
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 3, 2016
The exact terms of the deal are uncertain, but it'll essentially boil down to a two-year contract, with a pair of team options, per NBA rules. The NBA also has strict parameters for rookie contracts laid out, based on draft position. Per the rookie scale, the #1 overall pick is slated to make approximately $4.9 million in his first year. Although, teams can negotiate up or down by about 20 percent. The expectation is that Simmons' salary will be 120% of the rookie scale amount, meaning that his first-year salary will be $5.9 million, as opposed to the previously-mentioned $4.9 million.
The 19-year old Simmons was selected with the 1st overall pick by the Sixers, in June's NBA Draft. The 6'10 Aussie will now join a core group of big men, including Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, and (hopefully) Dario Saric.
In his lone year with LSU, Simmons averaged 19.2 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game, while owning a 54% percentage from the field. The rookie has been described as a transcendent player, and some have labeled him as a "generational" talent.
The signing comes only hours after the Sixers held their first summer league practice, minus Simmons. After signing on the dotted line, Simmons is expected to participate in both the Utah and Las Vegas summer leagues.
