177 million in 5 years, no ball to play? From the talented No. 1 pick to the upcoming retirement, can he still get a contract?

Generally speaking, NBA No. 1 picks are talented people, the draft market is becoming more and more transparent, and the probability of high-ranking players being "parallel" is getting smaller and smaller. Like the No. 1 picks in recent years, Edwards, Benkairo, Cunningham and others have all become the team's first core and shines on the playoff stage. Bankairo and Cunningham's data and performances in this year's playoffs have been recognized by many fans. Bankairo averaged 29.4 points + 8.4 rebounds + 4.2 assists per game in the playoffs, and Cningham averaged 25.0 points + 8.3 rebounds + 8.7 assists + 1.8 steals per game in the playoffs.

In the offseason last year, Cningham had received a maximum salary of US$224 million in four years. During this summer's offseason, Ban Kairo is eligible to renew his contract with the Magic in advance, and he will definitely get a super maximum salary. According to US media NBA salary experts, the Magic's No. 1 pick Kaylo is eligible to renew his contract with the team in advance for a super maximum salary of up to 297 million US dollars in five years this summer. The current NBA maximum salary contract is really crazy. If you get a rookie contract, you can get a maximum salary contract of nearly 300 million US dollars. This is too exaggerated. Of course, there are also No. 1 picks who are getting worse and worse, such as Ben Simmons.

U.S. media NBA reporters reported that Clippers player Ben Simmons has ended the 2024-25 season. His last maximum salary, his five-year, $177 million contract has all expired. In this summer's offseason, Ben Simmons will become a full free agent. How big can he get? Ben Simmons is only 28 years old now. Logically speaking, he is at the golden stage of the NBA professional player age, but the data and strength he plays seem to be tomorrow's yellow, like a player who is about to be outdated and about to be retired. According to NBA statistics, this season, No. 1 pick Ben Simmons played a total of 51 regular season games for the Nets and the Clippers, averaging 22 minutes per game, contributing 5.0 points + 4.7 rebounds + 5.6 assists, shooting percentage of 52.0%, shooting percentage of 3-pointers and shooting percentage of 72.7%. In this year's playoffs, Ben Simmons averaged 8.3 minutes per game, scoring 0.8 points + 1.4 rebounds + 0.8 assists per game, shooting percentage of 33.3%, and shooting percentage of three-pointers and free throw percentages were both 0. Whether in the regular season or the playoffs, Ben Simmons' statistics are bleak, almost a marginal substitute.

It is hard to imagine that Ben Simmons has gone from a super No. 1 pick to a marginal substitute who is about to be eliminated. Back then, Ben Simmons averaged 16+8+8 per game in the rookie season, and US media NBA expert reporters even thought he was James' successor. Now James can still average 25+8+8 at the age of 40; Ben Simmons, 28, has only 5+5+5 per game. Fans all say that they are both No. 1 picks and are also gifted. Why are there such a big gap between them?

Many fans have discussed that Ben Simmons will probably only get a basic salary contract this summer, and he has no shooting ability, which is too fatal. However, some fans believe that Ben Simmons is 28 years old and 2.08 meters tall. He can play inside, control the ball, pass the ball, and defend. He has an annual salary of 5 million US dollars, and some teams will sign a contract. But some fans believe that Ben Simmons may be unemployed because he "cannot play back-to-back games". He has no professional spirit, no passion and motivation to play, and it is useless to continue to do so.