The Sacramento Kings have added former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, handing the three-time NBA All-Star a new chance to restart his career. Simmons put pen to paper on a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Sacramento after sitting out the entire 2025-26 campaign to recover from persistent back and leg issues.
Simmons, now 30, had been vocal about wanting another shot at the NBA during the summer. His arrival gives the Kings extra roster depth while allowing Simmons the opportunity to boost his stock following a rocky chapter in his professional journey.
Simmons fills a gap at point guard for Sacramento
His last NBA action came in the 2024-25 season, where he suited up for 51 games across the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. In that stretch, he posted averages of 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per outing.
Sacramento has kept tabs on Simmons for years, with reports linking them to the former Philadelphia 76ers standout around the 2022 trade deadline. Back then, the Kings chose a different path, shipping Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in a deal headlined by Domantas Sabonis.
Days after that move, Philadelphia dealt Simmons to Brooklyn for James Harden. Since entering the league with the 76ers in 2016, Simmons has appeared in just 108 regular-season games over four campaigns following his departure from the franchise that drafted him.
Both the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors showed interest in Simmons before he settled on Sacramento. This signing marks his fourth stop in the NBA.
Kings view Simmons as a gamble worth taking
Sacramento is no stranger to adding veteran talent late in the offseason. A year ago, the Kings brought in Russell Westbrook on a minimum deal to shore up their backcourt, but Westbrook opted to retire this summer despite overtures from both Sacramento and Washington.
The Kings used the No. 7 pick to select Darius Acuff Jr., who is expected to start at point guard when the season tips off. Yet the depth chart behind him is thin, with Malik Monk being the only other roster member who has logged meaningful minutes at that spot in recent years.
That makes Simmons a sensible pickup despite his extended layoff. Standing 6-foot-10, he has spent his career operating as a point forward, giving Sacramento another ball-handling option behind Acuff while also serving as a mentor to the rookie and the team’s younger players.
The Kings are hopeful Simmons can mirror the impact Westbrook had after signing a minimum deal last season. Simmons joins Sacramento on a veteran minimum contract, so the downside for the franchise is minimal.
Simmons can revive his market value in Sacramento
Should Simmons show he can still contribute as a backup, the Kings might flip him at the trade deadline for additional assets. A productive year could also help him land a more lucrative deal next summer. If things do not pan out, Sacramento walks away with little financial damage.
Simmons has remained one of the most debated figures in the league over the last decade. His tenure with Philadelphia was filled with highs and lows, ending on sour terms, while his scoring output and willingness to take shots dropped sharply once he joined the Nets and Clippers.
Earlier in his career, Simmons was a nightly triple-double threat with the 76ers, thanks to his rare mix of size and passing vision. During the offseason, he also took part in a player-organized minicamp in Melbourne with the Australian national team. He has not represented Australia since 2013 and sat out the past three Olympic cycles for a variety of reasons.
Now, Simmons heads into a pivotal season with a Kings squad that holds modest expectations. How well he adjusts to a reduced role and performs in Sacramento could decide whether he extends his NBA tenure for years or watches it wind down.