Sacramento bolsters its defensive versatility and playmaking by signing the former All-Star to a low-risk veteran deal, betting on his health to anchor their second unit.
Ben Simmons is officially part of the Sacramento Kings, signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract on Friday morning, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Simmons' signing comes after NBA correspondent Marc Stein reported on his NBA comeback, which included participating in a players-only minicamp for Team Australia.
Both parties had mutual interest in one another. General manager Scott Perry traveled to Florida and watched Simmons work out in late August. Charania said Simmons met with the team for in-depth medical exams and meetings with the coaching staff.
Sacramento has had little financial flexibility this offseason, making it crucial for Perry to hit on the margins with the veterans' minimum. It's the best signing he could make at that value, adding a veteran playmaker who also raises the team's defensive floor.
Simmons' playmaking truly shines at 6-foot-10. Towering over smaller defenders, he sees how the defense reacts and how the team's plays develop. He can thread the needle in tight spaces and make complex reads that high-level playmakers do consistently.
The 30-year-old can grab-and-go, too, pushing the Kings into early fast-break offense after a rebound. His lack of offense is a weakness, but Sacramento has enough talented scorers to mitigate that.
Defensively, he has the lateral quickness to guard the perimeter and the core strength to bang with big men in the post. Paired with Keegan Murray and De'Andre Hunter, the Kings would have the defensive versatility and switchability they lacked last season.
While he checks most of the boxes for the Kings, health could also be a concern. He dealt with severe back injuries during his Brooklyn Nets tenure, missing 58.3% of games over three seasons.
Simmons chose to sit out the 2025-26 season, prioritizing returning to 100% and regaining his lost athleticism. He and the team are confident in his health, and the regular season is the true test of whether he can stay healthy.
Coming back for his 10th season, the 6-foot-10 forward can also serve as a mentor to rookie Darius Acuff Jr. His growth is partly why Sacramento searched for a player of Simmons' archetype: an experienced, backup playmaker.
Acuff is expected to lead the franchise during a rebuilding era, and it's a heavy burden to carry. He has to continue adjusting to NBA defenses, which he struggled with over the summer, posting inefficient shooting performances in summer league.
Simmons can guide him throughout the season and maintain Sacramento's rhythm when he sits. He is an ideal signing, and Perry is leaving the offseason with one free-agent acquisition.
