Timberwolves Reportedly Had Interest in Ben Simmons Before Kings Signing

The Minnesota Timberwolves were reportedly among the teams interested in Ben Simmons before the veteran joined the Sacramento Kings.

According to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, Minnesota, the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors showed interest but did not offer Simmons a contract. Sacramento ultimately signed him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal announced Sept. 8.

That distinction matters. The report establishes interest, but it does not indicate the Timberwolves made an offer, reached an agreement or came close to signing him. It also does not explain why Minnesota stopped short of offering a deal.

Still, the possibility provides an interesting look at a player whose potential contributions require a specific role.

The basketball argument for exploring Simmons starts with giving Anthony Edwards another player capable of initiating offense.

In a hypothetical Minnesota role, Simmons could have advanced the ball after defensive rebounds, found cutters and allowed Edwards to receive passes after the defense had already begun moving. That would offer a different approach from asking Edwards to create the entire advantage himself.

His size also presents possibilities defensively. A useful version of Simmons could take on larger perimeter assignments and give a coaching staff more options when changing matchups.

Those are potential benefits, however, rather than evidence of Minnesota’s actual plans. Spears’ report does not identify a proposed role or establish which qualities interested the Timberwolves most.

Any evaluation would also need to account for the possessions when Simmons does not have the ball. His limited shooting makes spacing an essential part of the discussion.

Pairing him with another player who operates primarily near the basket could give defenders more freedom to crowd Edwards. Making that arrangement work would require purposeful screening, cutting and enough shooting elsewhere.

Simmons returned to game action Saturday against Golden State, finishing with seven points and one assist in nine minutes. Spears reported that Simmons had taken the previous season off to recover physically and mentally.

For Minnesota, the reported interest leaves a hypothetical. Sacramento now gets to determine whether Simmons can handle a consistent workload and contribute within its rotation.

A short preseason appearance cannot resolve those questions. Sustaining activity across longer stretches, recovering between games and remaining effective without controlling every possession will provide more meaningful evidence.

That is also why the Timberwolves’ interest should not automatically be framed as a missed opportunity. Exploring a player and deciding to sign him are separate judgments, particularly when availability and lineup fit are central concerns.

If Simmons becomes a dependable contributor, Sacramento will benefit from taking the chance. Until then, Minnesota’s reported involvement is best understood as consideration of an intriguing option rather than proof it passed on a clear answer.

The Kings can test that possibility on the floor. The Timberwolves will move forward with the players they chose.