Ben Simmons signs one-year deal with Sacramento Kings

Ben Simmons needed a team willing to give him another chance in the NBA. The Sacramento Kings needed a player to fill their 2026-27 roster before free agency began. On Friday, Sept. 4, Simmons signed with the Kings according to multiple reports. This move aligns both Simmons’ need for opportunity and the Kings’ need for roster depth as they entered the offseason without external free-agent additions.

Simmons is signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Kings, according to ESPN. This will be his 10th NBA season but only his eighth playing in games, as injuries and contract issues caused him to miss two full seasons. He last played over 51 combined games for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season.

The Kings were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season due to an awkward roster construction. They have expensive veterans and overlapping young players but lack sufficient salary cap space or positive assets to make significant roster moves. Simmons’ defensive versatility could help frontcourt players like Domantas Sabonis and Maxime Raynaud, who have defensive limitations.

Sacramento also has personnel suited for an up-tempo style that matches Simmons’ point-forward tendencies. He can serve as a ball-handler and transition playmaker in relief of 2026 first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr., as the Kings do not require him to be a primary offensive option.

If Simmons returns to a level resembling his past defensive form, when he was twice named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team, he could become a useful role player despite his limited outside shooting. His reluctance to shoot from beyond the arc has been a persistent issue, with just five made three-pointers on 36 attempts over seven seasons.

Simmons’ career averages are 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game over seven seasons. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged career lows of 5 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds over 51 games. He is a three-time NBA All-Star, won Rookie of the Year in 2018, and earned third-team All-NBA honors in 2019-20.

His availability has been hampered by injuries since entering the league. He missed his rookie season with a foot injury, sat out the entire 2021-22 campaign due to a back injury and contract dispute, and the 2024-25 season was the only one since then in which he played more than 50 games, as back and knee injuries limited his participation.

The Kings’ signing of Simmons represents a low-cost, high-upside gamble on a veteran seeking redemption. Whether it works depends on his health, shooting development, and ability to fit into Sacramento’s evolving roster construction.