At last, Ben Simmons has his next landing spot. The former Philadelphia 76ers star will attempt his NBA comeback with the Sacramento Kings.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Simmons is signing a one-year deal to join the Western Conference squad. He will make $3.5 million for the upcoming season.
The Kings are surprisingly the right fit
Months ago, Simmons said in an exclusive interview that he had his eyes on two different teams, as he prepared for his comeback. The Sixers and the Miami Heat shared that spotlight.
The 76ers mention was a bit shocking, considering Simmons forced his way out of Philadelphia back in 2022. Over time, changes happened in Philadelphia, including the firings of Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey, and maybe that helped Simmons see the situation in a different light.
Either way, the 76ers had their sights set on bigger targets. They traded for Jaylen Brown and signed LeBron James. With more of a need for a backup center or a wing option, the Sixers' 14th roster spot went to the veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
As for the Heat, they need shooters. The league knows well that's not Ben Simmons. Throughout his seven-year career, Simmons attempted just 34 shots from beyond the arc.
While Simmons' two early preferences were playoff contenders, he ended up in a rebuilding situation with the Kings. As Simmons rehabs his NBA image, this might actually be the best-case scenario for the three-time All-Star guard.
The pressure isn't high in Sacramento. Simmons gets to go to a small market and brings excitement to a young team, that doesn't have playoff expectations in 2026-2027. Simmons can work through his early rust and forgotten shortcomings without having to worry about being on a super short leash with a contender.
The Kings will obviously favor the rookie Darius Acuff. Simmons will get a chance to back him up as he becomes the team's most experienced ball-handler.
Before it all went South in Philadelphia, Simmons was a star-caliber point guard for the Sixers. Without shooting range, he still managed to average 15.9 points, 7.7 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game in Philadelphia. Simmons was a Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, All-NBA, and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
After his run with the Sixers, Simmons struggled to stay healthy and maintain his stride with the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Now that he's healthy again, after a year off, the 30-year-old guard hopes to get back on track with the Kings.
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