Ben Simmons is back in the NBA. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Friday that the former Philadelphia Sixers No. 1 pick agreed to a one-year deal with the Kings. Sacramento is a good fit for him in his return, and even better, it's not New York, Philly's biggest threat to winning a championship with its reshaped roster.
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported shortly after the Simmons news broke that the Knicks were "in the mix" (subscription required) for him, along with the Warriors.
New York's interest was nothing new, as NBA insider Marc Stein reported last offseason that the team offered Simmons a one-year deal, but he turned it down (subscription required). He wanted to spend time rehabbing his back, and it apparently paid off, as ESPN's Marc J. Spears reported last month that the 30-year-old had "zero restrictions" as he entered an Australian national team minicamp.
While Simmons' physical and mental wellness is what matters most, and it's good to see him get another chance, it's a relief for Sixers fans not to have to worry about him helping the Knicks as they work to defend their title, which he, of course, could've been part of.
Knicks were "in the mix" for Ben Simmons
New York's financial constraints for the win! James Dolan made it clear, soon after the team won it all, that they wouldn't go into the second tax apron, which is why they let Mitchell Robinson walk in free agency to sign with the Knicks.
They only have enough space for one veteran's minimum slot as currently constructed, and while that could've gone to Simmons, New York still needs a third-string center, a spot that Ariel Hukporti held, but he's in Philly. The Knicks' current backup is Andre Drummond, and as Sixers fans know, relying on him in that manner could work against them, so there has to be something more coming there.
It's better for Simmons that he's not in New York, as the pressure and expectations that come with suiting up for the Knicks, even more so now, aren't ideal for a player who is returning to the bright lights after a year-long hiatus. This isn't to say he couldn't have handled that pressure, but it would've made things exponentially harder.
Simmons gets to be in a low-stakes situation with more playing time in Sacramento that he can hopefully leverage into something more.
Add us as a preferred source on Google