After taking a 1 year hiatus from NBA action, 3x All-Star Ben Simmons is resuming his professional basketball career by inking a 1 year, $3.5M deal with the Sacramento Kings.
Simmons underwent thorough medical examinations before signing his new deal, proving that he was fully healthy after dealing with lingering back and lower body injuries for several seasons. For a Kings side that went 22-60 last season, Simmons represents a low risk, high reward signing, that won’t break the bank.
Sacramento figures to have minutes available this season after the club waived DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook announced his retirement. The 30 year old brings positional versatility to a roster in desperate need of depth, and provides a veteran guard option behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr.
Returning to NBA action after a year long absence is nothing new to the former number 1 overall pick. Simmons sat out his rookie season in 2016-17 with a foot injury, and then missed all of 2021-22 following a hold out and subsequent procedure on his back as well. Across a 7 year career that’s spanned 3 teams, the 6’10” guard has averaged 13.1pts/7.4reb/7.2ast per game.
Sacramento had the ability to add two players on veteran minimum deals after waiving-and-stretching DeRozan’s contract while still remaining under the luxury tax threshold. With Simmons taking one of those slots, the team can still add one more player on a team friendly deal before the regular season tips off.
With Simmons now in the fold, the Kings will deploy a roster featuring:
- G Zach LaVine
- G Darius Acuff Jr.*
- G Malik Monk
- G Nique Clifford
- G Daeqwon Plowden
- G Emanuel Sharp*
- G Adam Flagler**
- F Keegan Murray
- F DeAndre Hunter
- F Precious Achiuwa
- F Jonathan Mogbo
- F Ben Simmons
- F Alex Karaban*
- C Domantas Sabonis
- C Maxime Raynaud
- C Dylan Cardwell
*2026 NBA Draft pick
**2-way player
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