Ben Simmons chose security over spotlight, and that decision could define the next chapter of his career.
The former All-Star passed on chances with the Warriors and Knicks in favor of a Kings deal, even though both of those bigger stages offered a clearer route to rebuilding the value and reputation that have taken a major hit over the last five years. Sacramento gives him the safer landing spot. Golden State and New York would have demanded more, but they also could have given him more visibility.
Simmons would have faced a real fight just to make the opening night roster in either place. In Golden State, he might have had to beat out recently signed guard Brandon Williams in training camp.
In New York, he would have been competing with a roster that has recently added several players, including former second overall pick James Wiseman. Simmons, as the source material suggests, understandably went with the more guaranteed path.
That choice makes sense on one level. If he had believed in himself enough to win a spot with the Warriors or Knicks, the national attention that comes with those teams would have given him a much better chance to restore his standing around the league.
The Knicks have always carried a massive following, and that only grows now that they are reigning champions. The Warriors may no longer look like true title favorites, but as long as Stephen Curry is there, they remain one of the league’s most watched teams.
Sacramento is a different world. The Kings are expected to be one of the least watched teams in the league, which means even a strong season from Simmons may not move the needle the way it would have in Golden State or New York. If he becomes a real rotation piece for the Kings, that still may not generate the same buzz.
There’s also the possibility that the low-pressure setting was part of the appeal. Simmons’ mentality has been questioned for the last half decade, and Sacramento may offer the kind of environment where he can settle in without the noise that follows him in bigger markets. At a place like Golden State or New York, every good night gets magnified - and so does every bad one.
Maybe there comes a point when Simmons is ready to take on that kind of spotlight again. For now, though, he gets a chance to try to revive his career off Broadway with the Kings.
In Other News...
Klay Thompson May Be Stuck In A Familiar Fight Again
Pelle Larssons new four-year, $60 million extension with Miami does more than lock in another rotation piece for the Heat. It also sharpens the conversation around how much the team is willing to lean on its younger wing options, with Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the mix for minutes as the season approaches. For Thompson, it is the kind of roster dynamic that can quickly turn into a familiar test of standing, fit and late-game trust.
The broader issue is the one that followed Thompson before: a veteran scorer trying to find his place while a younger players role grows around him. Miami now has a clearer long-term commitment on Larsson, and the way the Heat sort out the wing rotation could leave Thompson fighting for the kind of opportunities he is used to getting. For Warriors fans, it is another reminder of how often Thompsons career has been defined not just by his shot, but by the pecking order around him. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Camp Addition Puts Another Roster Battle Into Focus
The Warriors have added another name to their training camp mix, agreeing to a deal with guard Obi Agbim as they keep sorting through the back end of the roster. Agbim arrives with a reputation as a shooter and a college path that included Wyoming and Baylor, giving Golden State another perimeter option to evaluate as camp opens and competition tightens around the final spots.
Obi Agbims arrival also underscores how little room the Warriors have left to maneuver. Golden State is already at its offseason roster limit, so any formal addition still has to be paired with another transaction before everything is finalized, adding another layer to a camp battle that already figures to be crowded and closely watched. [Read more 🡒]
Draymond Green Just Made This Warriors Role Change More Complicated
Draymond Greens place in the Warriors attack has always been about more than scoring, but this season the conversation has shifted toward whether he can stretch the floor enough to keep that role intact. Steve Kerr has made increasing Greens three-point shooting part of the discussion, and Greens response has been measured, the kind of cautious optimism that fits a veteran who knows exactly how much his game has already changed over the years.
The pressure point is obvious: Greens long-range efficiency has trended down over the past decade, and Golden State needs to know whether more volume can come with better accuracy. If it does, the fit stays cleaner. If it does not, the Warriors may have to start making harder decisions about how they want the frontcourt rotation to look, especially with younger options waiting in the wings. [Read more 🡒]