The Golden State Warriors may not be done after all.
Brandon Williams and Georges Niang looked like the final pieces of the roster on Tuesday, but Williams’ non-guaranteed deal leaves the door cracked open for something bigger - or at least more unpredictable. That includes a possible run at former Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, with Golden State still able to bring him into camp and see whether he can play his way onto the team.
Sacramento appears to be the team with the clearest path right now. Simmons reportedly turned in a terrific private workout for the Kings this week, which only strengthened the belief that Sacramento has already put a training camp contract on the table. The Kings also have two open roster spots, giving them an obvious edge over their Pacific Division neighbor.
Still, the Warriors are not completely boxed out. Because Williams’ contract is non-guaranteed, Golden State could waive him before the season starts without taking a cap hit. That would give the front office room to add Simmons - or another remaining free agent - on a similar arrangement, then let training camp and preseason decide the rest before the opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21.
Whether that route is realistic is another matter. The Warriors already have availability concerns, with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody set to start the season out, and their roster now includes six players who are 33 or older, Niang among them. That makes any Simmons move feel like a long shot.
But from a basketball standpoint, Simmons does offer a different kind of appeal than Williams. Golden State’s interest in Williams is tied to his shot creation and scoring punch, after he posted a career-high 13 points per game with the Dallas Mavericks last season. Simmons brings none of that scoring, but his size, defense, passing and ability to handle the ball would give the Warriors a different tool in multiple lineups.
Williams, by contrast, is a 6-foot-1 guard who hit just 23% from three-point range last season.
So while it still feels unlikely that Golden State is the team to take the swing on Simmons, the possibility is there. And with Sacramento looking like the most aggressive suitor, the Warriors can’t entirely ignore the idea of making a move of their own for the three-time All-Star.
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