The Sacramento Kings made one of their more interesting offseason bets when they brought in Ben Simmons on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. It’s the kind of move that says a lot about where Sacramento thinks it can find value: in a veteran who still brings real size, vision, and defensive chops, even if the shot has never fully caught up.
Simmons arrives in Sacramento with a résumé that has always been defined by extremes. At LSU in 2015, he looked like one of the best players in the country, putting up 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 blocks, and two steals per game.
He shot 56 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three, while hitting 67 percent at the free-throw line. That one season was enough to make him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, where the Philadelphia 76ers took him first.
His NBA path has taken him from Philadelphia to Brooklyn and then to the Los Angeles Clippers for part of a season. Across that career, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He’s been efficient inside the arc, shooting 55.8 percent from the field for his career, but the other numbers tell the tougher side of the story: 13.9 percent from three and 59.2 percent from the line.
That combination has shaped how teams use him. Simmons has long been at his best when he’s pushing the ball, attacking downhill, and setting up teammates.
He can defend, he can handle, and he can make life easier for the players around him. The limitations are just as clear, though, especially when it comes to perimeter shooting and free throws.
For Sacramento, the fit looks pretty straightforward. He’s expected to come off the bench, and with the Kings’ shooting around him, Simmons can stay in his lane as a ball-handler and playmaker while helping the team on the defensive end. That gives the Kings a chance to lean into what he still does well: move the ball, pressure the rim, and cover ground on defense.
In Other News...
Kings Interest In Jalen Duren Just Got A Lot More Serious
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has suddenly become one of the more interesting plot lines on Sacramentos radar. After declining a five-year offer from the Pistons, he is now in a stalemate with the team as Thursdays deadline to accept a one-year qualifying offer approaches. For the Kings, that only sharpens the appeal of a big man who has already drawn mutual interest from Sacramento, whether through a trade or a future free-agent pursuit.
The catch is the same one that has shadowed Sacramentos pursuit from the start: the Kings do not have the cap room to sign Duren to a max deal right now. So the focus has turned to creating a path, and that has reportedly included exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade to clear the necessary space. If Sacramento can get that flexibility, Duren becomes a much more realistic target either before or during the 2026 season, or when he reaches free agency in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Kings New-Look Roster Is Already Fueling A Brutal 2026-27 Debate
On The Matt George Podcast, Josh Lloyd of Locked On Fantasy Basketball took a long look at where the Kings could be headed in 2026-27, and his read was not exactly comforting. He pointed to the possibility of defensive issues lingering on a roster that is still trying to sort out its identity, even as the front office adds new pieces and hopes the fit improves.
Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
The Kings have brought Tristen Newton into 2024 training camp, putting the former UConn guard squarely in the mix for one of the team's two-way openings. Newton arrives with a G League-heavy resume and some real pedigree, since he was a 2024 second-round pick by the Pacers before Sacramento picked up his rights in a trade involving the Stockton Kings.
For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]