When assessing where Ben Simmons is at in his career, one quote comes to mind:
“Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!”
Once a perennial All-Star, he’s now struggling to find a team to pick him up in free agency. The latest whispers say the Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks are “still in the mix” (h/t Bleacher Report insider Jake Fischer). However, despite solid play with the Brooklyn Nets in 2024-25, his injury history and passivity have left a lot to be desired. To be clear, Simmons is largely being judged relative to how he looked at the height of his powers. Nevertheless, he alternates between being an asset and a liability at the offensive end, complicating matters.
Where Will Ben Simmons Sign Next?
The question is, which team could Simmons fit the most and who could sign him.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings entered this offseason with three specific goals, one of which was to add a more traditional point guard to the roster.
With the signing of career journeyman Dennis Schroder, Sacramento has seemingly accomplished that already. Furthermore, 2024 No. 13 pick Devin Carter and 2025 No. 24 pick Nique Clifford have both looked promising during this year’s Las Vegas Summer League. Not to be forgotten is former Colorado State point guard Isaiah Stevens, who they signed to a two-way contract.
However, Simmons is a more advanced facilitator than any of them. He also possesses a blend of size and defense that they don’t quite measure up to. In fact, due to his physical profile, he’s capable of playing several positions. Thus, the Kings could play him alongside other guards. Given the defensive shortcomings of wings Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, this only makes him a more viable addition.
New York Knicks
Over the past three seasons, Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson has become an All-Star. Behind him on the depth chart is Miles McBride, who’s a defensive-minded complement to Brunson but a respectable player on offense. The third string point guard is Tyler Kolek, who Knicks former head coach Tom Thibodeau was quite complementary of.
However, Thibodeau is no longer the man in charge. Following his relatively surprising firing, the Knicks hired Mike Brown as head coach. As a result, there could be at least one significant change to their rotation.
With that in mind, Brown could see adding Simmons as one of the changes that they could use. For starters, Brown is widely regarded as a defensive-minded coach. Furthermore, the Knicks don’t currently have any point guards who are taller than 6-foot-2. In an era where taller point guards and positional versatility are more important than ever, Simmons’s 6-foot-10 and 240-pound frame could be beneficial.
Are There Any Other Options?
The Los Angeles Clippers are currently courting future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul. Nevertheless, until an agreement is made, they may still be in the market for a point guard. Though they’re not head over heels about him, one of those options could be Simmons. Though the former No. 1 pick’s numbers left a lot to be desired in his Clippers stint, his size and skillset allowed him to be a connective piece with plus-defense.
The Toronto Raptors have been connected to Simmons in the rumor mill, via Sportsnet’s Michael Grange. There, Simmons may not be guaranteed a role in the rotation. However, he’s obviously more experienced than Darko Rajakovic favorite Jamal Shead, who also happens to be just 6-foot-0. He’s a better facilitator and defender than fellow veteran Garrett Temple. What’s more, the Raptors have so many scorers that it’s the last thing Simmons would have to worry about, which should appeal to him.
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