The Sacramento Kings have reached agreement on a one-year contract with forward-guard Ben Simmons, a former No. 1 overall pick and three-time All-Star, marking the Australian's return to the NBA.
Short-term deal aims to provide defensive versatility, ball-handling depth
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Simmons will sign with Sacramento. ESPN first reported the deal and reported the salary as $3.5 million. Simmons, 30, has been sidelined for much of the past several seasons by injuries and missed the 2025-26 campaign while rehabbing back and leg problems, according to public reports.
"He will sign with Sacramento," a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.
Sacramento enters the move coming off a 22-60 season and is searching for experienced pieces to complement its young core. The Kings drafted guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick after his standout freshman year at Arkansas and view the rookie as a central part of the club's forward progress.
How Simmons fits with the Kings
Team officials have indicated they value Simmons for his defensive capabilities and his capacity to guard multiple positions. The Kings also see him as a potential backup ball-handler to Acuff and a flexible frontcourt option in lineups that need size and playmaking.
- Role: Veteran defensive wing/backup point guard
- Contract: One year, reported $3.5 million
- Age and experience: 30 years old; former No. 1 overall pick, three-time All-Star and 2017-18 Rookie of the Year
Simmons was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 after one season at LSU. He won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2017-18 and earned three straight All-Star selections early in his career. He also earned All-Defense recognition, cited by prior public records.
Recent career and health context
His career trajectory changed after he sat out the 2021-22 season amid mental health concerns and trade requests. A subsequent trade sent him to Brooklyn in 2022, and he later spent time with the Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons was cut in February 2025 and finished that season with the Clippers, then sat out the following season to rehabilitate lingering back and leg injuries.
The Kings recently waived DeMar DeRozan and opted not to re-sign Russell Westbrook, both of whom led Sacramento in scoring last season. The roster moves and the acquisition of Simmons reflect a pivot toward a younger backcourt and a search for complementary veterans who can contribute defensively and facilitate ball movement.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract length | 1 year |
| Reported salary | $3.5 million |
| Player age | 30 |
For Kings fans in Sacramento, the signing presents a low-risk, high-reward proposition: if Simmons can return to form and stay healthy, he offers matchup switching on defense and secondary creation. If injuries persist or his on-court game remains limited, the contract's short term and modest value limit financial exposure for a franchise in transition.
The team will now integrate Simmons into training protocols and preseason work as they finalize rotations around their young scorers and the newly added rookie. How much floor time he receives will likely depend on his health, conditioning and fit with Acuff in the backcourt.
The move is another development in a busy offseason for the Kings as they seek to rebalance after last season's struggles and provide veteran cover while their younger players develop. Additional roster decisions and how head coach staff deploys Simmons will shape Sacramento's approach as the regular season approaches.
