Warriors Were Interested in Ben Simmons, but He Ultimately Joined the Kings

According to The Athletic, Ben Simmons listed the Golden State Warriors as one of his potential destinations in free agency, but he ultimately chose the Sacramento Kings.

ESPN reported that the 30-year-old guard signed with the Kings, officially announcing his return to the NBA. Simmons had previously stepped away from competition for a period of time due to personal reasons.

Why were the Warriors unable to land Simmons?

Reports indicated that Simmons had multiple options before making his decision. The New York Knicks showed interest in the veteran guard, and the Warriors were reportedly also pursuing him. However, the Kings were faster and more convincing in persuading the former No. 1 overall pick.

Amick wrote in his report: “The Kings selected Arkansas’ Akof in the No. 7 spot in the June draft, and they were reportedly interested in veterans such as Russell Westbrook (who chose to retire) and Victor Oladipo before ultimately choosing Simmons. So the latest Simmons experiment is underway again — the Kings were not the only team considering Simmons, as league sources said the Knicks and Warriors were also in the race.”

What could Simmons have brought to the Warriors?

From a skill-set perspective, Simmons could have helped ease Curry’s playmaking burden. The 6-foot-10 guard’s passing, speed, and defensive range could have provided the Warriors with a useful size advantage. He could have led the second unit and also filled the center role in small-ball lineups.

However, the concerns were also obvious. Playing alongside Draymond Green raised significant concerns — both players need spacing to create opportunities, but neither provides reliable outside shooting. This could have reduced the Warriors’ offensive spacing.

On the other hand, Steve Kerr’s system could have given Simmons opportunities through cuts, screens, and transition offense. But alongside Green and other players with limited shooting ability, the spacing issue would have remained difficult.

The Warriors’ calculation: reinforce the roster or develop young players?

The Warriors had other priorities at the time. As Curry gets older, shooting and wing depth have become increasingly important. Using a roster spot on Simmons could have reduced opportunities for young wings or stretch bigs. Therefore, even if they had signed him, Simmons’ role likely would have been limited.

Now, the former No. 1 overall pick will look to find his place with the Kings. By signing this contract, he intends to prove that he is still worthy of his status as a top overall selection. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers also missed the opportunity to bring back their former star. But the spotlight has turned back to the Warriors — they have let another free agent go.