Sept. 4 (UPI) — The Sacramento Kings agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with free agent guard Ben Simmons, sources familiar with the pact told UPI on Friday.
Simmons missed last season to rehabilitate back and leg injuries.
A source told UPI that the 6-foot-10, 240-pound guard, who is now healthy, is expected to function as a backup point guard to Darius Acuff Jr., but also could play alongside the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
He is expected to give the Kings an additional ball handler and benefit their roster from a defensive standpoint.
Simmons was in the same 2016 NBA Draft class as Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, who entered the league as the No. 11 overall pick by the Orlando Magic.
A No. 1 overall in that draft, Simmons was an All-Star three times within his first five years in the league. The former Philadelphia 76ers star missed the 2016 campaign due to a broken foot. He logged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game from 2017-18 through 2020-21.
The two-time All-Defensive Team selection joined the Brooklyn Nets through a 2022 trade. He joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25.
Simmons struggled with injuries, outside shooting and playoff performance throughout his career. He averaged just 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game from 2022-23 through 2024-25. He appeared in 108 games, with 69 starts, during that span.
The Kings will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a preseason matchup Oct. 5 in Sacramento. They will face the Clippers in their regular season opener Oct. 21 in Inglewood, Calif.