The Sacramento Kings have expressed interest in point guard Ben Simmons, according to a new report from Marc Stein:
“League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York and Sacramento.”
“Since free agency began” is an interesting note to the report. Free agency began on June 30. Simmons played on two teams last season, 33 games with the Brooklyn Nets and 18 games with the Los Angeles Clippers. Given the larger sample size, let’s briefly analyze his time with the Nets.
The 6’10” point guard averaged 6.2 points, 6.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds, .8 steals, .5 blocks in 25 minutes per game with the Nets. He also averaged 2.7 turnovers per game. He shot 54% from the field and took no three pointers. In fact, it appears he hasn’t shot a three since the 2020-21 season.
Here are some advanced stats from Cleaning The Glass for his time with the Nets last season:
- 19.8% usage rate, 33rd percentile
- 56th percentile for points per shot attempt
- 29th percentile for turnover percentage
- 98th percentile for assist percentage
- 100th percentile for assist to usage ratio
- 69th percentile in field goal percentage at the rim
- 62nd percentile in field goal percentage on short midrange shots
- 87th percentile in block percentage
- 88th percentile in offensive rebounding percentage
- 94th percentile in defensive rebounding percentage
- +5.1 in efficiency differential when he was on the floor (79th percentile)
- 88th percentile in team points per possession when he was on the floor (88th percentile)
- 97th percentile in team effective fired goal percentage when he was on the floor
- 83rd percentile in opponent turnover percentage when he was on the floor
Simmons, a former Rookie Of The Year (2018) and three-time All Star, has had an odd career path and hasn’t averaged more than 30 minutes a game since 2020-21. Being unwilling to the shoot the ball in the NBA probably played a factor in that, but honestly, aren’t the Kings looking for a point guard who plays defense and doesn’t shoot the ball if the roster still includes Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk? Right or wrong (and it is most definitely wrong), it is actually probably what the roster construction demands: Someone who doesn’t care about scoring and helps the high-usage players get their shots up. It’s not ideal, but it is what we have. Simmons’ inability to space the floor with his lack of shooting and turnover problems continue to stall the 29-year-old’s value.
Dennis Schröder is already in the fold, but when the Kings are in need of stops, rebounds and some playmaking, Simmons could provide short stints so maybe it works?
The thing I like the most about Simmons is that he is a point-PF. He opens up a spot on the floor for one of our SGs, like Ellis or Monk while handling the PG duties from the PF spot. That alone helps get some of our better players on the court more often.
I’ve been arguing for a while that due to the roster imbalances, the Kings should look at Simmons and that his issues are hidden fairly well on this team while also providing him a low-stress environment where he can go to work everyday without an antagonistic media landscape to deal with.
Let’s talk about another trade. Read and listened to comments on a trade that I really like. Saric for Jared Vanderbilt. There is money involved but it would not take all of our MLE to get Vanderbilt and still leave enough to get Simmons if that’s what Perry wants. Vanderbilt is not a scorer but when healthy is one of the best defensive wings in the NBA. He has motor and never quites on the floor. Kind of like Herb Jones. He would backup our power forward or play on a small ball 5. He is only 26 and fits our timeline. IMO we could really use him as I think he would be a great fit on the Kings.
I believe we already have a Vandy on the roster in IJ.
They are quite a bit different in playstyles and approach but they both bring defense first with decent-enough offense and very low usage.
I’m all for anything that gets rid of Saric though as the last time I saw him play in DEN he was just awful. He looked like he didn’t want to play and is just done with the game.
I know he’s been getting some shit around because he’s the epitome of “meh”, but Eubanks is a much better player than the husk of Saric and I would much rather see him get in the game at PF/small-ball C (but not ahead of Max or IJ).
Right, and then you have a PF and C that both could pass the ball like a PG. Just one can’t shoot the three – but Sabonis being able to shoot threes would be a complement to Simmons…not so much a complement to Sabonis. With Schroeder being a shooter and Simmons being a cutter, there adding Simmons would also allow for versatility in certain situations at PG, as Simmons could guard bigger PGs or be good against teams with weak paint defense.
Keon, Zach, Keegan, Ben, Domas would be a solid starting lineup.
Just move DDR for a backup 4/5
Scott Perry after signing Simmons:
“I also talked about creating an identity for this organization and this team and how we wanted to play. As a reminder, those
sixfour things are: competitive,tough, team oriented, disciplined,accountable, and willing to sign with usprofessional.”Just my opinion but if I was to choose between Simmons, West Brook or Fultz as backup point guard I would pick Fultz.
Out the three headcases listed, I like Westbrook the most for his competitive spirit, Simmons the most for talent and fit, and Fultz the most for not being the other two.
I just don’t see the point in endlessly adding 30-ish veteran players to a sub-40 win team. What are you hoping to accomplish with that when you’re the 11th-12th best team in the conference, with almost no upside from young players?
Good enough to fill seats, but not good enough to require paying the tax!
The All-Star version of Ben Simmons would be wonderful. I think he could be utilized mostly as a defender and if he were healthy, a very good rebounder. He could be in the Buck Williams or Dwight Davis mold of old but with the added luxury of a select ability to pass the ball.
He ain’t anywhere near that. He’s busted up, and he has not shown any penchant to want to play. I don’t know him, but he in no way earned the huge money he received from his last contract. He made Bradley Beal and Kawhi Leonard look like A.C. Green.
He appears to have all the confidence of Kings era Nick Anderson.
Just, NO. If he re-births into his former self – good on him and the team that took the chance on him. Happening in Sacramento? I’ll likely win the Lotto first.
Of the Fultz, Simmons, Westbrook question. Gimme the guy who is going to give you his all every night – Mr. Intensity, future Hall of Famer, former MVP, Russell Westbrook.
OT: Kings signed Dougie McBuckets to another year. Of all the players I watched get rotation minutes last season, Doug may have been the most abysmal. Thus a no brainer for the Kings to bring him back.
Kings offseason so far:
Schroeder
Nique
Doug
Saric
Rayn-Man
Who stopping this lineup? ????????
Is that the final roster spot as well? I guess no Ben Simmons.
Kings are really gonna roll with Eubanks, Maxi, and Jones as the only backup bigs to Sabonis and Keegan? That’s a bold strategy.
I fear that the Clifford and Raynaud picks, which are looking to be good ones based on early returns, will end up buying Perry and Co. an unjustifiable amount of time and goodwill with the owner and fanbase alike. If those two weren’t looking so good, this offseason alone would look like a fire-able offense for this front office imo.
They are asking us to be patient and have confidence in them, but no confidence has been built and no patience has been earned.
Team lost Jonas V. and LaRavia . The potential replacements are less talented . Patience not earned . Isaac Jones better than any drafted player or acquired by FA or trade .
If you had told me in the spring that by summer, Monte would be fired, Lyles and LaRavia would walk, JV would be traded for Saric and cap space and the free agents signed would be Schröder, Eubanks, and McDermott, I would have thought Monte was fired so Vivek could declare himself GM. That may be what has actually happened.
They still have plenty of time to open up a roster spot by declining Terence Davis’ option.
When is the due date for that?
Not till January…I think the only reason for not having already declined the option is that it could still be used in a trade.
Agreed, he’s salary filler in any deal that may float to the surface. Tax and apron teams could value his unguaranteed deal, but his best value would be sooner than later so little to no salary comes off the books and a roster spot an be freed up.
Again IMO the trade I read and listened to yesterday trades Saric for Vanderbilt. It would cost the Kings a small part of their MLE but IMO it would be worth it. If you haven’t seen some of Vanderbilt’s highlights you need to do so. The guy is a defensive stalwart no doubts about it.
I’m pretty sure the team can carry up to 20 on the roster until the start of the regular season when it needs to be trimmed to 18 at most (15 standard, 3 two-ways)
True, and if McDermott’d deal is unguaranteed, much like TD’s, then fine. If he signed a fully guaranteed deal, then it’s a head scratcher.
Yeah, it would be pretty dumb if it was anything other than guaranteed if he’s still on the roster by Jan 10.
Ok, please correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the CBA dictate that if a free agent re-signs with the same team for one year, they have a right block any trade?
You’re correct. It’s not exactly a no-trade clause, although its effectively the same, they’re considered ineligible to traded by their team during the year they signed for unless they agree to be traded, if they do, they are eligible to be traded.
It’s to prevent teams from signing free-agents simply to snatch up assets off the market to then immediately move them for compensation.
As of right now, my arse-pulled prediction would be 11-12 in the West and the 9th-10th lottery pick.
Soooooooo…..
So either the worst team or second to worst team in the conference that isn’t actively tanking. Good work fellas.
Calling this team mid is a complement…going pure med (iocre) on this squad…
One might call it tanking if not for the fact the roster is somehow getting older as they do it…..
It might be the first time I’ve seen a team attempting to tank by signing a bunch of past their prime vets. That’s something a contender does to round out the end of their bench. I’d consider it tanking if they signed a bunch of unproven but high upside prospects to see what sticks.
Saric, Eubanks, and McDermott is just laughable.
Watching Ben Simmons in college, I was sure he’d be a superstar. Incredible size, length, passing, defense, agility, creativity… he seemed like a modern day Magic Johnson. I’d take him just in case he has some kind of awakening… the talent and basketball IQ are extraordinary.
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