Warriors reportedly were 'in the mix' for Ben Simmons before he agreed to one-year Kings contract

Ben Simmons reportedly had interest from the Golden State Warriors before the Sacramento Kings ultimately agreed to a one-year contract. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the search for a deal initially included interest in Russell Westbrook, who opted to retire instead, and Victor Oladipo. League sources told Amick that the New York Knicks and Warriors were also involved, but Sacramento landed Simmons, with Amick framing it as “the latest Simmons experiment begins.” For the Warriors, the fit centers on needing size and secondary playmaking behind an aging core, especially as Jimmy Butler’s timeline for a full return from a torn ACL remains uncertain. Simmons is a three-time All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick, but he has not played since April 2025, finishing that season with the Los Angeles Clippers after being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets.