Ben Simmons just inked a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, a chance for the three-time All-Star to revive his career after sitting out last season. But here’s the absolutely wild kicker: the Miami Heat, who still have one final roster spot open for their upcoming season, reportedly passed on the $203 million man to get there. Seriously! Miami is gearing up for what they’re calling a “big year” after snagging Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson in the same offseason, and they decided Simmons wasn’t their guy for that last crucial spot. You gotta wonder what’s going through their heads!
Miami’s Win-Now Play: No Room For Guesswork
So, what’s the deal? Why would a team with championship aspirations, fresh off those massive Giannis and Klay pickups, punt on a former first overall pick and All-NBA talent like Simmons? It all boils down to that intense “win-now” mentality. As Ira Winderman from the Sun Sentinel nailed it, a team like Miami has to clearly differentiate between players who need development or a comeback story and those who can contribute right now. There’s just no time for questions about health or whether the skills are still there. Simmons, who literally sat out the entire 2025-26 season, is making his NBA comeback, and let’s be real, his performance is a huge question mark. Miami, it seems, just couldn’t stomach that kind of gamble with their season on the line.
For the Heat, the focus is laser-sharp: they need someone who can make a “significant impact,” and they have to be absolutely “confident” in their final roster addition. That’s a super high bar, especially when you’ve already thrown the bag at two mega-stars. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer also weighed in, mentioning that while former Heat guard Gabe Vincent definitely has fans on the roster and within the organization who’d love to see him back, it’s “looking like Miami is not a outcome for Gabe Vincent” at the moment. However, the Heat are still on the hunt for a guard. So, they passed on a guy who’s already banked over $200 million in his career. That’s a seriously bold call for a team with such big ambitions!
Kings Roll The Dice On A High-Stakes Comeback
While Miami opted for caution, the Sacramento Kings jumped on the chance. They decided to take a flyer on Simmons, giving the three-time All-Star a legitimate shot at a fresh start. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed the one-year, $3.5 million deal, officially marking Simmons’ return for his tenth NBA season. After hitting the complete reset button by not playing last season, the reports are that Simmons has actually looked good in summer workouts for various organizations. As Winderman smartly pointed out, the Kings make “all the sense for Ben Simmons and he makes all the sense for them” because there’s “no pressure to produce in Sacramento.” Sounds like the perfect low-pressure environment for him to truly revive his career, doesn’t it?
The Kings are essentially betting a modest $3.5 million on a player who, despite his recent struggles, has a proven track record as an All-Star and All-NBA talent. It’s a classic high-reward, low-risk move for them. For Simmons, it’s now entirely up to him to seize this opportunity and show the league what he’s still got. As for the Heat, that final roster spot is still staring at them, practically begging to be filled. With Giannis and Klay leading the charge, whoever they bring in next needs to be an absolute home run to truly make this their “big year.” Can’t wait to see who they snag next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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