Golden State Warriors could sign former number one pick as Jonathan Kuminga replacement 

Golden State Warriors could sign Ben Simmons if Jonathan Kuminga leaves 

The Warriors could sign Ben Simmons in free agency, depending on the outcome of Kuminga’s contract talks. Simmons was a highly touted number one pick with the Philadelphia 76ers. Physical injuries and men tal shooting blocks have stalled his career in recent seasons. 

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report said that Simmons could be a useful bench player for the Warriors, as they try to win Curry his fifth NBA title. 

He wrote, “Simmons is similar in many ways to Draymond Green. Neither has earned their contracts through individual scoring, but through defense and playmaking. 

“With an elite shooter like Steph Curry and a tough all-around competitor like Jimmy Butler, Golden State is a for midable contender in the Western Conference when healthy.

“Simmons wouldn’t fit alongside Green, but could be a valuable reserve behind him, so that the team doesn’t need to alter its style of play. Green is willing to take the outside shot, make or miss, the one glaring difference between the two.”

Golden State offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million deal. They may have to pay Kuminga more than that to keep him long-term, however. Alternatively, they could arrange a sign-and-trade to get him off the books, or let him walk for free in 2026 after taking a one-year qualifying offer worth $7.9 million.

There is a host of potential endings to this ongoing saga. Golden State are forced to put all other free agency decisions on the back burner until they find out which path Kuminga will take. 

New York Knicks are among the other teams named in Ben Simmons sweepstakes

Pincus also listed the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings as other plausible options for Simmons this summer. They’d be signing him for very different reasons.

The Knicks need playmaking alongside Brunson. They have scoring talent up and down the roster from Karl Anthony-Towns to Jalen Brunson. New York also has a deep rotation of wing defenders. But signing pass-first playmakers is a requirement of theirs. 

Simmons has a mental block for shooting. It got so bad at one point he wouldn’t shoot layups. But he’s always been a pass-first guard with incredible playmaking ability. There’s a role for him on the Knicks as a distributor off the bench.

He’s also a high-level defender when healthy, something always valued in Minnesota. Their identity is built around the defensive toughness of Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert in their lineup. The Timberwolves have two of the best defenders in the NBA starting for them. Simmons could add depth in that department. 

The Kings would be firing for upside. They traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and are now left with a singular star in Domantas Sabonis. In signing Simmons, they may hope he can recapture his rookie season form, which earned him Rookie of the Year with the 76ers, and turn into a second star alongside Sabonis. 

If the Warriors are targeting Simmons this offseason, they may miss out to these three teams due to their issues with Kuminga.