Ben Simmons' Updated NBA Landing Spots After Russell Westbrook's Kings Contract

One veteran point guard is reportedly off the market, which means NBA teams looking for another may have to turn toward Ben Simmons.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the Sacramento Kings agreed to a deal with Russell Westbrook. Sacramento needed point guard depth, so it was a match that made plenty of sense on paper for much of the offseason.

And now it is a reality.

As for Simmons, he remains a free agent after splitting last season with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. He is no longer the same player he was with the Philadelphia 76ers when he was a three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive selection, but he can still play multiple positions and perhaps contribute on a secondary unit with solid defense.

With that in mind, here is a look at three potential landing spots for the LSU product:

• Boston Celtics
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Detroit Pistons

Boston Celtics

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Playable depth is going to be a concern for the Boston Celtics throughout the season with Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury and the combination of Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis no longer on the team.

Adding someone like Simmons, who can play as a ball-handling guard or a big in a small-ball lineup, for cheap would give head coach Joe Mazzulla some much-needed options when mixing and matching his lineups and rotation.

Backcourt depth is somewhat thin behind Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons, so Simmons could be an additional ball-handler and facilitator off the bench even if he doesn't stretch the floor.

He could also take some of the defensive pressure off Jaylen Brown with his ability to defend wings. That will, in turn, further allow Brown to be the surefire top option on the offensive end.

Simmons isn't going to be the type of addition that will dramatically elevate Boston's ceiling, but he is someone who can help it tread water until Tatum potentially returns later in the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to take the next step after they reached the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons, so any small improvement could be the difference come playoff time.

And adding Simmons would be a small improvement.

For as consistent and reliable as Mike Conley has been throughout his career, he is 38 years old and appeared to slow down at times last season. Bolstering the backcourt depth, especially with someone like Simmons who can handle the ball and facilitate, would only help the Timberwolves keep Conley fresher as the season progresses.

Simmons' defensive prowess would also be a boost for Anthony Edwards because the former could guard the opponent's best wing player for extended stretches on a nightly basis.

That will take some of the defensive pressure off Edwards and perhaps give him even more burst on the other end as one of the league's top offensive playmakers.

Detroit Pistons

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The Eastern Conference is wide open, and the Detroit Pistons are a threat to make a deep playoff run. With that as the backdrop, it wouldn't be a surprise if they made even more of win-now push for the 2025-26 campaign.

Adding Simmons would be a win-now move despite his limitations as a shooter.

The Pistons don't exactly have elite point guard depth behind Cade Cunningham with Dennis Schröder no longer on the roster, so Simmons could help in that department. He could also play alongside Cunningham and allow the star to play more off the ball as a scorer.

What's more, Simmons could be something of an insurance policy for Jaden Ivey, who has a high ceiling but was limited to 30 games last season because of a significant leg injury. He is still working his way back and has dealt with some concerns this preseason.

Given his versatility and ability as another playable guard, it would make some sense for the Pistons to explore adding Simmons.