Warriors' Ben Simmons Contract Decision Should Come Down to One Factor

What the Dubs should be thinking about when deciding whether to offer Simmons a contract

Ben Simmons | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ben Simmons is eyeing a return to the NBA, and the Golden State Warriors could use another wing.

So it's no surprise that there's been speculation about Simmons going to the Bay.

The 2016 No. 1 overall pick last played in the NBA with the Clippers in the 2025 playoffs.

Some teams looking for passing, rebounding and defense could talk themselves into offering Simmons a veteran minimum contract.

The Warriors should not be one of those teams.

Warriors Should Prioritize Lendeborg's Development

Years ago, I remember daydreaming about Simmons' fit with the Warriors. It's obvious that he and Draymond Green would have had some offensive overlap that could have created major spacing issues, but I wasn't totally sold that it wouldn't work.

For one, you could have staggered their minutes.

But even when on the court together, you could have surrounded them with Stephen Curry and two other shooters, and it could've worked due to Curry's gravity.

Now, things are different.

The Warriors' second-best player is Jimmy Butler, who rarely shoots from the perimeter too. Lineups with Butler, Green and Simmons would be awful on offense.

But that's not even the biggest concern with adding Simmons.

The Dubs must prioritize Yaxel Lendeborg's development, and the last thing they need is another point forward type.

Lendeborg needs offensive touches to reach his potential. He can play off the ball, but the Warriors won't want him standing in the corner too often. The problem with Simmons is he's useless as a three-point spacer, so he's most valuable when he's directly involved in the offensive action, which would force Lendeborg and other Warriors into less usage.

Simmons might have fit the Warriors in 2022-23 when they had Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins scoring in bunches from the perimeter. He could be a roller and/or sit in the dunker's spot and take advantage of the spacing of the Warriors' lineups.

Now, he's not a good fit.

Warriors Might Have No Good Wing Answer on FA Market

The Dubs have been linked to a few remaining free agents, including Brandon Williams, Kelly Olynyk and Georges Niang.

Niang has wing size and three-point shooting ability, so he'd be a better fit than Simmons offensively.

The issue with Niang is he doesn't have the lateral quickness to guard opposing wings. He's meant to defend 4s, but the Warriors already have Green, Lendeborg and Gui Santos in the "more comfortable as a 4 than a 3" camp.

My guess is the Dubs are comfortable going into the season without another wing. They will play Lendeborg and Santos heavy minutes at the 3, and at times they will go back to some of the small-ball lineups they used last year that had Brandin Podziemski or Will Richard at the 3.

They only have to fill one more standard roster spot, and I suspect it will go to LJ Cryer or Williams to give the Warriors more point guard depth.

For what it's worth, I think the Dubs should have been more aggressive on the FA market looking for another wing. For example, the Lakers got Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle for veteran minimums. The Warriors could use either of them until Butler and Moses Moody return from their knee injuries.

But now that the FA wing market is so dry, I understand the Dubs' inaction.