Ben Simmons is Back: Sacramento Kings Take a Low-Risk Flyer on the Former All-Star

Ben Simmons is officially attempting an NBA comeback, and the Sacramento Kings are the ones holding the door open.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, with ESPN first on the agreement, Simmons has inked a one-year, non-guaranteed deal worth up to $3.5 million. If he just survives training camp and makes the opening night roster, he pockets a cool $1 million.

"ESPN was first on an agreement."

A non-guaranteed flyer on a 30-year-old former All-Star is the ultimate low-risk, high-reward front office move. It is the NBA equivalent of finding a high-end designer jacket at a thrift store. It might be missing a sleeve, but for three bucks, you have to at least try it on.

Simmons is a three-time All-Star whose career was derailed by a well-documented cocktail of back injuries and confidence issues. We have seen the offseason workout videos for years, but this time, the financial stakes are strictly prove-it territory.

For the Kings, this is a zero-liability swing. If Simmons looks completely washed in camp, they cut him and lose nothing. If he somehow rediscovers even a fraction of his elite defensive and playmaking abilities, Sacramento suddenly has a massive rotational upgrade to throw at Western Conference wings. Bettors looking at Kings futures or early-season rotation props will want to monitor his camp status closely, because a healthy Simmons completely changes their bench dynamic.

The clock starts now. Simmons has a few weeks to prove to the Sacramento coaching staff that he still belongs on an NBA floor. If he makes the opening night roster, the comeback is officially on. If not, this might be the final chapter of one of the most bizarre career arcs in modern basketball history.