"Don't Be Surprised": Kings Could Use Ben Simmons As Trade Bait Despite Brutal Season-Ending Injury

It’s a sad time to be a Ben Simmons fan. The Sacramento Kings guard tore his right Achilles tendon during a live drill at Sunday’s practice, just days before the regular season opens. An MRI confirmed the tear, and he will have surgery. The injury is expected to keep him out for all of 2026-27.

It’s a heartbreaking end to a comeback that looked promising. After sitting out last season with back and leg injuries, Simmons played in all five of Sacramento’s preseason games. He started Friday’s loss to the Spurs and scored 14 points in 26 minutes. He had been expected to back up rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

Simmons signed a one-year, non-guaranteed veteran-minimum deal with the Kings last month, worth $3.52 million, with $1 million guaranteed if he made the opening-night roster. Because it’s a one-year minimum deal, the league covers part of it, so Sacramento carries a cap hit of about $2.45 million. Normally, waiving a player on that kind of contract before opening night costs a team very little.

However, an injury like Simmons' changes that. John Hollinger of The Athletic expects the Kings to hold on to Simmons because of the NBA’s salary continuation rule. Under that rule, injured players on non-guaranteed contracts must keep being paid until they’re healthy again.

"The reason is the salary continuation rule, which states that injured players on non-guaranteed contracts must continue to be paid until they are healthy again," Hollinger wrote. "Notably, this protection does not apply to players who sign training camp contracts – also referred to as Exhibit 9 or Exhibit 10 deals, which are only protected up to $15,000. But Simmons didn't sign that type of contract."

Since the Kings owe the money either way, Hollinger argued that waiving Simmons makes little sense, and that his contract could instead be used in a trade.

"As a result, the Kings will have a $2.45 million salary for Simmons on their books all year regardless of whether they waive him," Hollinger continued. "Because of that, don't be surprised if the Kings keep him on the roster and look to use his deal in a trade. The Kings, incidentally, are $3.1 million below the tax line, enough room that they could sign another player in the meantime to fill their open 15th roster spot."

Simmons missed the entirety of the 2025-26 season. This was purely his decision, as he wanted to take time to recover from nagging injuries and work on his body, attempting to make it stronger than it once was. Unfortunately for him, despite all the efforts Simmons invested in his body, his Achilles still gave out.

With Simmons out for the season, his value in a deal would be his salary. His roughly $2.45 million cap hit could help Sacramento match money in a trade.

It also wouldn’t stop the Kings from adding depth, since they sit $3.1 million below the luxury tax line with an open 15th roster spot.

Ben Simmons Hints at Comeback Amid Season-Ending Injury

As mentioned earlier, everyone was anticipating Ben Simmons' return in the 2026-27 season. However, an unfortunate Achilles tear changed the story and forced him back into recovery after missing an entire year in the 2025-26 season.

Many were curious how differently Simmons would play. Others were also interested to see if the Australian had strengthened his body in his one-year absence. During the preseason, there were some encouraging signs.

Sadly, his current circumstances have hindered him from showcasing his new form, and fans are worried that he may never get back up from this situation.

Despite the negativity that surrounds him, Simmons remains positive about his status and has promised that his story won't end here. NBA insider Marc Stein reposted a screenshot of Simmons' statement regarding his Achilles injury.

"I've faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I've found a way through every single one of them," Simmons wrote on his Instagram stories. "This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story."

"It's never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here," Simmons continued. "But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that adversity doesn't define you. How you respond to it does. I've been knocked down before, and I've always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different."

Strong words from Simmons as he remains optimistic about his future in the NBA. For now, all we can do is wait and hope that Ben's recovery will be a success.