Ben Simmons is currently an unrestricted free agent. The former Rookie of the Year has struggled in recent seasons and failed to make a legitimate impact with the LA Clippers during the second half of the 2024-25 NBA season. Nevertheless, Simmons is reportedly drawing interest from around the NBA, his size, defense, and playmaking are all intriguing skills that teams believe could make him a viable member of the rotation.

According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Simmons could make sense for the Warriors. Pincus noted how Simmons’ skill set and style of play would make him a reliable backup for veteran forward Draymond Green. Both are exceptional defenders and both approach the game with a pass-first mentality. However, Green’s willingness to shoot the rock and extend his shots onto the perimeter is one of the bigger differentiating factors.

“Simmons is similar in many ways to Draymond Green,” Pincus wrote. “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 formidable contender in the Western Conference when healthy.”

If Simmons can stay healthy, and he’s committed to the Warriors’ push for a championship, he would be a strong addition on a minimum contract. Steve Kerr could be the ideal coach to get the best out of the 29-year-old, especially if they lean into his downhill threat as a passer. The key is figuring out how to bring out a level of aggression we haven’t seen from Simmons in over four years.

Advertisement

Still, on a minimum contract, Simmons would be a low-risk, high-reward type of pickup. Therefore, if he’s available and interested, the Warriors could do far worse than adding the former first-overall draft pick to their roster for the upcoming season.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Ben Simmons cited as potential Draymond Green backup for Warriors