Both Victor Oladipo and Ben Simmons were trying to make NBA comebacks this season. The Sacramento Kings decided to go with Simmons, leaving Oladipo still on the hunt. Sacramento is unlikely to use their final main roster spot on another veteran with a long history of injuries.
Not everyone has happy with the Kings' decision to sign Simmons. He has missed a large portion of his career due to injuries, including three non-consecutive full seasons. Plus, his mental game has also been a major issue, utterly destroying his shot for his last couple of active seasons.
It was a disappointing spiral for a player with so much potential. The same can be said about Oladipo. While his mental game was never an issue, injuries shelved him quite frequently. When he was healthy, Oladipo was one of the best defenders in the game. It was a shame to see him injured.
After each player completed extended absences, they are looking to find a spot on an NBA roster. The Kings were named as potential landing spots for both of them, but Sacramento chose to go with Simmons. They technically could also sign Oladipo, but that's not likely to happen after Simmons.
The Kings aren't likely to take Oladipo now
When the Kings chose Simmons, it was because they needed a proper backup point guard for Darius Acuff Jr. Sacramento has improved their depth at four out of five positions. The problem was point guard, where they only had Acuff. Signing Simmons at least takes some of the pressure off Acuff.
The problem with Oladipo in this scenario was that he's a shooting guard, not a point guard. And the Kings already have too many shooting guards. While Oladipo was the right choice from an emotional pespective, Simmons was the right choice from a roster management perspective.
Sacramento still has one more spot left on the roster and just enough financial flexibility for a veteran minimum contract. That's likely to go to another point guard, such as Cam Payne, rather than Oladipo. The Kings still need another point guard before they need another shooting guard.
While Oladipo on the Kings is less likely than ever, he still has a chance to get back into the league this season. His former team, the Heat, are reportedly interested in re-signing him, which might be the best possible outcome. It's a franchise he's familiar with and a team that appreciates his work.
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