Four-time Golden State Warriors NBA champion Draymond Green warned Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd about the risks of playing number one draft pick Cooper Flagg out of position at the point guard at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Kidd has since moved D’Angelo Russell off the bench to starting point guard, benched Klay Thompson and shifted Flagg to his natural stretch-wing position.
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It comes after Green referenced Australian Ben Simmons as a cautionary tale for Kidd to consider.
“The one thing I would say about starting Cooper Flagg at point guard is you just gotta be careful,” Green said on his podcast.
“It’s not his real position. You ask yourself the question: if Ben Simmons was allowed to be a power forward that can handle the ball the way he handled the ball, does his career turn out differently than making him a point guard? Be careful with playing Cooper Flagg at point guard.
“I understand the thinking behind it, but the last thing you want is him to lose his confidence trying to play point guard.
“Once you lose your confidence in this league it’s nearly impossible to get it back, and even if you get it back, it’s hard to get it back to the level that it once was — where it could have been or where it should be.
“Be very careful with playing him out of position, because if he loses his confidence it messes up everything else.”
WHAT DOES SIMMONS’ FUTURE HOLD… AND WHERE COULD HE SIGN?
Unrestricted free agent Simmons, 29, is yet to sign with an NBA team almost three weeks after the start of the 2025-26 season. Simmons had his contract bought out by the Brooklyn Nets before the 2025 trade deadline before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers for the second half of last season.
Simmons can’t join five NBA teams (Celtics, Mavericks, Warriors, Knicks or Timberwolves) under new salary-cap rules, while the Cavs are over the second salary cap apron (USD $207.8M) and can only sign minimum contracts and re-sign own players.
Meanwhile, the Celts, Mavs, Warriors, Knicks and T’Wolves, all over the first apron (USD $195.9M), are restricted from signing a buyout player who made more than the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception on his prior contract.
There are only two franchises below the salary cap, ironically the Nets and the Utah Jazz. Brooklyn is USD $15.2M below and the Jazz USD $10.5M.
It’s almost unthinkable and impossible that Simmons would return to the Nets, leaving the Jazz as the most cap-friendly destination.
Other teams that can sign Ben Simmons without too much red tape
Over the salary cap but under the first apron: Hawks; 76ers; Suns; Spurs; Kings; Wizards; Nuggets; Rockets; Pacers; Bulls; Clippers; Grizzlies; Bucks; Heat; Pelicans; Raptors; Pistons; and Hornets.
– These clubs can still use minimum exceptions freely.
– Financially able to add Simmons with negligible tax impact.
– But the basketball fit and need becomes the differentiator.
Potential fits within this salary cap tier
Spurs – Defensive length beside Wembanyama; developmental system.
Pistons – Positional overlap with Cade/Ivey but minutes available.
Pacers – Need defensive playmaker forward; below first apron. Indiana is decimated by injury: Andrew Nembhard; Bennedict Mathurin; Quenton Jackson; and Johnny Furphy (day-to-day); as well as Tyrese Haliburton out for the season.
Bulls – Playmaking forward depth; ties with Australian core (Josh Giddey/ Lachlan Olbrich).
Kings – Lack size in the front court; Precious Achiuwa is listed second on the depth chart at power forward, he’s 6’8” while Nique Clifford is second at small forward behind Zach LaVine. Clifford is 6’5”. Forward Drew Eubanks is playing back up minutes behind Domantas Sabonis. Eubanks is 6’10”.
But just because they can … it doesn’t mean this will or indeed want to.
Simmons hasn’t posted to his Instagram account in six weeks and there is no footage of him working out in “The Lab”.
It’s been radio silence since the start of training camp so it continues to build speculation given Simmons has been rated the second best free agent still on the market.
This article first appeared on basketball.com.au and was reproduced with permission.
Originally published as NBA champion’s Ben Simmons warning for Mavericks and hyped No.1 pick
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