Could the Celtics target Ben Simmons in free agency?

Might the Boston Celtics come calling for one of many extra confounding No. 1 picks in latest NBA historical past? 

With Boston nonetheless restricted financially because of the NBA’s CBA framework and the restrictive nature of the second-apron monetary thresholds, Brad Stevens’ choices to improve this roster are onerous to discern. At the very least in free company.

As such, longtime NBA insider Marc Stein famous earlier this week that Boston may be serious about a low-cost possibility nonetheless on the open market in Ben Simmons. 

“League sources say that the Suns have additionally had some latest dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m instructed has drawn curiosity since free company started from Boston, New York and Sacramento,” Stein wrote on his Substack. 

It’s a telling assertion on Simmons’ profession arc that the previous No. 1 choose within the 2016 NBA Draft continues to be accessible at this stage of the offseason.

A 3-time All-Star throughout his tenure with the 76ers, Simmons’ profession has been derailed over the previous couple of years as a result of accidents, an prolonged holdout with Philly, and a hesitancy to aim pictures. 

Simmons appeared in 51 complete video games with the Nets and Clippers in the course of the 2024-25 season, averaging 5.0 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists over 22.0 minutes per recreation. 

Though a participant with Simmons’ athleticism, dimension, and passing skill would seemingly nonetheless supply worth to a crew not asking him to function a major scoring risk, Simmons solely scored 4 complete factors over 5 playoff video games with the Clippers this previous spring.

However Simmons would nonetheless supply some upside for a Celtics crew in want of playmakers this season, particularly with Jayson Tatum seemingly out for the 12 months as a result of a torn Achilles and different key cogs like Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Vacation, Luke Kornet, and (seemingly) Al Horford taking part in elsewhere.

And given Simmons’ present profession trajectory, the Celtics would possibly be capable to entice him on a veteran minimal contract as the purpose ahead tries to construct up his worth as soon as once more. 

“Each time I simply wish to dismiss it and be like, ‘This is senseless,’ the opposite a part of me says, ‘That is why the Celtics should take random swings,’” NBC Sports activities Boston’s Chris Forsberg mentioned of Boston focusing on Simmons on the Celtics Talk Podcast. “That is why you make the decision on Damian Lillard. That is why you possibly make the decision on Ben Simmons. Beggars can’t be choosers.

“It goes again to what I hold saying: When you assume that the Celtics are nonetheless not less than within the combine with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard in that core … then every bit you may add offers you not less than a bit bit higher probability. …  I don’t hate the concept of looking for a few these guys that you just’re identical to, ‘Hey, there’s alternative. Would you like it?’”

Nonetheless, even when Simmons might be introduced in on an affordable deal, the Celtics are nonetheless going to be hard-pressed to account for all the scoring expertise that gained’t be on the parquet ground in 2025-26. 

Simmons would seemingly be a sq. peg in a spherical gap as a part of a Joe Mazzulla-led crew, given his reluctance to chuck up pictures. He has solely tried 36 3-point makes an attempt in his profession — and solely related on 5 of these pictures. 

However as Forsberg famous, the Celtics will not be ready to be choosy this offseason given the present state of the roster.

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.