Boston Celtics: Al Horford headlines Dan Greenberg’s Ben Simmons proposal

If the Boston Celtics plan on getting in on the Ben Simmons sweepstakes, it may take quite the haul to pry him out of Philadelphia.

With Simmons formally requesting a trade away from the only franchise he has suited up for in his four-year career, that demand is not as high as one would expect for a former #1 overall pick who made the past three NBA All-Star games.

The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are two teams that make a ton of sense for Simmons, but both have fallen through as potential destinations; Golden State because of the presence of Draymond Green, and Sacramento due to their unwillingness to part with either De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton.

Boston isn’t a serious suitor at the moment, but A. Sherrod Blakely believes they could be if the price drops (transcript via Sixers Wire):

"I could absolutely see it happening if the price keeps dropping. To me, it’s going to be one of those things where Ben Simmons would have to say ‘I want to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.’ Because there’s no way that they’re going to get either one of those guys, Philly that is, in exchange for Ben, it just won’t happen."

No Boston Celtics fan wouldn’t want to at least test-drive a lineup including Simmons and the Jays. As much as Simmons clogs the lane in big-focused lineups like Philly has rostered the past two seasons, he could do wonders for shooting wings like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

So, in hunting for deals, Barstool’s Dan Greenberg came up with this Simmons package, centered around Al Horford, Robert Williams, and Boston’s best cost-controlled recent draft picks:

Such a deal would gut the C’s depth chart, but contenders like the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets have been able to sign a slew of free agents for the minimum because of the promise of a potential title.

Can Boston be that kind of suitor after a Simmons deal? It could be the great question that determines whether Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens would pull the trigger on such a blockbuster.