Boston Celtics fans knew this summer was going to be a crazy one heading in. The team’s need to offload key contributors like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis was the worst-kept secret in the league, and change was imminent.
One thing that was not on the bingo cards of many in the Commonwealth was that Boston would be linked to former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons. There were rumblings in July that the Cs were among those interested in the former Philadelphia 76ers star, but nothing quite came of it.
NBA Insider Marc Stein reiterated those reports in his most recent Steinline newsletter.
“Boston and New York, I'm told, expressed the most serious interest in Simmons this summer,” Stein wrote Monday.
Up until the Celtics signed Chris Boucher, Simmons hypothetically would’ve fit as a rotational center, helping the team’s glaring issue in the middle. He’d taken on similar roles with the Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers last season, and looked okay doing so.
He’s got the size, athleticism, and defensive know-how to compete with other NBA-level bigs in the paint.
Ben Simmons probably wouldn't have worked out with the Celtics anyway
Of course, the question with Simmons has always been his drive. How badly does he actually want to improve as a basketball player?
Those questions began to surface during his time with the 76ers. The multi-time All-Star was taking the league by storm, and he was doing so without taking any three-pointers. Many suggested he’d be able to take his game to an entirely new level if he added some outside scoring to his game.
Yet, that never happened. Instead, his inability to shoot the ball wound up rearing its ugly head in what was his closing act in Philadelphia. The top-seeded Sixers were upset in the 2021 playoffs by an inferior Atlanta Hawks team, largely due to Simmons’ inability to make free throws.
Many point to that series and his exit from Philly as the flashpoint for Simmons’ career. He simply hasn’t been the same since.
If the latest reports from Stein, as well as the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, are true, Simmons might not even want to play in the league anymore.
“As I reported via Twitter earlier this week, Simmons' agent Bernie Lee — also the agent for [Jimmy] Butler — notified the players' association that he has ceased to represent Simmons. The New York Post's Stefan Bondy reported last week that Simmons, at 29, has been ‘questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season.’”
Much of the buzz around Simmons this summer has indicated he’s looking for a contract worth more than the veteran’s minimum, which no team seems eager to give. With the lack of interest around the league, it wouldn’t be shocking if we’ve seen the last of the former hoops phenom.
At the very least, we know we won’t be seeing him suit up for the Cs if he wants to get paid. There’s simply no money to be had as the team looks to further alleviate its financials.