It’s been an interesting offseason in Boston, to say the least. And a new report involving the Celtics is another head-scratcher.
Here’s what longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote in his Substack on Sunday night:
“League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York and Sacramento.”
Yes, Stein is referring to that Ben Simmons: the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft who won NBA Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia 76ers but has fallen off a cliff since his trade from Philly to Brooklyn in 2022.
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Simmons appeared in just 51 games last season between the Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists over 22.0 minutes per game. He was a fringe rotation player at best for the Clippers and scored four total points over five playoff games last season.
So, why would the Celtics want to get in the Simmons business?
From a practical standpoint, Boston could only offer Simmons a veteran minimum contract due to salary constraints as they aim to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. But there’s a good chance Simmons would play on a minimum deal at this point in his career after being bought out of his previous contract.
Simmons just turned 29 on Sunday and at 6-foot-10 is still a strong defender who can facilitate offense and rebound. As the Celtics enter a “gap year” while Jayson Tatum rehabs from a ruptured Achilles tendon, it’s worth at least kicking the tires on reclamation projects like the former Sixers star.
That’s the case for adding Simmons — but the case against is much stronger, and it boils down to one factor: He can’t shoot.
Simmons hasn’t attempted a 3-pointer since the 2022-23 season and is 5 for 36 in his career from beyond the arc. He’s virtually ineffective outside the paint, which makes it hard to imagine him fitting in on a Celtics team that just smashed the NBA record for most 3-pointers attempted in a season.
The C’s are better served giving minutes to young players like recent free agent signings Josh Minott and Luka Garza and rookie Hugo Gonzalez in the hope that they develop into key rotation pieces when Tatum returns to full strength. Simmons hasn’t been an impact player in nearly five years, and the Celtics should resist the urge to “buy low” on a player whose off-court drama outweighs his on-court contributions.
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