The Boston Celtics have suffered through a tough offseason.
After winning a championship just two years ago, the Celtics were hoping to repeat as champions. Unfortunately, that dream ended when Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles in the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the rival New York Knicks.
Heading into the offseason, everyone knew that change was coming to Boston due to its luxury tax situation and new ownership. Brad Stevens made that change happen.
To begin the offseason, the Celtics traded veteran star point guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers. Boston received Anfernee Simons as the key piece in return. Kristaps Porzingis was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks, with Georges Niang coming back to the Celtics.
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Now, the question becomes, where does Boston go from here?
Tatum is expected to miss most of if not all of the 2025-26 season. That gives the Celtics somewhat of a gap year between contending for a championship. Jaylen Brown could take over and lead the team on a run, but that is far from a guarantee.
Who could Boston target as an outside addition to help them compete? How about a former No. 1 overall pick?
According to a report from veteran NBA insider Marc Stein, the Celtics are among the teams interested in signing Ben Simmons.
“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,” Stein wrote.
Simmons would be an interesting addition for Boston. He has never lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was the No. 1 pick, but he could be a quality role player for the Celtics moving forward. On a two-year deal, he could also be a nice addition for when Tatum gets back on the floor.
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During the 2024-25 NBA season split between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, Simmons played in 51 games and made 24 starts. He averaged five points per game to go along with 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.7 steals, while shooting 52 percent from the floor.
At 29 years old, Simmons may not bring much offensively. However, he can create for teammates, rebound well, and defend. All of those traits could give Boston a needed presence.
It will be interesting to see what the rest of the offseason has in store for the Celtics. Keep an eye on Simmons as a potential pickup.
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