The Boston Celtics have struck out in their pursuit of a veteran guard in free agency early on this offseason, as they have watched Damian Lillard return to the Portland Trail Blazers, while their old friend Marcus Smart signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
That has led the Celtics to one of their old foes, Ben Simmons. The versatile guard has drawn quite a bit of interest in recent weeks on the free agent market, with Boston reportedly being one of the teams in the running.
Considering how the C’s are likely entering a gap year of sorts next season, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to take a flier on Simmons to see if he can figure things out and become the player he was earlier in his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. According to a recent report, it sounds like Simmons is close to making a decision on where he will sign in free agency.
“I’m told he’s probably going to make a choice in the next week. Kings, Suns, Knicks & Celtics have all been connected to him,” Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported.
Simmons isn’t the same player he was early in his career, when he earned three All-Star selections, a spot on the All-Defensive First Team twice, and the 2018 Rookie of the Year Award, but he still offers value off the bench for playoff-contending teams.
Story continues below advertisement
Last season, Simmons averaged five points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game in 51 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. Add in his defensive contributions, and Simmons still has upside that could be tapped into.
After trading Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers, Boston could use another defensive stopper in their backcourt alongside Derrick White. Beyond that, the C’s could tap into Simmons’ playmaking abilities, as he remains an excellent offensive facilitator, even if his scoring numbers are way down.
There are a slew of other teams interested in Simmons, so Boston has their work cut out for them when it comes to landing his signature. After missing out on Lillard and Smart, though, the front office could opt to make a stronger push in order to lure him to town.