Celtics, Suns Among Teams Eyeing Ben Simmons in Free Agency
Ben Simmons has caught the attention of several NBA contenders looking for a bargain addition. The Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns have shown serious interest in the former All-Star, with the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings also in the mix.
“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,” NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday.
The Celtics have emerged as favorites to land Simmons, with BetUS Sportsbook giving them +185 odds. Phoenix isn’t far behind at +255, followed by the Knicks and Kings both at +375.
It’s been a tough few years for Simmons.
Once a three-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers, his career has taken a nosedive due to injuries and his infamous holdout in Philly.
Last season, Simmons split time between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, appearing in just 51 games. His numbers were a far cry from his All-Star days: 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 22 minutes per game.
The playoffs were even worse. Simmons scored only four total points across five postseason games with the Clippers.
So why are teams still interested?
Despite his offensive struggles, Simmons’ size, athleticism, and defensive skills make him an intriguing low-risk addition. For a team like Boston that just lost several key players, he could be worth a shot on a veteran minimum deal.
Boston’s Roster Overhaul
The Celtics are facing a challenging season ahead. Jayson Tatum is likely sidelined for the entire 2025-26 campaign with a torn Achilles. They’ve also lost Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet, with Al Horford expected to either retire or sign elsewhere.
That’s why Boston might be willing to take a chance on Simmons.
“Every time I just want to dismiss it and be like, ‘This makes no sense,’ the other part of me says, ‘This is why the Celtics have to take random swings,'” NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg said on the Celtics Talk Podcast.
“This is why you make the call on Damian Lillard. This is why you maybe make the call on Ben Simmons. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
Forsberg added: “If you think that the Celtics are still at least in the mix with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard in that core… then every piece you can add gives you at least a little bit better chance.”
Expectations for Next Season
After dominating the league with 64 wins in 2023-24 and 61 wins last season, Boston is expected to take a major step back.
Without Tatum and several other key contributors, sportsbooks have set the Celtics’ projected win total at just 43.5 games for the upcoming season.
Could Simmons help them exceed those expectations? It’s a low-risk gamble that might be worth taking for a team in transition.
