Celtics Fans Upset After Ben Simmons Report

Celtics Fans Upset After Ben Simmons Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons is not the player he was when he first came into the NBA in 2016. Hailed as a franchise player before he was even drafted, Simmons has not played at an All-Star level since the 2020-21 season, his last one with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Then, Simmons made his third All-Star team, his second All-NBA team, his second All-Defense team, and he even got votes for both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Since resuming his career in 2022 with the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons has not earned any of those accolades or recognition.

This is the first NBA offseason in which Simmons has become an unrestricted free agent. Even if he's not the player he used to be, he'll likely get a flyer for a team looking for help in their frontcourt.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that Simmons will choose his next team soon, and that the Boston Celtics are among the teams interested in him.

"I’m told he’s probably going to make a choice in the next week," Windhorst posted on Threads. "Kings, Suns, Knicks and, yes, Celtics have all been connected to him."

The Ben Simmons sweepstakes are heating up, and he’s expected to make a decision on where he’ll be taking his talents within the next week, per @WindhorstESPN

“I’m told he’s probably going to make a choice in the next week. Kings, Suns, Knicks & Celtics have all been connected… pic.twitter.com/WDoqnwc2a4

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 23, 2025

Celtics fans are not too happy about the possibility of adding Simmons to the team, and not just because he's not the player he once was.

"Please no. Bad vibes. And would just take minutes from the young guys," one begged.

"Leave the Celtics out of this!!" another demanded.

"What would he even do in a Mazzulla offense?" another asked.

Regardless of what Simmons is capable of, he is six-foot-10, and after losing Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and likely Al Horford, the Celtics are short on frontcourt depth.

Related: Ben Simmons, Celtics Report Surfaces After Damian Lillard’s Decision

Related: Celtics Predicted to Make Another Trade Amid $20 Million Problem

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.