Ben Simmons potentially joining the Boston Celtics could start a new phase of his career.
NBA Star Ben Simmons Facing Potential Change After Celtics Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Because Ben Simmons has not put up the numbers he used to while with the Philadelphia 76ers, he has remained an unrestricted free agent this offseason. However, some teams are interested in the former No. 1 pick. ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported the Boston Celtics are the current front-runner to sign Simmons.
He wrote: "It seems like the Celtics are at the forefront of Ben Simmons talks, but don't count out a surprise team."
If Boston signs Simmons, it opens the door for him to transition into more of a big man type role. The Celtics lost two of their best frontcourt players this offseason. They traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks, and Luke Kornet signed with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. It has been expected for some time that Al Horford will join the Golden State Warriors this offseason.
With those three gone, the Celtics have two proven big men on the roster: Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman.
Free agent Charles Bassey is apparently no longer an option for Boston though he signed a summer league deal with the team. Reports indicate he is leaning toward signing with a European club.
Boston needs big man depth, and at 6 feet, 10 inches, Simmons would give it that.
Several key names still remain in free agency.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) July 29, 2025
Outside of the RFA market, which will figure itself out, where will key veterans like Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon, and others sign?
Latest free agency rankings and predictions on @ClutchPoints: https://t.co/2ECpBxjTzf
For most of his career, Simmons has been a ball handler who has run the point. With the Celtics, he wouldn't have to be counted as much to do that with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard on the roster.
Even if Simmons' days as an All-Star are behind him, he still plays good defense, and with his frame, he could be a dependable backup center if the coaching staff can utilize him properly. Boston figured out how to utilize Kornet over the five seasons he was with the team, which made him go from one foot out of the NBA to a $40 million man.
There's no reason to think they can't do something similar with Simmons.
Related: NBA Fans Bracing for Ben Simmons News After Celtics’ Roster Move
Related: Ben Simmons to Celtics Deemed Unlikely for One Reason
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
