BREAKING: Ben Simmons Expected to Sign with Boston Celtics, Adding Elite Defense, Versatility, and Playmaking Depth to Contending Roster
In a move that has stunned fans and raised eyebrows across the NBA landscape, Ben Simmons is reportedly on the verge of signing with the Boston Celtics, according to NBA insider @TheHoopsAlerts. While the final details of the contract have yet to be officially announced, league sources indicate that the versatile forward-guard is expected to join the defending Eastern Conference champions for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The Celtics, who fell just short of winning their 18th NBA title in 2025, are clearly looking to bolster their already star-studded rotation. With a roster that includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis, the addition of Simmons signals an aggressive push to both fortify the defense and expand the team’s offensive dynamics.
A New Chapter for Simmons
For Ben Simmons, the opportunity to play in Boston may represent the career reset he’s long needed. After a tumultuous few seasons marked by injuries, mental health struggles, and inconsistent production, the 28-year-old former All-Star is hoping to revitalize his career and prove his critics wrong.
Once considered one of the most unique and promising players in the league, Simmons is a three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive First Team member. Standing 6-foot-10 with elite lateral movement, court vision, and switchability, Simmons brings a rare combination of size and skill that could immediately enhance Boston’s championship aspirations.
His ability to guard all five positions and facilitate the offense in transition could relieve pressure from Tatum and Brown, allowing them to focus more on scoring and less on playmaking.
A Calculated Risk by Brad Stevens
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has earned a reputation for calculated, forward-thinking roster decisions. From acquiring Derrick White to trading for Porziņģis, Stevens has consistently found ways to complement the Tatum-Brown core without mortgaging the team’s future.
Simmons’ signing is arguably Stevens’ boldest move yet. It’s also a risk. Since being traded from Philadelphia to Brooklyn in the James Harden deal, Simmons has struggled to remain on the court. He played just 15 games in the 2024-25 season before being shut down due to lingering back issues.
That said, the Celtics are reportedly not making a long-term financial commitment. Multiple reports suggest that the contract could be a short-term “prove-it” deal loaded with performance incentives. This structure would allow Simmons to showcase his value while protecting the Celtics if he fails to stay healthy or contribute meaningfully.
Fit with the Celtics’ System
From a basketball standpoint, Simmons fits neatly into head coach Joe Mazzulla’s system. The Celtics led the NBA in both defensive efficiency and three-point attempts last season. Simmons may not be a shooting threat, but his presence could allow shooters like Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Tatum more open looks by creating mismatches and drawing defenders in transition.
He also gives Boston another option to guard elite perimeter players. With Holiday and Simmons on the court together, the Celtics could deploy one of the league’s most suffocating defensive backcourts—capable of switching, trapping, and disrupting even the most efficient offenses.
If healthy, Simmons can play as a point-forward or even as a small-ball center in bench lineups. His court vision is elite, and his ability to rebound and push the ball in transition adds a dimension the Celtics lacked at times during their 2025 Finals run.
Reactions Around the League
Fan reaction has been mixed but mostly positive. Celtics fans are hopeful that Simmons, still in his athletic prime, can return to form and provide the team with the depth needed for another Finals push. Others are skeptical, noting his track record of disappearing in big games and lack of shooting range.
Former NBA players and analysts have weighed in as well. Kendrick Perkins, on ESPN’s NBA Today, said:
“This could either be the steal of the year or a total bust. There’s no middle ground with Ben Simmons.”
JJ Redick added:
“If Simmons can give Boston even 75% of what he was in 2019, this team becomes a nightmare matchup in the East.”
On the player side, Jayson Tatum reportedly approved of the potential move, per an anonymous source close to the team. The source stated:
“Jayson believes in redemption stories. He thinks Ben still has elite basketball in him and wants to help bring it out.”
Simmons’ Road to Redemption
No one knows better than Simmons what’s at stake. After years of scrutiny, jokes, and public fallouts, this could be his final chance to silence the doubters.
His journey from being the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 to becoming a pariah in Philadelphia to battling injuries and self-doubt in Brooklyn has been one of the NBA’s most dramatic career arcs. But talent, as they say, doesn’t vanish—it just needs the right environment.
Boston, with its strong locker room leadership and championship expectations, might be that environment.
What’s Next?
While the Celtics front office remains tight-lipped, Simmons is expected to undergo a physical in the coming days. If all goes well, a formal announcement could come by the end of the week.
Once official, Simmons will likely address the media and discuss his goals for the upcoming season. Fans will be eager to see his role during preseason and whether Mazzulla inserts him into the starting lineup or uses him as a dynamic sixth man.
In a league defined by redemption arcs, the Simmons-to-Boston narrative could become one of the biggest stories of the 2025-26 season.
Whether he thrives or falters, one thing is certain: Ben Simmons has another chance. And the Boston Celtics are betting that this time, the gamble will pay off.
Ben Simmons is reportedly expected to sign with the Boston Celtics, adding elite defense, versatility, and playmaking to a title-contending roster. While the move carries some risk given Simmons’ injury history, it also presents an opportunity for a major career revival.
