BREAKING: Former All-Star Ben Simmons Expected to Sign with Boston Celtics in Surprising Move to Reignite His NBA Career.
In a move no one saw coming, former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons is reportedly expected to sign with the Boston Celtics—an opportunity to reignite a once-promising career now clouded by setbacks, injuries, and doubt.
Once hailed as the future of the NBA, Simmons was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, a 6-foot-10 point-forward hybrid who could dominate both ends of the floor. At his peak with the Philadelphia 76ers, Simmons was a three-time All-Star, a two-time All-Defensive First Team selection, and the 2018 Rookie of the Year. But since 2021, his career has spiraled.
The former LSU star has struggled mightily with back issues, mental health concerns, and a loss of confidence in his offensive game, culminating in limited action during his time with the Brooklyn Nets. Now, the 28-year-old is attempting to rewrite the narrative—and he’s chosen the most unlikely of stages: Boston.
The Celtics’ Calculated Gamble
Boston, fresh off its 18th NBA Championship, is a franchise with little margin for error. Adding Simmons is not a need-based move—it’s a luxury gamble, one made with eyes on upside, not expectations. According to team sources, the Celtics believe their locker room culture, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, can offer Simmons the structure and accountability he’s lacked since his early years in Philly.
Boston has long prided itself on defense-first basketball, positional versatility, and intelligent team play. When healthy, Simmons fits all of that. A 6-foot-10 playmaker with elite defensive instincts, Simmons could give the Celtics an additional switchable defender and secondary facilitator off the bench. There’s no pressure to score 20 points a night. There’s no pressure to run the offense. There’s just an invitation: defend, rebound, and play smart basketball.
This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing, expected to be a veteran’s minimum deal or slightly above. There’s no guarantee Simmons will even crack the playoff rotation. But the upside—if even 70% of Simmons returns—is tantalizing.
From Franchise Cornerstone to NBA Castoff
To understand the gravity of this move, it’s essential to rewind. Simmons’ fall from NBA grace has been one of the most dramatic in recent memory.
After leading the Sixers to a 49-23 record in the 2020-21 season and being named an All-Star for the third time, Simmons famously crumbled in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. His reluctance to shoot—most infamously passing up a wide-open dunk in Game 7—sparked a firestorm of criticism.
Head coach Doc Rivers and star teammate Joel Embiid appeared to lose confidence in him. Simmons requested a trade, sat out the 2021-22 season citing mental health, and was eventually dealt to Brooklyn in a blockbuster involving James Harden.
But things didn’t improve in Brooklyn. Injuries limited his availability. He played in just 42 games over two seasons, averaging only 6.7 points per game—far from the dominant presence he once was. He became the butt of jokes, the poster child for unfulfilled promise.
Now, after being bought out and hitting free agency, Simmons is reportedly choosing Boston as the place to start over.
Why Boston?
Multiple league insiders point to several factors behind Simmons’ interest in Boston.
First, there’s a clear understanding that this is Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s team. Simmons would not be asked to lead or even start. The lack of pressure could benefit him mentally.
Second, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has emerged as one of the more innovative minds in the league. His willingness to experiment with unconventional lineups could open a pathway for Simmons to contribute as a hybrid defender or even as a small-ball center in spurts.
Third, Boston’s medical staff and sports science program are regarded as among the NBA’s best. With a long history of rehabbing players from chronic injuries—think Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, and even Gordon Hayward—the Celtics offer Simmons a chance to get right physically.
Lastly, there’s the motivation factor. Boston is a championship contender. If Simmons wants to prove he still belongs, there’s no better stage than the postseason spotlight that Boston regularly commands.
Can He Actually Help the Celtics?
That’s the million-dollar question. What version of Simmons will Boston get?
If he can stay healthy, Simmons still possesses elite defensive chops. He was one of the best on-ball defenders in the league at his peak, capable of guarding all five positions. Boston has embraced positionless basketball—this is a franchise that thrived by playing Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Tatum interchangeably as primary defenders.
Simmons could, in theory, take pressure off the aging Horford in matchups requiring length and athleticism. He could serve as a point-forward in second-unit lineups, allowing Payton Pritchard to play off the ball. In lineups with shooters like Sam Hauser and Brown, Simmons’ passing could shine.
But it all hinges on his body and his mind. Will he be physically able to move the way he once did? Will he trust his instincts? Will he shoot the ball at all?
If Simmons can simply return to being an elite defender, solid rebounder, and competent ball-mover, he could be a valuable rotation piece. And if things go wrong? Boston loses nothing but a roster spot.
A Career at the Crossroads
For Simmons, this could be the final chapter in an NBA career that began with such promise. Once seen as the next Magic Johnson, he now finds himself fighting just to stay in the league.
There are echoes of Dwight Howard’s late-career stint with the Lakers, where humility and role acceptance led to a renaissance and an NBA title. That’s the blueprint Simmons must follow.
He must let go of the past—of being a No. 1 pick, of the All-Star expectations, of the max contract. If he can embrace being a role player, he may not only salvage his career but redefine it.
The Celtics are giving him that chance.
League Reaction
The news of Simmons potentially joining the Celtics has sparked a range of reactions.
Former NBA player and analyst JJ Redick, who once played with Simmons in Philadelphia, was cautiously optimistic on his podcast.
“If there’s one place where Ben can succeed, it’s probably Boston,” Redick said. “They don’t need him to be a star. They just need him to defend, pass, and play smart. And if he can do that, watch out.”
Others were more skeptical. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back.
“Ben Simmons going to Boston? That’s not the story. The story is whether he’s even going to suit up,” Smith said. “I’ve seen more clips of him in practice gear than actual games over the last three years.”
But Celtics fans are intrigued. Social media lit up with cautious hope.
One popular X (formerly Twitter) post read:
“If anyone can bring Ben back from the dead, it’s Brad Stevens and that Celtics locker room. Low risk, crazy upside.”
Final Thoughts
Ben Simmons to the Boston Celtics is as surprising as it is fascinating.
This is not the story of a savior joining a team in need. It’s the story of a fallen star trying to rebuild in the shadows of giants.
The Celtics don’t need Ben Simmons. But Ben Simmons may desperately need the Celtics.
Whether this ends in redemption or resignation remains to be seen. But for now, Boston is giving him a lifeline—and maybe, just maybe, Simmons will finally write the next chapter of a career once destined for greatness.
