Ben Simmons could be on the move once again, and according to Bovada Official, the Boston Celtics have emerged as the favorites to land the former All-Star if he doesn’t re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The odds currently place Boston at +400 to acquire Simmons, ahead of other interested teams like the New York Knicks (+750), Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat (both +800), and even international clubs such as the Guangdong Tigers (+900) and Melbourne United (+1600).
Simmons, 28, signed with the Clippers midseason after being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets. His stint in Los Angeles was far from memorable. In limited action, Simmons averaged just 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. He was mostly a rotational piece, showing few signs of the elite player he once was.
It’s a stark contrast from just a few years ago when Simmons was widely regarded as one of the NBA’s most unique two-way talents.
He was a three-time All-Star, made an All-NBA Third Team, and finished as a runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. His combination of size, speed, defensive instincts, and playmaking made him a core piece of the Philadelphia 76ers’ future.
Then came the 2021 playoffs.
Following a disastrous Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks, most notably his decision to pass up an open dunk in Game 7, Simmons became a national punching bag.
His confidence visibly evaporated. What followed was a holdout, mental health struggles, back injuries, and a trade to Brooklyn that didn’t offer much rejuvenation. He played in only 57 games for the Nets across two seasons, never regaining his former assertiveness or ability to impact winning consistently.
Despite all that, Simmons remains just 28 and theoretically entering the back half of his prime. The Celtics reportedly see him as a reclamation project, one that could yield significant rewards if handled correctly. Boston has a strong player development staff, a stable culture, and a winning environment.
It’s possible they believe that with a defined role off the bench, perhaps as a defensive playmaker and second-unit facilitator, Simmons could slowly rebuild both his game and his confidence.
Still, the fit is unclear. Boston already has a glut of perimeter talent and playmakers. Simmons’ inability to shoot, especially from the free-throw line and beyond the arc, creates spacing issues on a team that thrives on three-point shooting.
However, his defensive versatility, transition skills, and passing could be viewed as complementary tools in specific lineups.
For Simmons, a low-pressure role on a title-contending team like Boston might be the best scenario left on the NBA landscape. Yet, this could also be his final shot at redemption in the league.
If the Celtics gamble on him and he still doesn’t deliver, the next chapter of his career might not even be in the NBA. With overseas options also appearing in the odds, that possibility is already beginning to take shape.
