The Boston Celtics will have a new look for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The moment Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs, everything changed for the Boston Celtics.
This sped up the Celtics’ dilemma whether to break up their team amid second apron concerns, and the team is now in a rebuild scenario this upcoming season.
The team’s depth chart still has gaps, and just like the stop-gap signing of Georges Niang, Ben Simmons is being lined up as further depth.
Ben Simmons is a free agent after his short-term deal with the Los Angeles Clippers expired.
Having been named among landing spots for Simmons, the Boston Celtics are now being viewed as serious contenders for the former number one overall pick.
NBA insider Ary reports on X: “Ben Simmons, one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, is expected to sign with the Boston Celtics, league sources say.
“Boston has been engaged in pursuit of Simmons since the start of free agency, sources said.”
With Jayson Tatum out for the entire 2025-26 season, the Boston Celtics offense will run through Jaylen Brown.
And Brown’s past comments mocking Ben Simmons’ shooting problems could make for a very awkward partnership.
Speaking in 2019, Brown admitted the Celtics team at the time were mocking teammate Grant Williams, citing Simmons.
It came amid Williams shooting 0-25 to start the season from three-point range.
Brown was quoted by NBC Sports: “We were calling him Ben Simmons for the longest. But he knocked one down, and knocked them down, too. So, shoutout to both of those guys.”
This came at a time Simmons was under heavy criticism from fans for his game in Philadelphia, and jibes from his fellow professionals will not have helped.
Simmons was taken two spots ahead of Brown in the 2016 NBA Draft.
If the pair are thrown together as teammates in 2025-26, Brown may have some apologies to make.
