Celtics Favored To Sign Former Three-Time All-Star In Free Agency

The Boston Celtics have been looking to sign a veteran guard in free agency to shore up their backcourt this offseason. They have struck out on Damian Lillard and Marcus Smart so far, which has led them to turn their attention towards Ben Simmons.

A former three-time All-Star, Simmons’ career has been plagued by a slew of injuries and a surprising decline in offense. In 51 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers last season, Simmons averaged five points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.

That’s a far cry from the numbers Simmons was posting in the first four seasons of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, when he earned three All-Star selections, a pair of spots on the All-Defensive First Team and the 2018 Rookie of the Year Award.

Despite that, Simmons still has a unique player profile that makes him a desirable bench player for playoff contenders. He’s an elite playmaker in the backcourt, and he remains one of the top perimeter defenders in the league when he’s on the court and fully engaged.

After trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston could certainly use a defensive stopper in their backcourt, and reports have indicated they are one of the teams interested in signing him. Per the latest odds from Bovada, the Celtics are now the betting favorite to sign Simmons in free agency.

The Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings are all also in the running for Simmons’ services, so the Celtics don’t exactly have a free shot at signing him. However, after a quiet start to free agency, the C’s could be incentivized to go above and beyond to land him.

On Thursday night, Boston waived another guard, JD Davison, in order to get back under the second apron of the salary cap. This hints at more moves being right around the corner, so it’s not a stretch to think that Simmons could be joining the Celtics.

Reports indicate that Simmons is nearing a decision on where he will play basketball next. Whether or not he chooses the C’s remains to be seen, but the oddsmakers believe that they will win the race for his signature.