Ben Simmons started the season as a Brooklyn Net and finished out 2024-25 as a member of the LA Clippers, but could there be another move on the horizon for the Australian?
Following the Clippers' elimination from the postseason, Simmons now enters unrestricted free agency, with multiple teams reportedly interested in acquiring his services.
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At 28 years old, Simmons still has plenty of years left in his career, despite injuries and inconsistency plaguing him for the past few seasons, opening the door for teams to swoop on a value deal.
Celtics favourites to make a move for Simmons
One team has emerged as the favourite suitor for the Aussie in the Boston Celtics, who will have to do some salary cap gymnastics this off-season to keep their championship-level roster in contention.
The Boston Celtics are the favorites to land Ben Simmons if he doesn’t re-sign with the Clippers, per @BovadaOfficial
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 6, 2025
Boston Celtics +400
New York Knicks +750
Cleveland Cavaliers +800
Miami Heat +800
Guangdong Tigers +900
Philadelphia 76ers +900
Melbourne United +1600
SE… pic.twitter.com/0Er2voeSU7
Boston has some big decisions to make in the summer, with their starting five of Jrue Holiday ($32.4 million), Derrick White ($28.1 million), Jaylen Brown ($53.1 million), Jayson Tatum ($54.1 million), and Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7 million) on the books for a combined $198 million alone next season, per Spotrac.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Celtics are facing a $280 million tax bill, paying roughly $513 million for their roster. Adding in the flexibility limitations that come with hitting the second apron, a significant trade is likely on the cards for the Celtics.
Moving either Porzingis or Holiday for minimal salary in return would get the Celtics under the second apron and allow them to then shift their focus to cheaper contracts for reinforcements, like Simmons.
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In an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's Shams Charania indicated that changes were almost certainly coming in Boston.
"The rest of the league is bracing for some level of change to the Celtics roster this offseason..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 1, 2025
Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/raA9TDjNiP
"Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason," Charania said.
"This team, this iteration is just not going to be sustainable for this team. No one around the organisation from players to staffers would be surprised if there are changes coming to this roster, because when you think about the new collective bargaining agreement, there's restrictions that come with trades, restrictions that come with the freezing of draft picks.
"That's all stuff that they're dealing with right now."
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Simmons, who signed for the Clippers for just US $750,000 following his buyout from the Nets would offer the Celtics size, defence, and playmaking at value on a veteran minimum contract.
Whether he can return to some semblance of the form that saw him named as an All-Star three times remains to be seen, but for a player on a minimum deal, the upside is certainly there.
Ben Simmons Clippers stats
- 18 games
- 16.4 minutes
- 2.9 points
- 3.8 rebounds
- 3.1 assists
- 0.7 steals
- 43.4 FG%