The NBA landscape is never short of shockwaves, and the latest tremor is sending ripples through the Eastern Conference. Ben Simmons, once the centerpiece of a grand rebuild in Philadelphia and one of the most polarizing figures in modern basketball, is expected to sign with the Boston Celtics. In a move that almost no one predicted, the Celtics, fresh off their 2024–25 championship campaign and looking to maintain dominance in a crowded East, are adding a former All-Star whose journey has been anything but conventional. From being a No. 1 overall pick and Defensive Player of the Year candidate to dealing with public scrutiny, mental health struggles, and recurring injuries, Simmons’ NBA path has oscillated between promise and uncertainty. Now, with the opportunity to reignite his career on one of the most prestigious franchises in NBA history, Simmons may have finally found the environment that could harness his unique skillset without the burden of unrealistic expectations.
The Boston Celtics, under Brad Stevens’ front office leadership and Joe Mazzulla’s coaching regime, are not exactly a team desperate for a splashy acquisition. They’ve built a balanced, defensively elite, and offensively potent machine centered around Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis. They just steamrolled their way through the playoffs, demonstrating cohesion, depth, and resilience. Yet this potential signing of Simmons isn’t about necessity — it’s about calculated risk, upside, and depth. Simmons isn’t expected to be the focal point. He isn’t even expected to start. That’s what makes the idea so intriguing: this is a low-pressure, high-upside situation that might finally allow Simmons to thrive.
For Simmons, this move is perhaps the most important chapter of his professional career. After being traded from Philadelphia to Brooklyn in a blockbuster deal that sent James Harden to the 76ers, Simmons struggled to find footing with the Nets. Lingering back issues, poor shooting mechanics, and visible hesitation on the court overshadowed his flashes of elite passing and defensive instincts. At times, he seemed like a shadow of the dynamic player who once led fast breaks like a point-center and locked down All-NBA wings with ease. Still, in limited minutes, he showed glimpses of what made him a three-time All-Star. He can defend one through five. He’s an excellent rebounder. His court vision and transition play are still elite when healthy. But that has been the operative question for years — when healthy?
Boston’s sports medicine staff will immediately become one of Simmons’ most critical lifelines. His back problems — which required surgery and limited him to a mere fraction of his games since 2021 — will require meticulous load management. But Boston is in a better position than most to give Simmons a longer leash. With Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and even Sam Hauser in the guard rotation, and with Brown and Tatum capable of initiating offense, Simmons won’t be pressured to create or handle the ball at all times. In fact, the Celtics may use him similarly to how the Warriors once used Andre Iguodala or how the Lakers deployed Lamar Odom — as a secondary ball-handler, a defensive Swiss army knife, and a cerebral connector who sees the floor better than almost anyone his size.
The Celtics’ defensive scheme could also unlock Simmons. Imagine a lineup featuring Simmons, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum — all versatile defenders who can switch on everything. Simmons was once a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, with an uncanny ability to guard guards and bigs alike. With the luxury of not having to cover for weaker defenders around him, Simmons could refocus entirely on what he does best: disrupt passing lanes, blitz pick-and-rolls, and initiate transition offense. Boston was already a top-three defensive unit in the league. With Simmons, they could become historic — if things break right.
There’s also a psychological aspect to this signing. Simmons’ tenure in Philadelphia ended in toxic fashion. The missed dunk in the 2021 playoffs against Atlanta was replayed ad nauseam and symbolized his growing hesitance on offense. From there, the narrative spiraled. He was called mentally weak, overly passive, and unwilling to improve his shot. But few players in NBA history have been scrutinized as intensely as Simmons at such a young age. He was 24 at the time and had already made multiple All-Star appearances. The toll of mental health challenges, coupled with a relentless media cycle, turned Simmons into a cautionary tale. However, Boston provides something Philadelphia and Brooklyn didn’t: structure, stability, and no immediate need for Simmons to be the guy.
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has made a habit of acquiring distressed assets and turning them into contributors. The Malcolm Brogdon experiment didn’t end perfectly but was productive when healthy. The team has revived the careers of players like Al Horford, who was left for dead after his stint in Philadelphia. Simmons could be the next in that line of reclamation projects. The Celtics are not acquiring him to fix his shot or turn him into a 20-point-per-game scorer. They simply want him to defend, pass, and fit into a championship culture. With the right messaging and role clarity, Simmons could excel in that environment.
Financially, the deal is expected to be team-friendly. Simmons is coming off a max contract but won’t command anything close to that now. If reports are accurate, the Celtics are signing him on a short-term deal — perhaps even a one-year, veteran minimum or exception-level contract. That keeps their books clean and avoids long-term risk while giving Simmons a platform to prove himself. If he performs well, he can hit the market again next summer with a renewed reputation. If he falters, the Celtics move on without any significant financial consequences.
Public reaction to the Simmons news has been divided. Celtics fans are justifiably wary of adding a player with Simmons’ baggage. But others see it as a no-lose situation. “If he plays 15–20 minutes per game, gives you defense and a few assists, that’s a win,” one anonymous Celtics source said. “We’re not trying to change who he is. We’re just trying to put him in a position to help us win in the margins.” And that might be the most honest assessment of the situation. Simmons doesn’t have to be an All-NBA player anymore. He doesn’t even have to be a starter. He just has to fill a role that Boston believes is important to repeat as champions.
In many ways, Simmons’ career arc mirrors that of other once-heralded stars who lost their way but found redemption in the right system. Think of Dwight Howard with the Lakers in 2020, or even Shawn Marion with the 2011 Mavericks. In the right context, with the right coach and teammates, talents that had been diminished or undervalued suddenly became indispensable. Simmons may not be the player people hoped he would become when he was drafted No. 1 overall out of LSU. But he still has elite tools — and now a rare second chance to apply them in a meaningful way.
Off the court, Simmons has kept a relatively low profile recently. He’s been training, focusing on his physical health, and reportedly distancing himself from some of the distractions that clouded his early years. By all accounts, he’s coming into Boston with a refreshed mindset. He understands this could be his last real opportunity to re-establish himself in the NBA. That sort of awareness, combined with the humility of being released and unsigned for part of the summer, may be the fire he needs. Boston won’t coddle him — but they will give him the tools to succeed if he wants it badly enough.
The Celtics’ locker room is also well-equipped to handle a personality like Simmons’. Tatum and Brown are mature, media-savvy, and professional. Al Horford is a veteran leader. Joe Mazzulla has shown he can handle big egos and make stars buy into a system. This is not a locker room where Simmons will be asked to “prove” anything by dominating the ball or scoring. It’s a team that already has identity and culture — Simmons is simply stepping into it. The onus will be on him to adjust and contribute in whatever ways the coaching staff asks.
Whether this move proves to be a masterstroke or a footnote in Simmons’ career remains to be seen. But there’s something poetic about the arc — from being doubted and discarded to possibly playing a role in another championship pursuit. It’s the kind of sports story that, if it works, will feel like a redemption movie script. If it doesn’t, it’ll be a blip in the larger story of the Celtics’ golden era. Either way, it’s a fascinating experiment.
In the end, both Simmons and the Celtics have something to gain. Boston gets a potentially elite role player for cheap. Simmons gets a second (or third) chance to redefine his narrative in a winning environment. The stakes aren’t as high as they were in Philly or Brooklyn, but the spotlight will still be there. And that’s the irony — Simmons may finally thrive not when the world is watching to see him fail, but when they expect nothing at all. If he can channel that into energy on the court, this might be the move that changes everything. If not, both sides walk away having taken a shot. For now, it’s official: Ben Simmons is expected to sign with the Boston Celtics. Let the redemption tour begin.
