The Boston Celtics are navigating a challenging summer in the wake of their roster teardown following the devastating Achilles injury to their franchise star Jayson Tatum.
While they have plenty of openings in their roster following the departures of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and likely Al Horford, the Celtics are facing a stiff challenge to attract the marquee free agents.
All-Star guards Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal have already spurned them.
Now, they face a strong competition in their pursuit of former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Phoenix Suns have joined the growing list of suitors for Simmons.
“League sources say that the Suns have also had some recent dialogue with former All-Star Ben Simmons, who I’m told has drawn interest since free agency began from Boston, New York and Sacramento,” Stein wrote on his Substack newsletter “The Stein Line” on July 20.
The Celtics can offer Simmons a starting role after the exit of Holiday and Porzingis. But they only have the veteran minimum to spend since they remain above the second apron.
On the other hand, the Suns can now offer more than the veteran minimum with their newfound flexibility created by their waive-and-stretch move of Beal.
Ben Simmons Looking For Best Situation
Getty Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets takes a shot against Ben Simmons of the LA Clippers.
Simmons is taking his time deciding where to play next after his failed stint with the Los Angeles Clippers following his buyout with the Brooklyn Nets.
Simmons signed a $1.08 million deal with the Clippers after reaching a buyout with the Nets for the remaining portion of his five-year, $170 million rookie extension contract he originally signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 6-foot-10 Simmons has fallen off the cliff since he left Philadelphia over mental health and mysterious back issues. His once promising career went south in Brooklyn.
Last season, he averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in his final 33 games in Brooklyn. He only played 17 games for the Clippers and was an afterthought, averaging career-lows 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Bill Simmons Loses It as Marcus Smart Joins Lakers
Die-hard Celtics fan and The Ringer’s founder, Bill Simmons, lost it when he learned about the latest move of their bitter arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers scored another major coup in what has been a solid offseason for the franchise after landing former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart from the buyout market.
The signing of Smart, who started his career Celtics, was a tough pill to swallow for Simmons.
“Ahhhhhhh I’ve gone blind! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!,” Simmons posted on X, attached with the edited photo of Smart in a Lakers uniform.
Smart is joining the Lakers once he clears waivers after reaching a buyout with the rebuilding Washington Wizards, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported on July 19. The three-time All-Defensive guard will sign a two-year, $11 million deal, with the second season a player option.
Smart is the latest former prominent Celtics player who switched to the Lakers, joining Rajon Rondo, Rick Fox, Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas.
The Lakers beat the Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks in pursuit of the former Celtic.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Post added that the New York Knicks, the Celtics’ Atlantic Division rivals, tried to add Smart before he decided to join the Lakers.
“Per source, Knicks couldn’t offer the type of role Marcus Smart was looking for,” Bondy wrote on X.
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