Ben Simmons to Celtics Potentially Dead After Decision by NBA Free Agent

Charles Bassey's Interest in Joining the Celtics May Stop Them From Adding Ben Simmons

Boston adding Simmons could make some sense, but not if they add another center first. CelticsBlog's Noa Dalzell reported that Charles Bassey, who played for the Celtics' Summer League team, would like to join the Celtics, but whether that happens is up in the air.

"Celtics Summer League standout center Charles Bassey is not planning on playing overseas next season, sources told CelticsBlog," Dalzell wrote. "Multiple outlets previously reported that he was seriously considering signing with the Serbian club Partizan Belgrade, but he currently plans to play in the NBA next season.

"Bassey would especially love to sign with the Celtics if the opportunity presented itself, sources said. How realistic that might be remains to be seen."

There are indications that interest would be mutual to some degree. A Celtics front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith that the Celtics would like to add Bassey, though he was not specific about how Boston would add him.

“Considering he got added to our team so late, this was an awesome run for him. No idea if we’ll have roster space for him or not. But we’d love to keep working with Charles and see if we can make something work,” the exec told Smith.

This could mean the Celtics could add Bassey to their training camp roster and/or potentially add him to their G-League roster. Depending on what they do, signing Bassey to their full-time roster would have implications for their interest in Simmons.

Not only would adding Bassey add to their center rotation, but it would put their roster at 15. Unless Boston planned to trade another player off the roster, it would be hard to see how or why they would then add Simmons.