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NBA Star Ben Simmons Facing Potential Change After Celtics Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt John | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 8:50 PM ET

Because Ben Simmons has not put up the numbers he used to with the Philadelphia 76ers, he has remained an unrestricted free agent during the 2025 NBA Offseason. However, there are still teams interested in the former No. 1 pick. ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported that the Boston Celtics are the current frontrunner to sign Simmons.

While Siegel was making a prediction, he wrote that "it seems like the Celtics are at the forefront of Ben Simmons talks, but don't count out a surprise team," Siegel wrote.

That doesn't necessarily mean Simmons going to Boston is a sure thing, but it sounds like for the time being, they are his most interested suitor. If this ends with Simmons being a Celtics, this would give him a new career path that he hasn't had before.

If Boston signs Simmons, it opens the door for him to transition into more of a big man type role. The Celtics lost two of their best frontcourt players this offseason when they traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and Luke Kornet signing with the San Antonio Spurs. It's also been expected for some time that Al Horford will join the Golden State Warriors this offseason.

With those three gone, the Celtics have two proven big men on the roster: Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman. With Charles Bassey appears to be going overseas, Boston needs big man depth, and at six-foot-ten, Simmons would give them that.

Several key names still remain in free agency.

Outside of the RFA market, which will figure itself out, where will key veterans like Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon, and others sign?

Latest free agency rankings and predictions on @ClutchPoints: https://t.co/2ECpBxjTzf
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) July 29, 2025

For most of his career, Simmons has been a ball handler who has run the point. With the Celtics, he wouldn't have to be counted as much to do that with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, and Payton Pritchard.

Even if Simmons' days as an All-Star are behind him, he still plays good defense, and with his frame, he could be a dependable back-up center if the coaching staff can utilize him properly. Boston figured out how to utilize Kornet over the five seasons he was with the team, which made him go from one foot out of the NBA to a $40 million man.

There's no reason not to think they can't do something similar with Simmons.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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