Celtics rumors: The only way Ben Simmons would fit in Boston

Let’s start this NBA hot rumor off by saying there is probably no way the Philadelphia 76ers would trade NBA All-Star Ben Simmons to the Boston Celtics.  But that is not stopping the rumors from swirling especially when it comes to a potential opportunity to pair Jayson Tatum up with Simmons.

Well, there is a way the 76ers would entertain a trade and that is if the centerpiece of that deal was Jaylen Brown.  There wouldn’t be a Celtics fan alive who would be happy with that swap.  It’s not because Simmons isn’t an elite player in certain aspects of his game, but Brown is and has been the better fit in Boston even as a second option behind Tatum.

So, let’s scrap that for…now.

As the star point guard has formerly requested a trade, the 76ers are finding themselves in quite the bind because the trade value for the three-time All-Star is at a low given his shooting deficiencies and the fact that he is forcing himself out of Philadelphia. That could force the Celtics’ Atlantic Division rivals to make a deal that would bring less back in return.

Ben Simmons forcing a trade to the Boston Celtics

That is where the Celtics are being inserted into this NBA hot rumor as they could present the 76ers with the best package out of all the team’s rumored to be interested.  Those teams mainly include the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.  There has also been mention about the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But, what about Brad Stevens and the Celtics?  Is Simmons that transcended star the team has been looking for since Kevin Garnett?  Furthermore, is trading Brown worth it?

NBA Insider A.Sherrod Blakely said on a recent appearance on the “Boston Sports Beat” podcast that he could see the Celtics having a shot at Simmons without the deal involving Boston.  It would require Simmons dictating his destination.

Here is what Blakely said, via USA Today:

"“I could absolutely see it happening if the price keeps dropping.  To me, it’s going to be one of those things where Ben Simmons would have to say, ‘I want to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.’ Because there’s no way that they’re going to get either one of those guys, Philly that is, in exchange for Ben, it just won’t happen.”"

That would pretty much leave Marcus Smart, most of the team’s younger players and a multitude of draft picks to get it done.  In echoing Blakely, that is really the only way Ben Simmons would work in Boston.  He would have to be that third star who is more of the facilitator and defensive presence.  Pretty much like a taller, more athletic version of Smart.

While that type of deal would propel the Boston Celtics into at least an NBA Finals contender, it would push the 76ers back a little into what we can call “The Process II.”  They will have Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, but the draft picks the Celtics would include will more than likely be low first-round picks.  Unless Boston is the place Simmons wants to be, the 76ers may find a package from the Warriors more intriguing.

So, let’s now go back to Jaylen Brown.  Let me start this off by saying, it would be weird and nauseating to see Jaylen in a 76ers’ uniform, but probably not as puke worthy as it would be for 76ers fans to see Simmons thriving in Boston alongside Jayson Tatum and another star.

Yes, the Celtics would need another scoring star in Boston to make this all work.  Take that same scenario Blakely laid out and now inset either Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal.

Both the Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards would also want Jaylen Brown in a deal, but those are also two teams maybe more willing to accept a package surrounding Marcus Smart, young players like Aaron Nesmith and Payton Prichard along with draft picks.  The Celtics could also include Al Horford and his expiring contract.  They probably can’t do that with Philly because the Horford experience didn’t work out.

Basically, Beal will have to go to the Wizards and say “trade me to Boston” because I plan on signing long-term there anyway or Lillard would have to go to Portland and demand his way to Boston.  That now sets up a Tatum-Simmons-Beal big three or Tatum-Simmons-Lillard.  While the first one will set the NBA ablaze, Lillard would be intriguing because he would be allowed to be even more of a scorer.

In conclusion, this hot NBA rumor can’t be ruled out because so far Stevens has shown some aggressiveness when it comes to trades.  Secondly, the more Simmons refuses to play in Philly, the lower his value becomes.  It’s not due to talent.  At this point, the work ethic of Simmons is in question and a change of scenery is on the horizon.  For it to work in Boston, any combination of Jaylen Brown, Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard would have to be that second star already in place.