The Boston Celtics will continue to tinker with their roster heading into the start of the 2025-26 season. While fans may not have the same title aspirations as years past, this season should be built around finding the right pieces for when Jayson Tatum returns for the next set of title runs. The core of the Celtics seems set after the roster upheaval this offseason, with a core of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White. The rest of the roster is far more fluid, though.
The Celtics have had the fortune of taking draft picks late in the first round. There is some trepidation coming out of the Summer League about last year's pick, Baylor Scheierman. This year's pick, Hugo Gonzalez, looks promising, but is still young and unpolished. Some of the players that the Celtics acquired this offseason aren’t a sure thing to stay on the roster all season, and the bottom of the Celtics rotation hasn’t really show nanything.
GM Brad Stevens should still be looking at low-cost available free agents who can contribute meaningful minutes. Heading into the offseason, the Celtics couldn’t chase anyone of significance because of their cap situation. While the Celtics are still stuck just slightly over the second apron, moving on from any contract, except Jordan Walsh, would bring them back below it. Once that happens, the Celtics could sign a former number one overall draft pick, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
Rumor: Celtics interested in free agent Ben Simmons https://t.co/5fbJUCcKKB via @celticsblog
— CelticsBlog (@celticsblog) July 21, 2025
Celtics Exploring Adding Ben Simmons
Head coach Joe Mazzulla is the ultimate proponent of pressure defense and three-point shooting. While Simmons will never get an invite to the 3-Point Contest at the All-Star Game, Simmons is a former first-team All-Defense selection. Even as his career has progressed and Simmons has fallen off offensively, his defensive efficiency has remained the same.
While Simmons is technically a guard, on the defensive end, he can cover all five positions. Considering where the Celtics are at power forward and center currently, Simmons would be an upgrade at those positions on the defensive side of the ball.
Adding Simmons to the roster may help rejuvenate Simmons' career. While he likely won’t return to the All-Star level of his early career, with less playing time and a limited focus on him, Simmons could thrive in a rotational role. The Celtics would be smart to add him quickly, as there, surprisingly, are multiple suitors.