Sixers rumors: Celtics have engaged in Ben Simmons trade talks

The Ben Simmons saga continues to unfold as Philadelphia continues to refuse Ben Simmons’ trade request. It is fair to question what exactly Daryl Morey’s endgame is, but right now, it’s clear the Sixers want Simmons on the floor. Citing a lack of mental readiness, Simmons has yet to resume a large number of team activities.

Now, the saga takes another fascinating turn. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania ($), the Boston Celtics have engaged in trade talks surrounding the 6-foot-10 point guard. While no trade is imminent — a phrase the fandom has gotten quite used to this summer — it would appear we have a new team in the running for Ben Simmons’ services.

It’s time to get weird.

Sixers rumors: Are the Celtics viable trade partners for Ben Simmons?

Per Charania, the Celtics would have to include Jaylen Brown, who is currently averaging 25.6 points and 6.1 rebounds for a struggling Boston team. That is a rather bold asking price for Philadelphia, and I’m not sure Boston would give it any consideration, but it is in line with Daryl Morey’s stance all summer. The Sixers aren’t trading Simmons without getting another high-profile, All-Star caliber player in return.

Brown is probably better than Simmons in a vacuum, but the Celtics are in the midst of some organizational turmoil at the moment. Marcus Smart recently called out the team’s lack of ball movement, specifically pointing to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who top the offensive hierarchy in Boston.

That drama hardly suggests a trade is necessary — at least, not one involving the team’s top two stars — but there is some credence to the idea that Tatum and Brown are mismatched offensively due to the lack of collective playmaking. On the season, Brown is averaging only 2.5 assists per game. Simmons would give the Celtics a proper game manager and a strengthened defensive backbone.

For the Sixers, it’s hard to imagine a much better return than Brown, who is 25 years old and has two guaranteed years left on his contract. Philadelphia would probably have to sweeten the pot, as Brown’s postseason performances have far outstripped Simmons to date, but it would be a sensible deal. In fact, it would be a home run for the Sixers. For the Celtics, there’s more of a debate to be had.

In the end, do not proceed with unfiltered optimism here. The odds of Boston giving up Brown for Simmons are slim at best. Brown’s three-level scoring is more in line with the modern game, and the Celtics can acquire more playmaking through other avenues. Simmons’ trade value is in the tank, and nothing this summer would suggest a player of Brown’s stature is feasibly available.

That said, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The Celtics have reported interest in Simmons, and it’s hard to envision a package built around Marcus Smart or Al Horford exciting the Sixers. If Boston were to even dream of getting Simmons, it would take either a titanic draft haul or, as Shams reported, Jaylen Brown.