Being a No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft doesn’t always forecast sustained success. One example of this truth re-emerged this summer in the form of a storyline involving the Boston Celtics. Weeks ago, the Celtics were viewed as a likely landing spot for free agent forward Ben Simmons, and there are some new developments in Simmons’ ongoing saga.
The New York Knicks were seen as one of the other potential landing spots for Simmons, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Simmons rejected the Knicks’ offer: a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal.
According to reports, Simmons — who has appeared in just 27 games per season over the past four NBA seasons — is hoping for a deal richer than the minimum contract offered by New York. Why exactly Simmons believes he deserves such an offer is unknown.
It’s worth noting that the Celtics, too, would only have a minimum deal to offer Simmons, which might officially rule out a Simmons-Celtics union.
It’s also possible that the Celtics have already moved on from the idea of Simmons, anyway. CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning had this to say about Simmons on Monday:
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“C’s were said to have some of the most serious interest in Ben Simmons this summer, but sounds like in the past tense. I’d assumed Boucher would close the door on that pursuit, but I still think a training camp invite could make some sense if he’d accept.”
“All the reporting makes it sound like he’s more interested in calling it a career rather than trying out, but we’ll see,” Manning added. “C’s have a need in the areas he’s strong in. But he’d have to play center.”
Is Simmons really going to retire at age 29?
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Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico was told by an anonymous NBA executive that Simmons might be done.
“I think his NBA career is over,” the executive said, per Amico. “That’s not meant to disparage Ben. I think he can still play and probably help someone. But there are just too many things working against him right now.”
More curious news emerged last week: Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, cut ties with Simmons.
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If this is it for Simmons, it’s truly been an interesting ride.