Celtics are interested in Ben Simmons [Shams]

[John Murdoch]

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Is that real?

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

Simmons for Tatum/Brown actually makes sense for both teams. Boston will need to add a shooter though.

[JustALurker]

The problem with Simmons isn't just his shooting. Its how certain are you that within a few days of trading for him that he'll be magically over his mental issues and ready to play at close to the level he was at last year? I mean I think we all assume he will but I also think there's a chance he isn't for w/e reason and his mental stuff is some kind of ongoing problem with him. That sort of thing has happened before where athletes end up taking a year or so off for mental reasons.

There is no magic. It will take time. Though since part of his issues are his current work situation, a trade likely does help.

But any team trading for him understands his contract has 4 years left. He doesn't have to show up and be all-NBA again on day 1 for a trade to really benefit them.

And I don't understand why every made up hypothetical is worst case scenario. What if he comes to a new team where he feels wanted and valued and absolutely thrives? What if that new team is able to get through to him about the importance of shooting on occasion to keep the defense honest? What if their shooting coach forms a bond with him and he develops into a solid FT shooter erasing his concerns late in games about being fouled?

Why are the hypotheticals always only negative lol?

I suspect this is a difference in risk aversion (people tend to be less comfortable with unsure outcomes). More concretely, I think you want the highest ceiling where most will be looking for the highest floor when dealing with a decision of this magnitude.

Either way, weighting outcomes to come to an expected value, the large number of 0 value added outcomes means this will be a very real effect for actual GMs. Even if Simmons was the higher expected outcome, any of the scenarios that result in a 0 gets you fired (so you'd likely weight them more).

[Cavsfansince84]

Simmons for Tatum/Brown actually makes sense for both teams. Boston will need to add a shooter though.

Philly's f/o would piss themselves for joy if they got to choose between Tatum or Brown. Boston wouldn't need to add anything unless it was cap filler. Philly probably would need to add something as well.

[Hussien Fatal]

The problem with Simmons isn't just his shooting. Its how certain are you that within a few days of trading for him that he'll be magically over his mental issues and ready to play at close to the level he was at last year? I mean I think we all assume he will but I also think there's a chance he isn't for w/e reason and his mental stuff is some kind of ongoing problem with him. That sort of thing has happened before where athletes end up taking a year or so off for mental reasons.

Your thinking too much into this…he just doesn’t want to play in Philly, it’s painfully obvious

[Hussien Fatal]

If brown and Tatum were a good duo they would be better, they have been bad together for a long while now…i don’t know how many losses you need to see or how many coaches you need to go through to see it. They need a PG with potential who can get guys shots and who plays elite defense, they would be much better. Ben Simmons is a perfect fit along either Jalen or Jayson.

[Cavsfansince84]

Your thinking too much into this…he just doesn’t want to play in Philly, it’s painfully obvious

I don't know how many times I've seen someone say something like that on the internet and then the opposite happens. People's behavior can never fully be predicted. I remember when Nets fans were fully convinced that Kyrie was happy and just wanted to win a ring back in 2018. Then he randomly starts taking off games and takes off a few weeks after the Harden trade for personal reasons.

[Edrees]

Feel like Boston could get a better player for Brown somewhere else. If i'm the Celtics i'll take it if Philly throwns in a first round pick.

[Hussien Fatal]

Your thinking too much into this…he just doesn’t want to play in Philly, it’s painfully obvious

I don't know how many times I've seen someone say something like that on the internet and then the opposite happens. People's behavior can never fully be predicted. I remember when Nets fans were fully convinced that Kyrie was happy and just wanted to win a ring back in 2018. Then he randomly starts taking off games and takes off a few weeks after the Harden trade for personal reasons.

I’m from Philly so I can sense the energy around here better than the average American, he just wants his money man, the mental thing is just a cop out and it’s obvious.

[Darthlukey]

Simmons is better than Brown.

*more talented

[Cavsfansince84]

I’m from Philly so I can sense the energy around here better than the average American, he just wants his money man, the mental thing is just a cop out and it’s obvious.

He does want out of Philly and he does want his money. He's also shown himself to be pretty sensitive and mentally fragile. How the second part plays out itself is not that predictable. Simmons' whole mindset is a question mark.

[Hussien Fatal]

Simmons is better than Brown.

*more talented

Ben is a top 25ish player and so is Jalen…it’s close except Ben has more All star appearances and more all NBA selections and more defensive team selections. I think the Celtics should trade Tatum though instead only because I would prefer him on the Sixers.

[Golden Knight]

"The Celtics hung up without saying any words."

I'd imagine that's how RealGMers conduct deals.

[Pennebaker]

Oh I thought nobody wanted him. Guess the haters were wrong.

[MemphisX]

Feel like Boston could get a better player for Brown somewhere else. If i'm the Celtics i'll take it if Philly throwns in a first round pick.

Like who?

[TheMartian]

Jaylen Brown has only ONE All-Star appearance, and has never made an All-NBA Team.
Ben Simmons is a THREE-time All-Star, made the All-NBA 3rd Team, and is the 2nd best (or best) Defender in the NBA.

Simmons has playoff averages of 13.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, .571 field and this year averaged 14.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 9.2 assists, .640 field in the 1st Round.

Well Simmons can't and refuses to shoot, wants out of Philly so badly, and wants to go to California. So there.

[JDR720]

I don't believe it.

There are rumors every year that the Celtics are going after X star player. And the only one they've gotten is Kemba, who was a free agent.

[AlCelticFan]

My beloved Celtics are working on creating the all-time least-shooting-est starting five the world has EVER KNOWN!!!

[BK_2020]

I don't believe it.

There are rumors every year that the Celtics are going after X star player. And the only one they've gotten is Kemba, who was a free agent.

Horford Hayward Kyrie
KG Ray

[ciueli]

10 pages and no one has mentioned the tax implications of a deal for the Celtics, especially given that they have already made one cost savings deal (the Horford trade).

The Celtics are in the tax right now. If they trade Jaylen Brown and Josh Richardson for Ben Simmons, it takes the Celtics out of the tax this season and frees up enough space next season to keep Al Horford and fill out the roster while potentially staying out of the luxury tax. As currently constructed, there isn't really a way to do that without declining Horford's non-guaranteed deal which creates yet another roster spot to fill.

So on the surface Simmons for Brown may seem one sided, but it can result in big financial savings for the Celtics immediately and give them a lot more flexibility next season (access to the full MLE instead of the taxpayer MLE if they want it).

There are also other factors to consider, such as the fact that Jaylen Brown has exactly one season in his career with a positive Net Rating (2019-20 when he was a mere +2) and he's never had more than 4.9 Win Shares in any season. Simmons has him beat comfortably in advanced stats with better Net Rating, Box +/-, and Win Share numbers in each of the last 4 seasons. Truth is, this Celtics team is going nowhere and ownership may not be happy paying the tax for a team that is first round and out at best.