NBA TV's Charles Barkley said it this morning. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76'ers are "poorly constructed" and a trade might solve the issue for both teams. Kyle Neubeck of the PhillyVoice indicates that Boston has already inquired about the 6'10" point guard, with the possibility of Jaylen Brown heading to the 76'ers:
Simmons' best run as a professional came during a stretch in 2020 with Embiid on the shelf and Horford starting at center, including a 34-point triple-double against the Brooklyn Nets in late January, perhaps the best individual game he has ever played. And given the Celtics' apparent need to swap a ball-dominant player for a pass-first player, Simmons is the top name on the market as it stands right now.
As one who rarely writes about potential trades, I can not dismiss this scenario totally. Danny Ainge, in the past, has openly discussed that he erred by not constructing his team with "a clear hierarchy". Part of that statement revolves around the fact that Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have almost-identical skills. It seems unsure whether acquiring Simmons would alleviate the "hierarchy" issue. But Ben-to-Boston would certainly add defense and facilitation in Beantown - with Brown bringing his scoring skills to The City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia holds down the fourth spot in the East with an 8-4 record with Simmons among the missing. Boston sits in 11th place with a 4-6 record. Scoring wings with size are highly-valued in the NBA, and Jaylen continues to improve year-to-year. Ime Udoka has had enough time to evaluate his team and its needs. A Brown/Simmons deal can not be ruled out.
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