Shams: Celtics Interested In Simmons

[Kernewek]

It ain't exactly news, but Shams is a credible source, hence more people will talk about it now. I'd be interested to know who leaked this to Shams. Is it the Sixers, the Celtics or Simmons' agent? If it's the Sixers or the agent, chances are we are being used for leverage.

I really don't expect us to make Brown available. The Sixers can ask for whatever they want. Doesn't mean they'll actually get it.

Shams is credible with breaking news, but this is a rumor, not breaking news.

He's also repped by Klutch and breaks most of Klutch's stories.

If anything, this is Klutch using Shams as a mouthpiece, trying to increase trade offers for Simmons.

This is my initial read on it as well. I absolutely don't want Simmons anywhere near the Celtics, though.

[Jvalin]

It ain't exactly news, but Shams is a credible source, hence more people will talk about it now. I'd be interested to know who leaked this to Shams. Is it the Sixers, the Celtics or Simmons' agent? If it's the Sixers or the agent, chances are we are being used for leverage.

I really don't expect us to make Brown available. The Sixers can ask for whatever they want. Doesn't mean they'll actually get it.

Shams is credible with breaking news, but this is a rumor, not breaking news.

He's also repped by Klutch and breaks most of Klutch's stories.

If anything, this is Klutch using Shams as a mouthpiece, trying to increase trade offers for Simmons.

Yep, this seems like a very likely scenario. The way I see it, the fact that we're been publicly linked to Simmons without a trade being imminent makes it less likely that we'll actually acquire him.

Fwiw, Simmons would have been my #1 target if I were Brad. I'd trade anybody but the Jays for him. I'd happily include multiple firsts as well.

[Goldstar88]

Hopefully Brad comes out today and squashes this rumor.

[Kuberski33]

It ain't exactly news, but Shams is a credible source, hence more people will talk about it now. I'd be interested to know who leaked this to Shams. Is it the Sixers, the Celtics or Simmons' agent? If it's the Sixers or the agent, chances are we are being used for leverage.

I really don't expect us to make Brown available. The Sixers can ask for whatever they want. Doesn't mean they'll actually get it.

Shams is credible with breaking news, but this is a rumor, not breaking news.

He's also repped by Klutch and breaks most of Klutch's stories.

If anything, this is Klutch using Shams as a mouthpiece, trying to increase trade offers for Simmons.

I think this story is simply a reminder from Klutch that Simmons is still available.  To me the question to ask is would Simmons be willing to rework his deal to help facilitate a trade?  I think there would be a market for him without that contract.  He'd even fit here - say for Smart money.

[footey]

This is always why a Simmons trade didn't make a lot of sense.  I will say this though, if Boston is something like 20-28 and flailing, I think those type of rumors are going to heat up as it will become more apparent a shakeup is needed.  To be clear, I don't think Boston would do it, just that it would heat up.

If Boston can find a 3rd team, then I do think it would be in the mix for Simmons.

I mean something like this has the potential to be a decent trade for all 3 teams

Boston - Simmons, Niang, Bassey
Philly - Wiggins, R. Williams, Nesmith, GS 22 1st, Bos 22 1st, Bos 24 1st (lotto)
GS - Smart, Richardson, Langford

Trade seems reasonable for all teams, though I'm not really sure any of them would actually do it.

So post-trade Boston would be

Starters: Schroder, Brown, Tatum, Simmons, Horford
Main Rotation: Pritchard, G. Williams, Parker, Kanter
Deep Bench: Fernando, Hernangomez, Niang, Bassey

Rest of this year, Boston would be very thin rotationally unless they could add some players (there are 2 open roster spots), but long term I'd like how that would shake out assuming some solid wing depth was added in the off season and the team could keep Schroder (or replace him with at least a solid player).

What were Philly's numbers like when Simmons and Horford were on the court together without Embiid?

[Celtics2021]

Hopefully Brad comes out today and squashes this rumor.

They already denied it to Murphy anonymously.  Commenting directly on a player on another team is tampering, so you won’t see much more of a denial than is already out there.

[Birdman]

U hear this all the time with teams..but I trade anyone not named Brown or Tatum

[LaBran Jaymes]

Marcus Smart wants Simmons because he wants someone to pass him the ball.

[SparzWizard]

I think they want the J's for him

[wdleehi]

If the Celtics had put Brown on the table, it would be a done deal for Philly already.   



And this type of move would hurt the teams issue of defenses blitzing Tatum at the end of the game and the Celtics struggling to get the ball to someone that will make them pay. 

[liam]

Marcus Smart wants Simmons because he wants someone to pass him the ball.

Simmons and Smart couldn't be on the same court. No spacing. I wouldn't trade Jaylen for Simmons. That's what I read the rumor was.

[Walker Wiggle]

I believe this is likely true but I find the headline unremarkable. It would be malpractice if the Celtics didn't call the Sixers to probe about Simmons. You have to have the conversation.

I also believe today's headline is probably because Simmons's agent or the Sixers want to create the impression around the league that there's demand for the player. The recent headlines around his lack of cooperation with the Sixers and his mysterious mental health status haven't been good. Today's story plants the seed in the minds of people around the league that Simmons still has value, at about the level of Jaylen Brown. I'm not saying I agree, but I think that's the message that was intended.

[Moranis]

Shams is a reliable source but I don't buy this one.  I believe that Philly would be interested in Brown for Simmons but that would be a horrible trade for the Celtics.

Shams never said Boston was ok with trading Brown, in fact he very much implied that Boston wasn't when he said there was no traction and that Philly wanted Brown.  So reading between those lines, Boston called on Simmons, Philly said we want Brown, and the call ended.

[Walker Wiggle]

Previous commenter alluded to Shams being represented by Klutch (actually it would be United Talent Agency, which now owns Klutch). Can anyone confirm that's true or is it just a twitter rumor?

[liam]

The Celtics don't really have a path to trading for Simmons without including Brown so there's no way.