The Boston Celtics were linked to disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons in a new story by The Athletic NBA insider Shams Charania on Monday morning, setting off a bit of a kerfuffle given that story also reported that the asking price would have to include the contract of All-Star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown to be considered seriously.
While that potential exchange has since almost unanimously been shot down apart from a handful of basketball minds favoring such a deal, one particularly important question remained without an answer, at least until it was posed to a league source with knowledge of the answer in question: would Simmons even want to play in Boston?
Per the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, “Yes, according to a league source.”
WATCH: Hard pass on Boston Celtics trading Jaylen Brown for Ben Simmons? https://t.co/bAlU07maUD
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 9, 2021
Given the mootness of such a trade given the Celtics aren’t likely to part ways with Brown this may be merely an exercise in hypotheticals, but should the situation in Philadelphia ever degrade further and a lesser package be an improvement over the status quo, it is an important point.
Much of the debacle Simmons is currently in relates from his desire to be elsewhere, and even if you are willing to give the former No. 1 pick another shot, if you haven’t solved the “want to be there” issue, it’s hard to imagine things working out.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
