So consider this an audition of sorts for Simons, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer and wants to be considered an All-Star-caliber player. But that is going to require taking the next major step in his game, becoming a better defender and passer, and meshing into perhaps a different role with the presence of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
“I was super excited to come here and join a culture that’s already been set,” Simons said at Celtics media day. “It’s something that’s going to help my career out tremendously, playing at the highest level of winning basketball. That’s what I was excited about and being part of it.”
Simons appears ready to embrace the challenge, seeking to squelch questions about his defensive desire and whether he’s nothing more than a good player on a bad team. Simons averaged 19.9 points over his last four seasons. He has become a reliable scorer with the ability to shoot 3-pointers and take defenders off the dribble. But the Trail Blazers missed the playoffs in each of those four seasons, and Simons hasn’t won a playoff game in more than four years.
He understands the limitations of playing under the radar, and while the money is the same, the allure and respect may not be.
“You’re in a small market, so naturally if you’re not doing something extraordinary in those types of markets, you can get overlooked,” he said. “I think I’ve done things I can be proud of based off my career. The past couple of years in Portland we weren’t necessarily winning or making the playoffs, but I think I was playing well and getting better at some things, and those things can be overlooked because you’re not winning games. That’s why I’m excited about being here because whether it looks different, I’m still contributing to winning games.”
Simons had the 11th-worst defensive rating among NBA players last season. It’s his main weakness. But players who don’t play defense generally don’t play for Joe Mazzulla, so there will have to be an adjustment. Simons will have to change his ways and focus more on being a better all-around player. Putting the ball through the hoop is an admirable skill, but there are plenty of NBA players who never escape being one-dimensional. The great ones make an impact on both sides.
“It’s a matter if I want to do it or not; it’s really that simple,” Simons said of playing defense. “Coming into a culture like this you really have to be able to adapt or you’re not going to be in the position you want to be. To me, it’s really that simple, and that’s the honest conversations [Mazzulla and I] had about it. He always says that you’re not as bad as people think you are. That’s good to hear, but also I’ve got to do the work of getting better at that end and get focused on exactly what we need to do on the defensive end. I’m pretty excited about being pushed to a new level, which I can reach.”
Simons’s path to improvement and helping to keep the Celtics competitive in the Eastern Conference is one of training camp’s biggest story lines. He could cash in on a $200 million contract next summer if he plays well enough, whether that be in Boston or elsewhere, so there’s more than respect and regard at stake.
But it’s hard to believe playing for Mazzulla won’t have a positive impact on Simons. And it’s hard to believe Simons, with his athleticism and scoring ability, won’t have a positive impact on the Celtics’ quest to remain relevant in the East. It’s a partnership that could do wonders for both sides.
“Being in this situation and Joe pushing me every single day is going to bring the best out in me and some of the things you might have not seen in the past,” Simons said. “That’s one of things I’m excited about, just being around other great players. They all play winning basketball at a high level for multiple years now, and I want to be able to join and contribute, as well.”