Bill Simmons 'Devastated' Celtics Didn't Trade for Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr.

Houston Rockets second-year pro Jabari Smith Jr. is becoming a fan favorite at Las Vegas Summer League, not only in the city but around the league.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 10, 2023

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Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. has caught the attention of many with his early performances at the Las Vegas Summer League.

Last year's No. 3 overall pick has scored 30+ in each of his first two games, including a buzzer-beater in Friday's win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Someone sitting courtside to witness Smith's game-winning shot was The Ringer columnist Bill Simmons, prompting him to wish that his beloved Boston Celtics would have traded for him in a Jaylen Brown deal.

"I was semi-devastated cuz I do feel like if the Celts had pushed hard for the Jaylen [Brown] for Jabari [Smith] and No. 4, some version of that ... That was probably the most logical Jaylen trade," Simmons said on his podcast.

Before the draft, the Rockets had been linked to the Celtics in trade rumors for Brown, citing his connection with former Boston coach Ime Udoka. However, the Rockets stood pat and selected Amen Thompson with the No. 4 pick, who joins Smith in Houston's young core of exciting prospects.

Brown has one year left on his contract and has yet to be extended, which could mean a trade is coming down the line. However, the Celtics' decision to keep Brown likely points to some interest in keeping and extending him.

Even though Brown is talented, I think it's safe to say that the Rockets are happy with Smith and Thompson.

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Published Jul 10, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.