Since coming up short in their bid to return as NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics have been busy reshaping their roster ahead of what’s sure to be a challenging season ahead following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear. The Celtics have already traded a pair of former All-Stars in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, but they may not be done making moves this offseason.
Now, according to ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Celtics have been shopping Anfernee Simons too. Simons hasn’t even played a game in a Celtics uniform since being acquired as the headliner in the Holiday trade, but the 26-year-old shooting guard could have strong trade value around the league.
“I have talked to other teams who have said they are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons. Whether they can or not is another [thing].”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Boston Celtics shopping Simons
Having averaged 15 points per game in his career, Simons’ production has trended upward in the past three seasons, topping out at 22.6 PPG with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023-24. Unless Simons is the featured scorer, he may not match or exceed those scoring totals, but it’s clear he can get buckets in a hurry.
Plus, it’s possible there’s still some untapped potential lurking in the former first-round draft pick, and a change of atmosphere may bring out the best of him. Perhaps he even takes the next step in his development with the Celtics and develops into a franchise cornerstone.
For now, Simons is set to play out the 2025-26 season on the final year of his initial four-year, $100 million contract, where he’ll have a salary cap hit of $27.6 million. That’s a reasonable rate for what he offers, but Simons is likely looking for an opportunity to get paid even more on his next contract.
Related: NBA insider hints at another big trade coming for Boston Celtics
Sports fan since birth. I am also passionate about cars, music, and anything funny. Minnesotan, born and raised. Maybe ... More about Andrew Buller-Russ