As the Celtics went through major changes this offseason, on the flip side, multiple players are moving onto new teams. That includes Anfernee Simons as the 26-year-old guard was traded from the Trail Blazers to the Celtics.
Simons spent the first seven seasons of his career in Portland, so it’s a huge move when it comes to his life. He was picked 24th overall by the organization in 2018 and hasn’t known a different NBA home until now. After the trade, he took to social media to send a message.
“PDX, I appreciate you for bringing in a 19 year old who never left Florida all the way across the country,” Simons wrote. “Took me a few years to get comfortable but eventually became home. My time here I went from a kid to a man. To all my teammates and coaches since my rookie year, I appreciate y’all for making great memories, relationships, and making me feel comfortable.
“Thank you to everybody in the front office for the support as well. To the fans I appreciate you guys support through the ups and downs. God doesn’t give us challenges or changes we can’t handle. A new journey begins but the goals remain the same.”
Simons was traded for Jrue Holiday as the Celtics saved a significant amount of money in the process. Simons is set to make $27.6 million this upcoming season on an expiring contract.
However, there’s a chance Simons could be moved again in a separate deal. He’s reportedly been in trade rumors even though the Celtics just landed him. That’s no surprise considering the C’s are trying to cut costs as Simons’ contract can be downsized further.
Simons packs scoring punch as he averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 70 games. The defense is a question mark as a small guard. But Simons is a Celtic for now after getting traded from Portland.
“Anfernee is a guy people out here probably don’t see as much because of the time that they play,” C’s president Brad Stevens said. “But his ability to score, to shoot the ball, make really hard shots, is pretty elite. And you look a guy that’s 26 years old and averaged 20 a game for three straight years, I think he’s a really good player and I think he can get better. That’s a big part of it.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.