Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics
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Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics
When the Boston Celtics acquired Anfernee Simons as part of the deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, he was widely viewed as a trade chip.
Simons is in the final year of his $100 million, four-year contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Yet, as the season has progressed, the free-scoring guard has emerged as a key piece of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. That was evident when he dropped 39 points on the Miami Heat in Boston’s 119-114 win on Thursday.
As such, the conversation surrounding Simons has shifted. Suddenly, the fanbase is wondering how Boston could keep him around in the long term.
During a recent appearance on the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast, NBA salary cap expert Keith Smith shared his thoughts on what Simons’ next contract could look like.
“I think Simon’s contract number is gonna come down,” Smith said. “The teams with cap space aren’t gonna be overly interested in giving it to him….I think he’s gonna be more around the mid-level amount. Now, if I’m the Celtics, I’m okay with giving him a little bit more than the mid-level just to keep his number a little higher for future trade reasons down the line.”
Smith continued.
“So, if they started around $15, $16 million, I don’t have a huge issue with that. Even if they went as high as $20 in year one, and then did it as a descending contract that came down slightly year to year, that would be fine too.”
By inking Simons to a new deal, Boston would have a reliable bench scorer on a tradable deal for the future. That would remove the need to trade him in the next two weeks, while also giving him an opportunity to continue developing within Boston’s system.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Had High Praise For Simons
When speaking to the media following Simons’ 39-point night against Miami, All-Star forward Jaylen Brown spoke glowingly of the impact the former Trail Blazer is making for the Celtics.
“That was an amazing performance off the bench,” Brown said. “That was one of his best performances of the year, and we needed every basket…Yeah, I said it. That boy can play. He’s probably more talented than the role that he’s placed in. You know, I think that’s kind of obvious.”
Brown continued.
“I have hella respect for him to come out and play winning basketball and do what the team needs to do on a night-in and night-out basis, doesn’t complain, just brings good energy. And just contributes in a positive way…He’s learning, he’s growing, he’s coming into his own, he’s developing. Tonight was an example of that.”
Celtics Can’t Afford To Lose Simons
Another reason why the Celtics may be unwilling to part with Simons, is the lack of depth they have at the guard position. Outside of Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, Simons is the only experienced guard on the roster.
If Boston flipped Simons without another guard coming back in return, Joe Mazzulla would struggle to find ball-handling and shot creation off the bench. Rookie Max Shulga and sophomore Baylor Scheierman would be his only other options.
Simons deserves credit for making himself an invaluable member of Boston’s rotation. If he sticks past the Feb. 5 trade deadline, Brad Stevens would be wise to lock him down for the foreseeable future. It’s clear that Simons could have a role to play on Boston’s next championship-ready team.