Joe Mazzulla, Anfernee Simons
The Boston Celtics have looked fantastic in 2025-26. Their rookies have stepped up to win them basketball games. Jaylen Brown has taken the leap from being a very good player to now being considered a superstar who may even sneak MVP votes.
The re-made team has made waves, and currently sits at #2 in the Eastern Conference, which is certainly not the place most folks expected them to be with Jayson Tatum not playing. The roster they have now may not be their final one, though.
As reported by Evan Sidery on X, the Celtics may be looking to move Anfernee Simons. The explosive scoring guard may be shopped for the team to try and acquire a higher-impact starting center. The position by committee with Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Amari Williams doesn’t seem to be doing it.
Let’s look at some next steps the team can try to take to move Simons.
Anfernee Simons Available for Trade?
There have been some nights this year where Anfernee Simons has looked every bit like the player he was in Portland for years. And on others, he looks like somebody that may not be able to make a significant impact on a game.
It was just a week ago that Boston’s new addition dropped 39 points off the bench against the Heat. It was one of the most impressive scoring performances by a reserve this season, and he showed why the team acquired him this past summer to add value.
Since the team wants to acquire a starting caliber big man, they will indeed have to move Simons. Because he’s making the amount he is ($27 million) and is due to be a free agent this summer, this makes the most sense.
A few different big men could be available if the team is looking to swing big. But just because they’re looking to swing for a deal, doesn’t mean another team would take them on.
In the next section, we’ll talk about a few options for the team, should they indeed opt to move Simons. This is a microwave scoring guard that could add significant value wherever he ends up.
Possible Destinations for Anfernee Simons In Trade
The rumors of Boston’s interest in Ivica Zubac are very real, but the Clippers, who are 15-3 in their past 18 games, would seem opposed to trading their budding star big man. He has been integral to the run they have gone on since the 6-21 start.
Onyeka Okongwu was listed as one of the options too, though Atlanta doesn’t have great depth behind him that can stay healthy, so that is probably off the table. Daniel Gafford could be a candidate here, though they’d have to take his health record when swinging there.
Simons could fill the void in the Mavs backcourt next to Kyrie Irving. Might they send him to Orlando for Wendell Carter and Jonathan Isaac to give the defense a boost? It could work.
There were some summer rumors that they may be interested in the versatile guard.
If the Nets would be willing to move Nic Claxton and Boston sent a pick with Simons, maybe they’d have a deal. He would be the alpha guard on a young Brooklyn bunch.
Wherever he ends up, Anfernee Simons will be able to impact winning. And if that’s with Boston, then they will have one of the most explosive sixth men in the league aiding on their playoff run.