The Celtics have reshaped their roster plenty this summer but one asset they have held onto for now is guard Anfernee Simons. The 26-year-old was acquired as part of a trade for Jrue Holiday last month but he remains connected to trade rumors as the team explores ways to trim a steep luxury tax bill and better improve its roster for the future.
A surprising pair of teams were mentioned as potential Simons suitors over the week from Hoopswire with the 76ers and Nuggets mentioned as suitors for the Boston guard. However, the likelihood of a deal involving either of those playoff teams does not hold up upon further examination of those rosters.
The 76ers already have a pretty crowded backcourt with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and restricted free-agent Quentin Grimes expected to re-sign with Philadelphia. Making room for another pricey, high-usage guard within a team that already has Paul George and Joel Embiid as well does not make much sense.
The bigger problem though is the money. Outside of the Sixers top three players (Embiid/George/Maxey) no one else on their roster makes above $11 million. The 76ers would need to send out $19 million to make any trade for Simons work under NBA trade rules and that would require them moving at least four players and taking on additional money from Boston. It’s hard to find any fit there that would make sense for both sides.
The Nuggets situation is also challenging to envision from a financial standpoint. Denver has a ton of money tied up in its stars (Jokic/Murray) and will have no interest in moving key role players either like Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson as they make a title push. That leaves smaller salaries left across the roster and it would take at least three players to make any deal work. The Nuggets have been relying on cheap additions (Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr.) on the free agent market to bolster their bench so they certainly won’t be in the market for a $26 million reserve in Simons with the luxury tax hit that would come with it.
The Celtics will continue to test the market in the coming weeks and months on Simons as they balance keeping in the present and improving their financial flexibility to build in the future. However, do not look at the Nuggets or 76ers as realistic landing spots for the Celtics guard.
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