What’s next for Anfernee Simons? Exploring two paths for new Celtics guard originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics announced the acquisition of guard Anfernee Simons on Monday when the Jrue Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers became official.
The final trade ended up being a one-for-one swap of Simons for Holiday — a move that saved the Celtics some money in their mission to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Holiday has three years and around $100 million left on his contract.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens praised Simons at a press conference Tuesday.
“Anfernee is a guy people out here probably don’t see as much because of the time (of Blazers games on the West Coast),” Stevens told reporters. “But his ability to score, his ability to shoot the ball, make really hard shots, is pretty elite. And you look at a guy who’s 26 years old and averaged 20 points 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.”
Simons’ future with the Celtics is uncertain. He is entering the final year of his contract and has a salary of $27.7 million for the 2025-26 season. If he continues to play at a high level offensively, signing him to an extension could be pretty expensive.
And if the Celtics really want to get under the first apron, or the entire luxury tax altogether, moving Simons before the trade deadline next February could make sense, too.
Let’s evaluate the case for keeping Simons and the case for trading him.
Case for keeping Simons
The Celtics might not have Jayson Tatum for all of next season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles suffered in May. It’s obviously a huge blow in all facets of the game for Boston, but it’s going to be especially difficult to replace Tatum’s impact offensively.
Tatum has led the Celtics in scoring each of the last six seasons. He became the first player in team history to average 30-plus points in a season in 2022-23. He is a three-level scorer capable of completely taking over games offensively.
🔊 Celtics Talk: Derrick White tackles trade rumors, a new-look Celtics roster and excitement to prove doubters wrong | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Replacing Tatum’s scoring will be a group effort for the Celtics, and Simons could play a key role in that. Simons averaged 19.3 points per game for the Blazers last season. It was his fourth straight season averaging 17-plus points per game.
The Celtics have taken and made a record-breaking amount of 3-pointers under head coach Joe Mazzulla, and Simons shouldn’t have a problem transitioning to that kind of system.
Simons has hit 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career. He was one of 23 players to average three or more made 3-pointers per game last season. He’s also one of the league’s best free throw shooters, having made more than 90 percent of his attempts each of the previous two seasons. Simons also is capable of beating defenders off the dribble and finishing at the rim.
Simons is a legit scorer, and he could take some of the offensive burden from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White next season. He’s not a bad playmaker, either.
There are valid concerns about Simons’ defense. He’s not a good perimeter defender, and that was evident on March 5 in Boston when he gave up 27 points on 11-for-25 shooting as the primary defender in a loss to the Celtics at TD Garden. That was the game where both Payton Pritchard and Derrick White scored above 40 points.
But the Celtics will need offense next season, and Simons can be trusted to provide that. He could even play a sixth man role if Payton Pritchard moves to the starting lineup after Holiday’s departure.
Case for trading Simons
What are the chances the Celtics try to trade Simons?
Here’s what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday’s episode of The Hoop Collective podcast:
“I have talked to other teams who have said the Celtics are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons. Whether they can or not is another [thing].”
The main reason to consider a Simons trade is that, depending on what the C’s get in return, this kind of move could shed a lot of salary and help Boston get below the aprons.
The Celtics are barely above the second apron right now and about $13 million over the first apron. Moving Simons and clearing at least half of his $27.7 million salary could be enough to get Boston under the first apron. Getting under the luxury tax for two consecutive seasons would reset the harsh repeater tax penalties.
A Simons trade also could be a way for the Celtics to acquire more frontcourt depth.
The C’s are pretty thin at power forward and center. They’ve already lost veteran centers Kristaps Porzingis (trade) and Luke Kornet (free agency) this offseason, and Stevens said Tuesday that center Al Horford is “unlikely” to return.
Right now, it’s looking like Neemias Queta or Xavier Tillman Sr. will be Boston’s starting center, which is less than ideal. Trading Simons in a deal that sends a starting-caliber center to the Celtics would be something worth exploring.
The Celtics don’t have to make a decision on Simons’ future in the near term. They can go into the regular season, see how well he fits, and then determine how to proceed.
What’s next for Anfernee Simons? Exploring two paths for new Celtics guard
Simons is a very good young scorer entering the final year of his contract.
The Boston Celtics announced the acquisition of guard Anfernee Simons on Monday when the Jrue Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers became official.
The final trade ended up being a one-for-one swap of Simons for Holiday — a move that saved the Celtics some money in their mission to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Holiday has three years and around $100 million left on his contract.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens praised Simons at a press conference Tuesday.
SIGN UP HERE “Anfernee is a guy people out here probably don’t see as much because of the time (of Blazers games on the West Coast),” Stevens told reporters. “But his ability to score, his ability to shoot the ball, make really hard shots, is pretty elite. And you look at a guy who’s 26 years old and averaged 20 points 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.”
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Simons’ future with the Celtics is uncertain. He is entering the final year of his contract and has a salary of $27.7 million for the 2025-26 season. If he continues to play at a high level offensively, signing him to an extension could be pretty expensive.
And if the Celtics really want to get under the first apron, or the entire luxury tax altogether, moving Simons before the trade deadline next February could make sense, too.
Let’s evaluate the case for keeping Simons and the case for trading him.
Case for keeping Simons
The Celtics might not have Jayson Tatum for all of next season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles suffered in May. It’s obviously a huge blow in all facets of the game for Boston, but it’s going to be especially difficult to replace Tatum’s impact offensively.
Tatum has led the Celtics in scoring each of the last six seasons. He became the first player in team history to average 30-plus points in a season in 2022-23. He is a three-level scorer capable of completely taking over games offensively.
🔊 Celtics Talk: Derrick White tackles trade rumors, a new-look Celtics roster and excitement to prove doubters wrong | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Replacing Tatum’s scoring will be a group effort for the Celtics, and Simons could play a key role in that. Simons averaged 19.3 points per game for the Blazers last season. It was his fourth straight season averaging 17-plus points per game.
The Celtics have taken and made a record-breaking amount of 3-pointers under head coach Joe Mazzulla, and Simons shouldn’t have a problem transitioning to that kind of system.
Simons has hit 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career. He was one of 23 players to average three or more made 3-pointers per game last season. He’s also one of the league’s best free throw shooters, having made more than 90 percent of his attempts each of the previous two seasons. Simons also is capable of beating defenders off the dribble and finishing at the rim.
Simons is a legit scorer, and he could take some of the offensive burden from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White next season. He’s not a bad playmaker, either.
There are valid concerns about Simons’ defense. He’s not a good perimeter defender, and that was evident on March 5 in Boston when he gave up 27 points on 11-for-25 shooting as the primary defender in a loss to the Celtics at TD Garden. That was the game where both Payton Pritchard and Derrick White scored above 40 points.
But the Celtics will need offense next season, and Simons can be trusted to provide that. He could even play a sixth man role if Payton Pritchard moves to the starting lineup after Holiday’s departure.
Case for trading Simons
What are the chances the Celtics try to trade Simons?
Here’s what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday’s episode of The Hoop Collective podcast:
“I have talked to other teams who have said the Celtics are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons. Whether they can or not is another [thing].”
The main reason to consider a Simons trade is that, depending on what the C’s get in return, this kind of move could shed a lot of salary and help Boston get below the aprons.
The Celtics are barely above the second apron right now and about $13 million over the first apron. Moving Simons and clearing at least half of his $27.7 million salary could be enough to get Boston under the first apron. Getting under the luxury tax for two consecutive seasons would reset the harsh repeater tax penalties.
A Simons trade also could be a way for the Celtics to acquire more frontcourt depth.
The C’s are pretty thin at power forward and center. They’ve already lost veteran centers Kristaps Porzingis (trade) and Luke Kornet (free agency) this offseason, and Stevens said Tuesday that center Al Horford is “unlikely” to return.
Right now, it’s looking like Neemias Queta or Xavier Tillman Sr. will be Boston’s starting center, which is less than ideal. Trading Simons in a deal that sends a starting-caliber center to the Celtics would be something worth exploring.
The Celtics don’t have to make a decision on Simons’ future in the near term. They can go into the regular season, see how well he fits, and then determine how to proceed.
