Anfernee Simons joined the Boston Celtics earlier this summer, as part of the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Simons is currently in the final year of his contract and will earn $27.6 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent. As Boston is still marginally over the second luxury tax apron, courtesy of acquiring Josh Minott, Brad Stevens is expected to make another move.
Given Simons’ limited defense, expiring deal, and high salary, he’s seen as a likely trade candidate. In a recent article for CelticsBlog, Jake Issenberg proposed a 3-team trade that would send Simons to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Issenberg’s trade proposal looks like this:
Boston Celtics Get: Rui Hachimura and John Konchar.
Los Angeles Lakers Get: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Georges Niang.
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Anfernee Simons.
“Another potential home run for the Celtics front office. Saving $11.4 million while breaking Simons’ salary into two smaller contracts, one of which is Rui Hachimura, who fills a position of need, and the other, John Konchar, who is a solid role player you could either keep or flip to save more money,” Issenberg wrote.
Hachimura is also in the final year of his current contract and will earn $18.25 million this season. However, given his lower price point, the Celtics could look to extend his stay. That is, of course, assuming he makes a positive impact on Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.
Celtics’ Not Actively Trying to Trade Simons
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, who was speaking via a Bleacher Report live stream, the Celtics aren’t actively shopping Simons in trade talks. However, Fischer did admit that Boston would be open to flipping the offensive-minded guard.
“So at a certain point in time, could Boston just move him? Yes. Are they actively looking to move him? I would say they’re actively open to moving him,” Fischer said. “But I don’t think Boston is calling around trying to move Anfernee Simons right now…I just think he and his representation are very aware that the Celtics are not married to having him start the season in green and white, but they’d be very happy and willing to do so if that’s the case.”
Simons is a highly talented scorer. However, his limited defense, high salary and expiring deal make it hard to envision a long-term future for him with the Celtics. After all, Stevens is retooling the roster for when Jayson Tatum returns from his Achilles tear, and Simons doesn’t project as a long-term addition.
Al Horford is Yet to Make a Free Agency Decision
Coming into the offseason, the Celtics knew they could lose Al Horford. The veteran big man is an unrestricted free agent. Boston isn’t expected to be a contending roster in the 2025-26 campaign. As such, Horford could choose to retire or sign elsewhere in the NBA. Current rumors have him linked with a move to the Golden State Warriors.
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today, Marc J. Spears noted that Horford may not want to move to the West Coast.
“Golden State obviously expected him to sign last week, he didn’t [sign],” Spears said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday. “Lakers, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, I believe are also interested in a nearly 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table. He’s still considering retiring, he’s not in any hurry. He’s got a sixth kid coming on the way, he lives in Atlanta and Boston in the offseason. I’m hearing that whether it’s Golden State and a lesser extent to the Lakers, being away from the family that far isn’t going to be in that decision.”
Losing Horford will be a tough blow for the Celtics. Nevertheless, the franchise is in a position to re-tool the roster and begin preparing for another championship run. As such, losing Horford and potentially trading Simons must be viewed as necessary eventualities.
Still, it’s never easy seeing a fan-favorite veteran walk away from the team on the back of a postseason elimination.
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