Heading into the season, the Boston Celtics had a plan: Trade Anfernee Simons. At least, that’s what all the reporting around the team indicated. From the moment Boston traded Jrue Holiday for Simons, there were rumblings that they could look to flip him. And now that the trade deadline is right around the corner, the rumors are popping up again.
Trading Simons could accomplish one of a few things: Help the Celtics dodge the repeater tax, maintain the salary slot heading into the summer, or add a piece that’s a better long-term fit. Depending on the team’s priorities, any of those types of moves would make sense.
But Simons is making the idea of trading him very, very difficult.
At the beginning of the year, Simons struggled to fit in. His defense was a clear low point in the rotation, and his shot selection wasn’t ideal within the scope of the team’s offense.
Whenever he was on the floor, Simons was running awkward isolation possessions and getting burned in the pick-and-roll on a nightly basis.
However, fast forward to now, and Simons is a legitimately valuable part of Boston’s every-night rotation. He’s giving them great minutes, adding a crucial scoring punch off the pine.
Highlighted by a 27-point night against the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Simons’ scoring punch has become a much-needed part of the Celtics’ game plan, especially on nights when Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, or Payton Pritchard is off-kilter.
Plus, Simons’ defense has taken major strides since the start of the season. He’s still not amazing, but his ball pressure has improved, he’s finding his spots on the floor more consistently, and he’s much more active seeking out steals.
He’s even finding ways to impact Boston’s offense when he’s not scoring, particularly as a corner crasher, seeking out offensive rebounds whenever possible.
Despite all this, the Celtics could still decide to move him at the deadline. If they find a better long-term fit (like an additional center or a more defensive-minded guard), it may be more ideal for the roster, especially when Jayson Tatum returns.
Or maybe they would rather add a contract that extends into the summer so they can still use the salary as a trade chip. Simons’ deal expires this offseason, so he could theoretically walk in free agency.
Regardless, Simons’ recent play has made the Celtics’ upcoming deadline decision much more difficult than it was at the start of the year.