In a recent edition of the Bill Simmons Podcast, the host of the popular, eponymously named show, hit on numerous topics regarding the Boston Celtics. That includes Jayson Tatum's return and how it mitigated the loss the team suffered when trading Anfernee Simons. As Simmons pointed out, the six-time All-Star was going to eat into the minutes of a guard he never got to play with.
Tatum's already back to spending many positions as the head of the snake and an offensive engine for Boston. Simons would have fit well alongside him. He's a dynamic three-point threat who can create for himself and others off the dribble. However, Simons' usage rate would have taken a significant hit if he were still with the C's.
The eighth-year guard did everything the Celtics asked of him. He elevated his game at the defensive end and acclimated to the role of sixth man. From teammates to coaches and the front office, they loved having him in the organization.
However, as detailed below, although it was unfortunate to part with him, the move made sense for Boston.
Why the Celtics traded Anfernee Simons
There were multiple motives for sending him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic.
A day after this year's trade deadline, Brad Stevens conveyed, "First and foremost, that was a move done in large part to balance out our positional needs with." The franchise's president of basketball operations continued, "If we were able to get a big that did that, had a similar impact, from the standpoint of, you know, I guess, filling different statistical needs and gave us a little bit more insurance in case of any big depth issues, felt like that was the right thing to do."
That has already paid dividends. While Vucevic was the one who got injured, fracturing his right ring finger, who's to say something wouldn't have happened to another one of their centers if Neemias Queta and Luka Garza were still soaking up nearly all of the minutes at the five spot?
Furthermore, Vucevic is expected to return near the end of the regular season.
Secondly, there was the financial incentive to make this move. It paved the way for them to get under the luxury tax. By doing so, Boston gained the ability to receive more salary than it sends out in a trade, freed itself of certain spending restrictions, and can now sign anyone on the buyout market.
However, regarding the latter, remember how much they have to gain by remaining below the luxury tax threshold. That includes the chance to reset the repeater tax. The Celtics can do so by getting under the luxury tax by the end of the 2026-27 league year.
As productive as Simons was, and as popular as he was within the organization, under this more punitive collective bargaining agreement, the incentive to trade him was stronger than it was to retain him through the deadline.
Boston couldn't bank on Tatum returning this season when assessing whether to make that move. However, that his rehab continued to go smoothly and the Celtics now have him back in the fold further softens the blow of sending Simons to Chicago.