According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Boston Celtics have continued to check in around the league regarding Anfernee Simons' trade value. However, despite their rumored efforts to move on from the score-first guard, there hasn’t been much movement in that regard.
“As the Boston Celtics continue to explore ways to cut costs, they have held discussions with a few teams about Simons' value and what a potential deal could look like since Summer League in July, sources said,” Siegel wrote. “It does not appear as if there is any immediate traction on a deal involving the sharpshooting guard before the season starts.”
It’s looking like Simons will be on the Celtics for the time being.
Why would Celtics trade Anfernee Simons?
This summer has all been about one thing for the Celtics: Saving money. Almost every move they’ve made has been with that directive in mind.
They traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang and draft capital, and they swapped out Jrue Holiday for Simons in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. With both of those moves, they managed to get under the second apron.
However, if the Celtics wanted to take things a step further, they could get under the second apron with the goal of resetting the repeater tax (though they would have to be under the first apron for two straight seasons).
Trading Simons is the Celtics’ best pathway to getting under the first apron. They only sit roughly $4 million over the first apron, meaning they would only have to shed a chunk of Simons’ salary if that were to become their goal.
But based on Siegel’s reporting, there doesn’t seem to be much interest around the league in Simons. At least, not at this current moment. Teams may not be interested in taking on his $27.7 million salary, even though it’s expiring.
Perhaps this could change by the deadline, though, as teams get a feel for their rosters, their chances at competing deep into the playoffs, and their financial goals.
At that point, if there are suitors around the league for Simons, a trade could be in the cards for the Celtics, especially if they don’t find him to be a solid long-term fit with their current roster.
But for now, Simons will be in Boston, and he could have a chance to play a very important role on a Jayson Tatum-less Celtics squad looking to maintain its competitiveness.