An anonymous NBA front office member who spoke with Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com recently stated that Anfernee Simons has a real chance to lead the Boston Celtics in scoring, even over Jaylen Brown. That, combined with some other statements the GM made, was absolutely unhinged.
“I bet you he’s their leading scorer,” the GM told Bulpett. “Even with Jaylen. He’s going to have the ball a lot, and that dude can really score. That offense is going to have to change to accommodate him, and, on the last year of his contract, he’s going to let it fly. As the kids say, he’s a bucket. He is. That dude is a bucket. He can really fill it up. And remember, he was averaging around 20 in the West. What do you think he’s going to do in the Eastern Conference, which is a LOT less competitive? How’s he not going to score and score big?”
There is zero chance Simons averages more points than Brown next season.
Why won’t Anfernee Simons score more than Jaylen Brown?
To be blunt: This has nothing to do with what Simons can do as a scorer. He’s been nothing but efficient during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, and he should be a solid fit in Joe Mazzulla’s offense.
Simons’ three-point-heavy play style could fit like a dream in the Celtics’ offense, giving them yet another weapon to deploy, especially when Jayson Tatum comes back (if Boston re-signs Simons).
That said, Brown has been the second-highest scorer in Boston for years now. When Tatum has been out, Brown has stepped into the limelight. To believe that anything else will be true this upcoming season is not only disrespectful to Brown, but it disregards what looks to be the clear pecking order in Boston next year: Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, everybody else.
Again, there’s no denying that Simons is a very talented scorer. But at every turn, no matter if it’s been Brad Stevens or Mike Zarren, Brown, White, Pritchard, and Tatum have been pegged as the future of the organization.
Those guys will have the ball in their hands the most. Those guys will get the scoring opportunities. Those guys will be prioritized.
There’s a chance Simons isn’t even on the team by the time the deadline rolls around, let alone coming close to being the leading scorer.
Brown should be the clear-cut favorite to lead the Celtics in scoring next season, and Simons may not even be in the top three.