The regular season is still a month away, and training camp hasn’t even started, yet it already seems written in stone that Anfernee Simons will get traded. It seems highly likely that Simons begins the year in Boston, but as the deadline inches closer and closer, he could be on the move.
Ever since the Celtics landed Simons in the deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, there have been rumblings that they have been trying to move him. Unfortunately, there clearly wasn’t much of a market for him, meaning he remained on the roster. But that doesn’t mean he’s safe.
Simons might be more likely to get traded than anyone else on Boston’s roster.
Why could Celtics trade Anfernee Simons?
Simons is undoubtedly a talented player. He’s a great three-point shooter and can create for himself and others. Whether he or Payton Pritchard starts, Boston’s point guard position will be occupied by a quality scorer.
Unfortunately, there are more factors that go into potentially trading Simons than just his on-court talent, and the Celtics need to consider all of them.
First and foremost, Simons is slated to make $27.7 million this season. Boston spent all summer trying to duck the second apron, and while they may not try to get under the tax altogether, if the right trade presents itself, it’s not a terrible idea.
On top of that, the Celtics are working on a deadline with Simons, and not just the trade deadline. Simons is on an expiring contract, so he could simply leave in free agency this summer if he wanted to.
Maybe it comes to the point where the Celtics are forced to face the tough decision of deciding whether or not to re-sign him or let him walk, but trading him would ensure they get some sort of value back. And leveraging his expiring deal at the deadline could be smart, especially if they find a team that doesn’t want to take on long-term money,
If Simons ends up being a seamless fit with the rest of the roster, then the Celtics shouldn’t hesitate to simply bring him back on board. But based on all of the rumors that have persisted this summer, Boston may not have long-term plans for Simons.
Before he ever set foot in Boston, Simons’ name was thrown around in trade rumors, and now, just ahead of training camp, his name is still on the block.