Anfernee Simons was far and away the Boston Celtics' most notable offseason addition. He is a dynamic scorer, especially when it comes to his effectiveness off the dribble and off the catch from behind the arc. He's also an underrated facilitator.
The seven-year veteran paired his 19.3 points per game last season with 4.8 assists. Simons is dishing out 4.5 dimes per tilt across the last four years.
He is the lone healthy Celtic on the roster with years of experience as a primary option. That knowledge can benefit Jaylen Brown as he steps into a role he has long desired.
Simons' productivity shooting, facilitating, and making plays for him and his teammates off the dribble make him a tailor-made fit in Joe Mazzulla's offense. The questions lie on the defensive end of the floor.
It's worth noting that he utilized his six-foot-seven wingspan to come up with 1.2 deflections and nearly 1.0 steals per game last season, per NBA.com.
Still, he enters a contract year needing to prove his commitment on that end of the floor. If he does, it will simultaneously raise his trade value and Boston's temptation to extend him.
Brad Stevens' challenge to Anfernee Simons
At media day, one of the first players the Celtics' president of basketball operations spoke about was their most significant summer acquisition.
"He is an electric scorer," stated Stevens. "He's an outstanding shooter. He is a guy that teams will legitimately be thinking about when they enter the game," he continued. "You have to know him inside and out."
Stevens then proceeded to issue a public challenge to Simons.
"We're really going to challenge him to be himself. No. 1, be aggressive, and try to accentuate those around him on both ends of the court."
Simons' scoring prowess, combined with his ability to create for his teammates, shouldn't make that too difficult to accomplish at the offensive end of the floor.
However, elevating those around him on defense is a task this author is fascinated to watch unfold. While undersized, he has the length and foot speed to have a career year in Boston's defensive infrastructure. With this being a contract year, he also has plenty of incentive to capitalize on working alongside players like Derrick White and Jaylen Brown.
Simons' supporting cast wasn't the issue with the Portland Trail Blazers. It's on him to prove himself in his new environment. Some undersized guards, like Isaiah Thomas, can only do so much defensively. However, the former has the tools to showcase that he can contribute at both ends of the floor.