An Anfernee Simons replacement should intrigue the Boston Celtics this offseason. While they could bring him back, and they have good reason to, they could also look at players with similar skillsets. Collin Sexton is one of them, but he'd be more intriguing for Boston than others because if they brought him in, the Kyrie Irving trade would come full circle.
First and foremost, the Celtics would add Sexton primarily because they believe he would be an asset. There's already been excellent analysis on why Sexton makes sense for Boston. However, it would also feel somewhat poetic to have him on the team, since he was the one the Celtics indirectly sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the everlastingly infamous Kyrie Irving deal.
For more context, Boston sent them the last pick the Brooklyn Nets owed them from the even more infamous Kevin Garnett & Paul Pierce trade. That ultimately landed the Cavaliers the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, which they used on Sexton.
Given how badly Kyrie backfired in Boston, it is kind of a relief that Cleveland wound up with Sexton, a perfectly solid player, but not a star. Especially in a draft where there were high-impact players that were taken after him, like Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges, and Michael Porter Jr., all of whom have had more notable careers than Sexton.
Oh, and some no-name that goes by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander...
Anyway, this isn't to fire any shots at Sexton by any means because he is good at what he's paid to do: score. He's efficient and can get buckets just about anywhere. It would be kind of cool to see him play for Boston after they originally traded him a year before he came into the NBA.
Plus, Sexton should play for a good team
Eight years into his NBA career, Sexton has never played for a winner. He was included in the blockbuster deal that netted Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers in 2022. He then spent multiple years on the Utah Jazz before brief stints with the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls.
He's never made the playoffs once in his career, but there's a solid argument that he's to blame for that. He simply has never been given the opportunity to show what he's got on a team that matters. Funny enough, so did Simons, and look how that turned out once he came to Boston.
If the Celtics wanted him, what will remain in the air is at what price. Note that his archetype is the exact same one as the player the Celtics got rid just to get under the tax. They probably wouldn't pay the most money possible, but still may do everything they can to add him to the team.
Knowing that's who they traded for Kyrie, Boston could definitely add him just for the irony.
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