The writing is on the wall for Anfernee Simons. A priority for the Boston Celtics is gaining flexibility. If there was a deal to shed his $27.7 million contract, there was an incentive to make that trade. That was true even if the primary return was the relief that came from moving his salary off their books.
Despite that motivation, Simons remains in Boston as training camp approaches. That he hasn't gotten rerouted despite teams seemingly being able to acquire him at a low cost makes it crystal clear he is in line for a pay cut next summer.
The Portland Trail Blazers trading him for Jrue Holiday, who's nine years older and has $104.4 million left on his contract, was another signal that his salary will get slashed in his next deal.
That shouldn't come as a surprise, considering the size of his contract and his struggles on the defensive end. However, the desire to limit his pay cut should add ample fuel to Simons' fire.
Anfernee Simons' future with the Celtics
The projection of what the 26-year-old guard will earn on the open market could entice Boston to retain him long term. For example, if the Celtics can extend him for an average annual value in the range of $14-15 million, that seems like a palatable figure for the franchise.
If the organization is open to re-signing him, then maybe he isn't dealt by February's trade deadline. Even if that's not the case, there's value in allowing his contract to expire and gaining cap space.
Plus, it would make sense for a projected gap year from title contention to include not wanting to put too much mileage on Derrick White and Jaylen Brown's tires. Having someone who can consistently log heavy minutes and perform up to their standard is a valuable way to manage those core roster members.
Maybe Simons improves on the defensive end in Boston's infrastructure. That would increase his value on the trade and free-agent markets. He also gets to operate in an offense that he is tailor-made for.
The six-foot-three guard is a dynamic shooter from behind the arc. Not only is he effective off the bounce and on catch-and-shoot opportunities, but he can make plays off the dribble. He has turned a high usage rate into averaging 4.5 assists over the last four years. He also has a 48.7 percent conversion rate inside the arc for his seven-year career, per basketball-reference.com.
That diverse offensive skill set and the ability to make plays for himself and his teammates when he puts the ball on the floor will mesh perfectly with a head coach and an offensive system that maximizes versatility. It's the key to the Celtics' ability to get creative and repeatedly create high-quality shots.
One can't rule out a trade happening in the shrinking window between the end of the offseason and the start of training camp. However, if Simons is in Boston to start the upcoming campaign, he should thrive in his new team's offense.
The help he'll have on defense will also give him a great chance to demonstrate his worth to a league that's showing less appreciation for one-way players. In the weak-link era, there isn't much of a market for gifted scorers who get hunted on defense. Title contenders don't want those individuals unless they're coming off the bench at a reasonable price. The rest of the NBA isn't interested in paying them at a robust rate, either.
Simons is fighting to prove the value he provides to an Association that, to this point, has passed on acquiring him at a presumed low cost. If that goes well enough, the Celtics might have no choice but to trade him. On the positive side, the return could be better than it currently appears.