Anfernee Simons is at the center of two major topics of conversation surrounding the Boston Celtics. One is whether he or Payton Pritchard will start alongside Derrick White. The other is whether he'll even be on the team by season's end.
As rumors swirl regarding interest from other franchises in Simons' services, he may not even be in Boston when training camp starts.
The Celtics like the 26-year-old guard. He's a dynamic threat from beyond the arc, effective off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot threes. If they're willing to keep his $27.7 million contract on their books this season, he could help them return to title contention after a projected gap year.
However, even if Boston is willing to end the 2025-26 campaign with Simons on the roster, there is another crucial question the organization must ask itself.
Are the Celtics willing to re-sign Anfernee Simons?
One would think the seven-year veteran is in line for a pay cut when he signs his next deal. By how much will, of course, depend on how this season goes for him.
Gauging his market, Boston might project that Simons is poised to sign within a salary range too steep to have alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White's contracts.
The Celtics may also be searching for a starting center. Plus, they have a starting-caliber guard in Payton Pritchard on a team-friendly deal. So, if the franchise calculates that Simons is too expensive to retain under this more punitive collective bargaining agreement, then it has forced their hand.
Maybe the organization feels differently. Boston could acquire a starting center without breaking the bank. The same is true for finding rotation upgrades to support a roster where the top-four salaries belong to Tatum, Brown, White, and Simons.
Whether the Celtics believe that's a viable path to fielding a championship contender that can sustain itself is anyone's guess at the moment. Their answer will help provide clarity on multiple fronts.
If they don't feel that way, they can afford to remain patient, but should reroute Simons before the trade deadline expires.
And if they don't believe Simons will be in Boston for multiple seasons, then Pritchard should start. Perhaps the desire to help prop up the former's trade value sways their decision in the other direction.
However, he could still showcase his worth in a sixth man role. Plus, Simons has been in the NBA for seven years. Teams have a firm understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.
Furthermore, it would seem challenging to justify putting him in the closing lineup over Pritchard if the expectation is that only the latter is a part of their long-term plans.
Simons could be a valuable contributor in Boston beyond this season. And the Celtics don't have to rush to decide his future with the team. But if they don't buy into a future built around him having one of the highest salaries on the roster, then it's understood what should happen before the trade deadline passes.