If the Boston Celtics reroute Anfernee Simons, the most likely trade construct is a three-team deal. That is easier said than done. It may cost a bit of draft capital, for instance, a second-round pick. However, Boston's best path figures to involve a third party helping maximize the amount saved in sending Simons elsewhere.
It's not just that the 18-time NBA champions are in cost-cutting mode. They're also working to re-sign at least one of their free-agent centers, Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
"There's no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back," said Brad Stevens after the first round of the draft. "Those guys are huge parts of this organization. They're going to have, I'm sure, plenty of options all over the place, and that's well deserved, but I think that would be a priority. At the same time, I don't want to put pressure on them. It's their call ultimately, but yeah, we would love to have those guys back."
That won't be easy, given the significant possibility Horford and Kornet receive offers for the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That is worth $14.1 million.
Either of these individuals staying in Boston is a big if. However, if one of them does, accepting a hometown discount isn't unrealistic. Both have reasons to stay. Had it not been for Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear, Horford remaining in the fold felt likely.
Kornet has blossomed with the Celtics. He's become a valuable two-way player at the pivot. If he stays, he'll get a no-trade clause. That creates a path to having stability on and off the court.
But the less money Boston sheds in a Simons trade, the harder it is to keep either of its top two centers.
Simons' skill matters less than his contract
According to multiple reports, the Celtics are fans of Anfernee Simons' game. That's no surprise. The 26-year-old guard is a bucket-getter.
Simons produced 19.3 points per contest last season. He's a terrific shooter who ranked 13th among players averaging at least 3.5 pull-up attempts from three-point range, per NBA.com. The six-foot-three guard converted on 34.7 percent of his 4.2 attempts on those looks.
He can also effectively create his shot from behind the arc. Simons knocked down 37.7 percent of his 4.3 catch-and-shoot 3s. It's a testament to him being a dynamic threat from three-point range.
The problem is that he's on a $27.7 million contract. The Celtics are working to shed payroll. They've painfully parted with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
After the second round of the draft, the franchise's vice president of basketball operations and team counsel, Mike Zarren, expressed, "There's a bit of wistfulness always when guys move on, but at the same time, the rules are the same rules for everyone."
Getting under the luxury tax threshold may not be mandatory, but surely, the organization would love to do so. They're $12.6 million over that line, per Spotrac. Staying beneath it for two consecutive seasons would enable them to reset the repeater tax.
Trading Simons, trimming payroll, and perhaps adding a player with value who Boston could later flip is the team's best bet for re-signing Horford or Kornet and at least getting under the first apron by the end of the upcoming league year.
A two-team trade centered around Simons could set those wheels in motion. However, while a three-team construct requires more moving parts and more parties in agreement, that figures to afford the Celtics the most flexibility afterward.