We’re just over a month into the Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 season, which means that the unofficial start of NBA trade season is a little under a month away. A large percentage of the league becomes eligible for trade on Dec. 15, when recently signed/extended restrictions officially expire.
That’s when the fun starts.
The Celtics find themselves in a different position than they have in years past. Instead of having an iron-clad roster with little desire to shuffle things up, they’ve now got room for improvement as trade season approaches.
NBA Insider Matt Moore called the Cs “one of the more opportunistic teams” during a recent news post to Fansided.com.
“Boston is routinely mentioned as a team that continues to canvass for opportunities,” Moore wrote. “It’s tough because they aren’t willing to take on money after their cost-cutting efforts this summer, but they remain one of the more opportunistic teams.”
How opportunistic can the Celtics be in a trade?
Opportunistic, here, may just mean able. Over the past few seasons, you couldn’t even put together a substantial trade-machine deal without including a player who was key to Boston’s championship aspirations. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White were all on tradeable contracts, but there would’ve been no reason to move off of those guys mid-season.
After trading two of the three to dive below the league’s second-apron line this summer, with Porzingis and Holiday heading to new homes back in June, Boston is left with Anfernee Simons’ expiring $27 million salary to dangle in future negotiations.
Dangle might even be a stretch with how Simons’ first 15 games as a Celtic have gone. He simply looks like an awkward fit in Boston, struggling to find his offensive role and regularly getting scrambled on defense.
With that being said, if the Celtics do piece together a deal that includes the former Trail Blazers guard, it probably won’t be a blockbuster. The most likely outcome would be Boston moving Simons to cut even more salary.
As of Nov. 20, the Cs sit $4 million above the first-apron threshold and $12 million above the luxury tax. The math would suggest that they can afford to take back $15 million in whatever move would offload the $27 million owed to Simons, if they want to dodge the tax completely.
Even if their goal is to simply dive beneath the first apron, trading Simons would still be their best bet.
Jack Simone and I discussed the following hypothetical between Boston, the LA Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings on the most recent How ‘Bout Them Celtics episode.
Celtics Receive:
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Bradley Beal
Clippers Receive:
- Zach LaVine
Kings Receive:
- Anfernee Simons
- John Collins
This trade is disgusting, but it accomplishes something for all parties involved.
Boston saves $6 million and avoids spending above the first apron, while also bringing in one of Jayson Tatum’s closest NBA friends, Bradley Beal, to rehab alongside him.
The Clippers add scoring in an effort to salvage something from this, so far, disastrous season. There’s no point in them trying to tank since their 2026 first-round pick belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They’d get to take a chance at LaVine without having to further put themselves into the hole by coughing up more draft capital.
Sacramento gives themselves an earlier chance at resetting (again) by clearing LaVine’s contract a year in advance. Both Simons and John Collins are on expiring deals, which would net them $54 million in cleared cap this summer.
Again, nothing is imminent. The above trade is simply hypothetical. But if you end up getting a notification about a Celtics trade in the coming months, it’s more likely to be an unsexy deal like the above, rather than an earth-shattering blockbuster.