As the saying goes, "fools rush in." The latest trade proposal involving the Boston Celtics would paint them as just that: fools.
The rumor suddenly swirling is that they should trade Anfernee Simons in a deal that nets them Malik Monk. The salaries of those two would require more players involved. However, those two headline the proposal.
At first glance, that has merit. Monk, who turns 28 a day before the trade deadline, is under contract for two more years after this season. However, even when that gets examined further, it becomes a reason for Boston to pass on this potential opportunity.
Monk is on the books for $20.2 million for the 2026-27 campaign. Yes, that's less than what Simmons is currently making. It's still more valuable to let the latter's contract expire than overpay the former.
The final year of the former Kentucky star's contract is a player option worth $21.6 million. Like his salary the season before, that's potentially valuable in a trade. It's still not a better option than having a preferable player at a similar price.
The Celtics are better off with Anfernee Simons
Boston just got an up-close look at Monk. The ninth-year guard underwhelmed. In the Kings' 126-102 loss to the Celtics, he only got into the game for six minutes. In that span, he went 0/2 and dished out an assist.
For the season, the former 11th overall pick is averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game. Monk is shooting just 42.8 percent from the field. However, he is most proficient from three-point range, where he's knocking down 40.8 of the 4.3 attempts he's launching from behind the arc.
Monk's having a better year than Simons in that aspect of the game. However, they're both dynamic shooters, and the former is streakier. The latter is drilling 37.6 percent of the 6.2 triples he's hoisting. For his career, Boston's new sixth man has a 38 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc. Monk's is 35.3 percent.
Even when you look at the weakest parts of their game, Simons is the better defender of the two. He is more effective on the ball and utilizes a wingspan that's two inches longer to generate 1.2 deflections per contest, per NBA.com.
Simons isn't just younger and more dependable at both ends of the court; it would hardly come as a surprise if his next contract makes him the less expensive option of the two.
As he acclimates to his new role in Boston, there's an increasingly compelling case for the organization holding onto the 26-year-old guard. Not only past February's trade deadline, but re-signing him if the organization can do so for around the price of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That rate is $14.1 million this season.
If he has the chance to play alongside Jayson Tatum during the current campaign, it could tip the scales in favor of going in that direction. Whereas the potential to utilize Monk's salary in a trade may be the most appealing part of acquiring him, Simons is the better player.
Whether it's finding a preferable trade target, letting Simons's contract come off their books, or re-signing him this summer, the Celtics are better off going down one of those paths than taking a chance on Monk.