After acquiring scoring guard Anfernee Simons in a trade for Jrue Holiday last month, the Boston Celtics are currently evaluating their roster options with the 26-year-old player. Although Simons carries a costly contract with only one year and $26 million remaining, his presence provides the team with additional flexibility as they plan their next moves.

The general outlook within the NBA is that the Celtics ultimately do not see Simons as part of their long-range strategy, especially with Jayson Tatum expected to return next season following recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. However, Boston is not rushing to finalize any deal involving Simons, preferring to maintain the current roster configuration at the start of the season.

“You never know, but the team they have now is probably the team they’ll start the year with,”

a general manager explained.

“They could get themselves involved in some blockbuster. But they’re not in a hurry to make that move (on Simons).”

Team Aims to Enhance Financial and Roster Flexibility

The Celtics are currently positioned just below the NBA’s luxury tax second apron but aim to increase their financial breathing room significantly. They do not need to reduce their payroll before the season begins, as payroll adjustments can be made during the campaign. Simons is viewed as a player who could increase his trade value in the upcoming months.

Portland, his former team, has been attempting to trade Simons for about 18 months, despite investing $100 million in him. The Trail Blazers were disappointed that Simons was unable to develop facets of his game beyond scoring, which may leave room for improvement with the Celtics.

Potential for Growth Under New Coaching and System

There is optimism that Simons could improve in Boston’s environment.

“He is going to a team with a different coaching staff, a different front office, a whole different system of teaching,”

a GM noted. They added that sometimes a change in situation can trigger a breakthrough for a player. Simons, still young, could become a better player if he shows willingness to learn and adapt.

So you wait to trade him to see if that happens.

—GM

Last season, Simons averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists while maintaining a career 38.1% three-point shooting percentage. If other teams face injuries or need additional scoring to contend, the Celtics could offer Simons in a trade as a valuable asset.

Rostering Challenges and Impact of Recent Trades

Although the Celtics are expected to remain competitive next season, the roster has weakened due to recent trades and free agency losses. The team traded away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, two important contributors to the 2024 NBA championship run, primarily to manage salary cap constraints. They also allowed center Luke Kornet to depart in free agency to San Antonio and appear likely to do the same with Al Horford.

On these moves, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens commented,

“We’ve known for a long time that hard decisions were coming,”

addressing the trades of Holiday and Porzingis, which both became official recently. He emphasized that

“The second apron is why those trades happened. I think that is pretty obvious. And the basketball penalties associated with those are real. …

So that was part of making the decision to push and put our chips on the table and go for the last two years.”

—Brad Stevens, Celtics President of Basketball Operations

Simons is likely to be the next key piece Boston considers moving, but any such transaction is expected to occur once the season is underway rather than before it starts.

Future Outlook: Managing Roster and Cap Situation

The Celtics face a delicate balancing act between maintaining a competitive squad and managing their salary commitments under NBA financial regulations. Holding onto Simons pending potential improvement allows Boston to keep options open for mid-season trade opportunities. Meanwhile, his youth and scoring ability keep him valuable to contenders seeking offensive depth.

As the Celtics navigate the recovery timeline of stars like Jayson Tatum and adjust to recent roster changes, their approach to handling Anfernee Simons will be a critical component of their overall strategy for the upcoming season and beyond.