Celtics May Flip Anfernee Simons To Free Up Room For Two Key Stars
The Boston Celtics' whirlwind offseason may not be finished just yet. After trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to clear salary and reshape the roster, Boston is reportedly exploring yet another cost-cutting move, this time centered on newly acquired guard Anfernee Simons.
Advertisement
Simons arrived in Boston as part of the Holiday trade with Portland. But despite his undeniable scoring ability and smooth offensive game, league sources told The Athletic's Jay King that the Celtics are considering flipping Simons and his $27.7 million expiring contract. The motive is clear: financial flexibility.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens wants to re-sign key veterans Luke Kornet and Al Horford while positioning the team below the luxury tax threshold. That's a tall order, even after the Holiday and Porzingis deals, and Simons' sizable expiring deal is an obvious lever to pull.
While Simons averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists on 36.3 percent shooting from three last season, his long-term fit in Boston's system under Joe Mazzulla was already in question.
He's best with the ball in his hands, and with Derrick White entrenched as the starting point guard and Jaylen Brown expected to take on even more creation duties while Jayson Tatum recovers from a torn Achilles, Simons could find himself the odd man out.
Advertisement
He has value as a score-first guard with deep shooting range, but his defensive limitations and need for usage make him a tough fit in Boston's defense-first identity.
More importantly, his expiring contract is one of the last big trade chips the Celtics hold. Stevens is laser-focused on avoiding the repeater tax, which penalizes teams that exceed the luxury tax in consecutive years.
Boston currently sits roughly $15 million over the tax line, and trimming that would not only allow them to avoid the financial penalties but also hit the NBA's 'reset' button.
Escaping the tax for two straight years wipes the repeater status, granting teams more flexibility in future seasons. That flexibility could prove crucial once Tatum returns and Boston decides how to maneuver around his upcoming supermax deal and maintain its core.
Advertisement
Veterans like Kornet and Horford are also part of the equation. Stevens called them 'huge parts of this organization' after the draft, making it clear that keeping them is a priority.
But to do so while staying under the tax, moving Simons might be the only way. Sam Hauser's name has surfaced as another possible trade chip, but the Celtics reportedly prefer to keep him due to his elite shooting and low cap hit.
Boston already shocked the league by unloading two of their starters just a year after winning a title. But the front office is embracing a long-term view. Tatum's injury gives them a window to regroup financially, and Simons' $27.7 million could be the key to unlocking it, just after saving $260 million in two trades.
While he may never suit up in green, Simons could end up playing a major role in helping Boston retain its core and preserve its flexibility for a more competitive return in 2026.
Related: Celtics Shut Down Jaylen Brown, Derrick White Trade Rumors With Strong Statement
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
5 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Red Sox hit 3 home runs, power past Rockies 9-3 to post 4th straight victory
BOSTON (AP) — Roman Anthony hit a two-run home run, Ceddanne Rafaela homered for the third straight game and the Boston Red beat the the Colorado Rockies 9-3 on Monday night. Boston rookie Richard Fitts (1-3) allowed five hits, two earned runs and struck out six over 5 2/3 innings to notch his first major league victory. Romy Gonzalez added a solo homer, and Abraham Toro had a two-run double to help Boston post its fourth straight win and seventh in nine games. Rockies starter Austin Gomber (0-2) exited after 4 2/3 innings, yielding five runs and seven hits, including Anthony's homer. Colorado's first run of the game was set up by a throwing error on Boston shortstop Trevor Story. In the sixth inning, the Rockies pulled to 5-3 on a fielder's choice RBI by Michael Toglia and RBI single by Ryan McMahon. But Boston added to its lead an inning later via RBI singles by Jarren Duran and Carlos Narváez Key moment With the score tied 1-1 in the second, Toro hit a line drive double over the head of Toglia, scoring Tyler Freeman and Carlos Narváez. It capped a three-run inning. Key stat Gonzalez's home run, which cleared the Green Monster, traveled 454 feet according to Statcast, trying Mike Trout (June 2) for the longest this season at Fenway Park. Up next Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-9, 5.49 ERA) will face Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (4-3, 3.42) on Tuesday. ___ AP MLB:
New York Post
5 minutes ago
- New York Post
Mike Brown brings ‘championship pedigree' to Knicks as head coach's hire made official
Mike Brown is officially in the fold, and not a minute too soon. The Knicks announced the hiring of their new coach on Monday, ahead of Tuesday's introductory press conference. Advertisement 'After a thorough and extensive search process, we are pleased to announce Mike Brown as the head coach of the New York Knicks,' Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. 'Mike has coached on the biggest stages in our sport and brings championship pedigree to our organization. His experience leading the bench during the NBA Finals, winning four titles as an assistant coach, and his ability to grow and develop players will all help us as we aim to bring a championship to New York for our fans.' The 55-year-old inked a four-year deal worth $40 million according to SNY, stepping into the void left by Tom Thibodeau's shocking firing after the Knicks failed to get past the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Brown, a two-time Coach of the Year, was fired midseason by the Kings — six months after Sacramento gave him a contract extension. Advertisement Mike Brown coaches the Kings during as 2024 games against the Knicks. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post He quickly became one of the top candidates to replace Thibodeau, with the Knicks connected to — but seemingly unable to lure — current NBA coaches Jason Kidd (Mavericks), Ime Udoka (Rockets), Billy Donovan (Bulls) and others. 'I would like to welcome Mike Brown to New York and the Knicks organization,' owner James Dolan said in a release. 'Leon and our staff ran a thorough and thoughtful process that led our organization to Mike, and I'm pleased to see him on the sideline for us next season.' Advertisement The Knicks become the fourth team helmed by Brown in his two-plus decades on NBA staffs after stints with the Cavaliers, Lakers and Kings. He brings a 454-304 career mark, with a 50-40 postseason record. Knicks brass apparently have faith he can better the 2005-06 Eastern Conference championship he captured with Cleveland before getting swept by the Spurs in the NBA Finals. Kings head coach Mike Brown reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans. AP That's further than Thibodeau was able to lead the Knicks in five years, despite bringing the team to the playoffs in four of his five seasons at the Garden.
USA Today
5 minutes ago
- USA Today
Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton have been 'motivated' to play together
A recent report detailed how troubling new Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton's behavior was during the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Between that poor attitude and his disappointing defense, plenty of people aren't too bullish on his prospects with the Purple and Gold. But there are others who feel he will help the team and possibly even be more motivated to play his best basketball than he has been in a while. In particular, Luka Doncic should be able to exploit Ayton's ability to convert lob passes into easy baskets, run the floor in transition and be a pick-and-pop threat out to about 15 feet. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Ayton and Doncic were "motivated to team up" on the same team (h/t Lakers Daily). 'Ayton and Luka Dončić have been pals since they were selected No. 1 overall and No. 3, respectively, in the 2018 NBA Draft,' Stein wrote. 'The prospect of the pair becoming teammates first materialized five years later when the [Dallas] Mavericks entered into advanced trade talks with Phoenix to acquire Ayton in conjunction with the 2023 NBA Draft. Yet those talks ultimately collapsed. '... The Bahamian big man asked the [Portland] Trail Blazers to buy out the final season of his contract and he committed Wednesday to teaming up with the Slovenian star after clearing waivers. 'The players share an agent — WME Sports' head of basketball Bill Duffy — and were motivated to team up given the Lakers' well-chronicled need for a front-line center.' In his seven seasons in the NBA, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds a game and made 59% of his shot attempts. While he isn't a consistent rim protector or shot-blocker, he does have the physical tools to become one, as he has a 7-foot-5 wingspan and clocked in with a 43.5-inch vertical leap during his college career. Lakers assistant coach Scott Brooks, who was an assistant with Portland during Ayton's first season there, reportedly advocated for the signing of the 26-year-old, which seems to be an encouraging sign.
