Celtics could trade newly acquired guard ahead of NBA Draft

The Boston Celtics made headlines this week when they dealt Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trailblazers for Anfernee Simons. However, there is a possibility that Simons isn’t in Boston for very long. 

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics could dangle the newly-acquired Simons in trade talks ahead of the NBA Draft. Boston currently holds the No. 28, and No. 32 overall picks in this year’s draft. 

Simons has just one year, and roughly $27.7 million remaining on his current deal. Unless the Celtics prefer to extend him, they could entertain trade talks for him, whether it’s now, or at next season’s trade deadline. 

The Celtics already will look significantly different next season. Jayson Tatum is set to miss most, if not all of, next season with a torn achilles, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis have already been traded this week, and reports have surfaced of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White potentially being up for grabs via trade. Should Simons stay in Boston, he should provide the team with a scoring boost while Tatum is out. Albeit a poor defender, he fits their three-point heavy offensive scheme.

The 26-year-old Simon has struggled with consistency at times in his career. This past season, he averaged 19.3 points per game on 43 percent from the field, and 36 percent from three-point range, a drop off compared to 2023-24, when he averaged a career-high 22.6 points per game. Perhaps a change of scenery could be beneficial to Simons should he remain in Boston.