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3 hours ago
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This summer, the Boston Celtics have done a massive overhaul of the roster to help the franchise out financially. In a recent mock trade, they continue to soften their tax hit by shedding salary while also bringing in an established veteran with a complementary skill set.
Among the moves the Celtics have made in the offseason was trading away former All-Star Jrue Holiday. They shipped him back to the Portland Trail Blazers, from who they originally acquired him, in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons.
Since the trade became official, there have been rumblings about Simons possibly being rerouted. In a recent framework, they shipped him to the LA Clippers for a more cost-effective roster upgrade. The trade:
Celtics receive - Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Brown
Hawks receive - Derrick Jones Jr
Clippers receive - Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang, Mo Gueye, 2027 first-round pick , 2029 first-round pick
Though this move helps Boston regarding tax aprons, they shouldn't be giving up first-round capital to do so. Simons might have a higher salary than Bogdan Bogdanovic, but he is also more equipped to help the Celtics navigate their current situation.
Despite Jayson Tatum being set to miss the majority of next season, the Celtics are still poised to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Simons is someone who can help them do that, as he's shown nice flashes in a featured role with the Blazers. Last season, he averaged just over 19 PPG while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc on high volume.
As someone who isn't afraid to let it fly from beyond the arc, Simons has a chance to thrive in the Celtics' offense. Because of this, Boston should strongly consider keeping him to see if he can emerge as a viable option behind Jaylen Brown and Tatum when he returns from injury.
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