After clinching the 2024 NBA title, the Boston Celtics entered the 2025 offseason with sweeping changes. Key veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were traded as the team pivoted toward a new era one marked by roster flexibility and financial restructuring. Among the new additions was Anfernee Simons, acquired as part of those deals. Now, his future in Boston is already the subject of speculation, but the Celtics appear to be in no hurry to move on from him.
A Time of Transition in Boston
It’s been a season of major change for the Celtics, both on and off the court. Alongside a shifting roster around Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and the injured Jayson Tatum, ownership officially changed hands from Wyc Grousbeck to Bill Chisholm.
With Tatum expected to miss most if not all of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from an Achilles injury, the front office, led by Brad Stevens, prioritized getting under the luxury tax thresholds. This led to the exits of Porzingis, Holiday, and Georges Niang, and signaled a shift toward cost-cutting and long-term planning.
Despite being acquired in June, Simons’ name has already emerged in trade rumors, largely because Boston remains $4 million over the first tax apron and $12 million into the luxury tax. From a financial standpoint, flipping his $27.6 million expiring contract could help ease that burden. But the Celtics see more to his value than just salary relief.
Why Simons Still Fits For Now
At 26, Simons is entering his prime and offers exactly the kind of offensive skill set head coach Joe Mazzulla has emphasized: three-point shooting and offensive versatility. Last season in Portland, he averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game while hitting 36.3% of his threes knocking down 215 triples in 70 games. That total would’ve ranked fourth on last year’s Celtics squad behind only Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard.
With Tatum out, the Celtics aren’t tanking but they aren’t top-tier contenders either. Instead, this season will serve as a developmental period. It’s an opportunity for players like Simons, Pritchard, and Sam Hauser to step into bigger roles and prove their value.
For Simons, it’s a chance to thrive in a reduced-pressure environment. No longer needing to carry the scoring load like he did in Portland, he could flourish as a third or fourth option, especially in a system that prioritizes perimeter shooting.
A Strategic Wait-and-See Approach
Though trade talks around Simons have persisted, Boston is taking a patient approach. League sources indicate the Celtics have quietly gauged interest in Simons from teams that were previously interested but no deal is imminent. With his contract expiring in 2026, there’s little urgency to move him unless a truly impactful offer comes along.
Keeping him to start the season lets Boston evaluate how well he fits in their system and gives them time to monitor how his market develops. Injuries and changing team needs around the league could drive up his value by the February trade deadline. If Simons excels in a larger role and boosts his efficiency from deep, he could become a highly sought-after asset.
And if things go well, the Celtics could consider re-signing him next summer to a more team-friendly deal. In that case, Boston would not only have preserved flexibility, but possibly uncovered a long-term contributor.
The Bottom Line
The Celtics’ primary reason for not trading Simons right now is simple: his upside outweighs the urgency to cut costs. With his scoring talent, shooting ability, and age, Simons is the kind of player who could either boost the team’s success this season or become a valuable trade chip closer to the deadline.
Boston made the Holiday-for-Simons trade with optionality in mind and so far, that strategy is paying off. They’re not committed long-term, but they’re open to the possibility that Simons could be more than just a temporary placeholder.
In a season of transition, he’s a low-risk, high-reward piece and that’s worth holding onto, at least for now.
