The revised trade between the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, a one-for-one swap of Anfernee Simons and Jrue Holiday, has been finalized. Celtics president of basketball operations and de facto general manager Brad Stevens recently had high praise (via Bobby Krivitsky) for their newly acquired combo guard.
"I think that he's a guy that can really score the ball. I think he's one of the best shooters in the league. He's one of the best tough-shot makers in the league. Just a really good player," Stevens said.
Blazers fans know Anfernee Simons' offensive talent all too well
As the No. 24 overall selection in 2018 and someone who forwent college, Simons' career was off to a slow start in Rip City. That negatively skewed his career averages, but the numbers remain impressive: 15.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds on 43/38/88 shooting splits.
Portland's gamble on the undersized guard out of IMG Academy paid off as Simons improved in multiple aspects, particularly on the offensive end. Stevens' recent quote shows how much Simons has developed during his time in Portland. He became a legitimate combo guard capable of creating shots for himself and teammates through his ballhandling, crafty finishes, and stepback jumpers; essentially everything Portland had the pleasure of watching with Damian Lillard, they got to see again with Simons to a lesser extent.
He's just entering his prime at 26 years old and has the potential to take his game to yet another level in a more stable environment. Simons endured a lot during his seven years in Portland -- from contending to tanking, front office and roster overhauls, and a complete change in their style of play.
Despite his fit on offense, the Celtics would be wise to flip Simons
He'd do well in the Celtics' championship culture. Not just in terms of their consistency from top to bottom as an organization, but also in how head coach Joe Mazzulla prefers to play. Last season, the Celtics led the league in three-point attempts per game (17.8) by a significant margin, perfect for Simons' skillset as "one of the best shooters in the league."
However, the looming question is, will Simons actually stay in Boston?
NBA insider Jake Fischer recently reported that the Celtics aren't actively calling around the league to find a trade for Simons but are also "actively open to moving him."
That sounds familiar to Blazers general manager Joe Cronin's approach to a trade for Simons, with trade speculation dragging on for years. But with Simons' contract set to expire after the 2025-26 season, the Celtics are now forced to have more urgency.
While Simons is one of the league's best shooters and would fit in perfectly on offense, Boston, like Portland, is also a team that prides itself on the defensive end. Although getting Jrue Holiday in return remains puzzling, Cronin ultimately made the right decision to trade Simons. Despite his offensive talent, Simons' defensive liability is too significant to overlook, given his looming contract extension.
Stevens is spot on about what Simons brings to the table on offense, but time will tell whether he comes to the same conclusion as Cronin.