The Portland Trail Blazers swapped Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday with the Boston Celtics this offseason. Holiday is already justifying the Blazers' decision to trade for him, proving he has plenty of gas left in the tank at 35 years old. Meanwhile, Simons future in Boston remains in flux.
The Celtics have been trying to move Simons, and it would make sense for them to find a trade partner before February's deadline due to his expiring contract. They offloaded Holiday in order to duck the second apron and don't want to put themselves back in a similar situation to keep Simons around, especially since his limitations on the defensive end don't fit Joe Mazzulla's brand of basketball (despite the fit in his three-point-heavy offense).
Celtics must move Anfernee Simons by February's trade deadline
Instead of letting him walk for nothing in free agency, expect Boston to proactively move Simons by February in order to get something in return. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints previously noted that the Celtics are looking to trade Simons to help bolster their depth.
"Aside from remaining competitive and finding ways to further cut their overall tax bill, Boston wants to maintain financial flexibility. Simons is in the final year of his contract and making $27.6 million, giving the Celtics a large buffer to work with and potentially add depth to their roster during the upcoming season," Siegel wrote.
What those depth pieces or particular teams look like remains to be seen. It's also easier said than done, as there's a reason Simons remains on the Celtics roster despite their eagerness to flip him.
He's embraced his sixth man role in Boston, averaging 14.8 points, 1.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds on 47/42/83 shooting splits. Still, that's a significant downgrade for Simons, considering he hovered around 20 points and five assists his final three seasons in Portland. Boston isn't utilizing him as much as a playmaker, which is diminishing his offensive value. Combined with his defensive limitations, which are seemingly unfixable, it makes sense why the Celtics are reportedly seeking to trade Simons for depth pieces before they let him walk for nothing or overpay to keep a one-dimensional guard.
Boston's hand may even be forced if they aren't able to find an ideal trade by February, potentially making them settle for the best available package. Comparing how this situation in Boston is playing out to Holiday's hot start in Portland, it's already become apparent that the Blazers got the better end of this once-polarizing deal.