Celtics ‘Still Trying’ to Make Anfernee Simons Trade: NBA Exec

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 09: Anfernee Simons #4 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic in the first half at Kia Center on November 09, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

One Western Conference executive offered a reminder last week of an age-old trade deadline axiom. If you start hearing, especially weeks before the deadline comes around, that a team might be looking to keep a player it had previously been shopping, then it usually means one thing: “There’s no market for the guy.” And when it comes to Celtics guard Anfernee Simons, that axiom applies.

“They’ve been trying to find a market for (Simons) for a few months now, and it is not there,” the executive said. “They’re still trying.”

On the surface, of course, there is not much driving the Celtics to trade Simons. He has carved out a useful role as a bench scorer, after having started in his last three seasons in Portland. Simons is averaging 13.3 points on 43.1% shooting and 36.9% 3-point shooting.

But he is also on the books for $27.7 million in the final year of his contract, and as the Celtics seek to trim more than $12 million off their books to sneak under the luxury-tax threshold this year–ridding themselves, for now, of the stiff penalties of the dreaded repeater tax–finding a taker for Simons is their easiest path to that relief.

Celtics Lacking Options on Anfernee Simons Trade

For the Celtics, persuading the Nets to take on Simons’ contract while sending back some combination of Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams would allow Boston to slide under the threshold. But the Nets have about $15 million worth of cap space, and are not eager to spend it on Simons, or to help the Celtics.

The Celtics would need to add draft picks to the deal to get the Nets to take it. A 2026 first-round pick is a steep price to pay for tax relief, and ultimately, if the Celtics try to trade Simons, they will need to weigh how much their draft capital is worth relative to cap flexibility going forward.

The bigger problem is that, even with the contributions Simons has made, there’s just no market for the guy. He is a free agent after this season, which means anybody who would trade for Simons now could just sign him in a few months. Make no mistake, the Celtics want to trade Simons. But they can’t, not unless there is a taker. There isn’t one yet.

“I think a lot of teams would like to sign him,” the executive said. “But they do not want him at that price and they can just wait it out. The Celtics are trying but the market is not there.”

Anfernee Simons Handling Role Well

That means that the more likely Celtics move is one involving forward Sam Hauser, who is a top-notch shooter on a reasonable (four years, $40 million) contract. The Celtics would need to add another contract to Hauser’s to get fully under the tax.

And, in the meantime, they could well finish the year with Simons on board. Team president Brad Stevens said last week that he appreciates Simons’ approach, even as Simons knows he’s been on the block.

“I think he’s really trying,” Stevens said. “First of all, he’s a quiet guy, but just a super person. And so he’s really come in with a great mindset of, I’m going to help the team any way I can. And offensively, he knows he’s capable of going nuts on any given game, right? But then defensively, I’ve just been really impressed, like he’s picked up, he’s made it hard. I think he’s made great strides in the months he’s been here, on that end. And I’m a big fan. I like him a lot.”

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney