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Anfernee Simons has been in trade rumors ever since he was acquired by the Celtics over the summer. But the team has held onto their guard with Simons on an expiring $27.7 million contract. Simons has also been playing great basketball of late, making it unclear if the team will move him ahead of February’s trade deadline.
Simons’ price is also starting to become clear, per HoopHype’s Michael Scotto, as the Celtics have been “unwilling” to attach a first-round pick to move Simons. The Nets and Bucks have been linked to Simons in the past. Scotto reports the Celtics are alright staying above the luxury tax, though they wouldn’t mind saving money if the right trade presents itself. Notably, it sounds like the C’s don’t want to take on a player with future money and years attached to him.
The Celtics are in an interesting spot as they’ve exceeded expectations nearing the midway point of the season. The C’s are 23-12, good for second in the East, as they’ve won eight of their last nine games. Simons has been an important piece of the equation, averaging 13.5 points per game off the bench.
Of course, there’s also the Jayson Tatum factor, as well. It’s unclear when the C’s star will return to the court from his Achilles rehab. But if Tatum returns to this team that’s playing great basketball, there’s a case to be made that a small upgrade could bolster Boston’s roster. A trade for a reliable backup big man, for example, wouldn’t cost a ton of assets but would round out the Celtics as a whole.
It’ll be interesting to see how the C’s operate ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. They could go a number of paths. The season isn’t half over yet, but it’s increasingly clear this version of the Celtics can make noise in a wide-open East.