The Boston Celtics are playing a high-stakes game of chess with their roster, and their latest move could be a game-changer. After skillfully dodging the NBA’s punishing second apron by trading away stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and parting ways with key role players like Luke Kornet—and likely soon, Al Horford—the Celtics are now eyeing their next big play. With star forward Jayson Tatum sidelined for the season due to a devastating Achilles tendon tear, Boston is in a race against time to rebuild a contender while managing a bloated payroll from their 2024 NBA championship run.
Team president Brad Stevens, known for his calculated roster maneuvers, is now focusing on creating as much financial and roster flexibility as possible. The Celtics’ latest salary-shedding move came this week when they shipped forward Georges Niang, owed $8.2 million for the 2025-26 season, to the Utah Jazz in a deal that was part of the Porzingis trade fallout. But the real buzz around the league centers on a far bigger prize: Anfernee Simons, the dynamic 26-year-old scorer acquired in the Holiday trade with Portland.
Simons, in the final year of a four-year, $100 million contract, is reportedly still on the trade block, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Writing in The Stein Line Substack on Sunday, Fischer noted, “The Celtics discussed trading Niang with various teams around the league, sources say, in their continued salary-shaving campaign following the luxury-tax-slashing trades that shipped out Jrue Holiday and Porzingis. The expectation persists, furthermore, that Boston will continue to invite trade discussion involving Anfernee Simons from now through next season’s trade deadline on Feb. 5 at 3 PM ET.”
Simons is no small asset. Last season in Portland, he averaged an impressive 19.3 points per game, though his 3-point shooting dipped to 36.3%. However, as a career 38.1% shooter from beyond the arc, the young guard is poised for a bounce-back year. If Simons can rediscover his sharpshooting form, his market value could skyrocket, making him a tantalizing trade chip for a Celtics team desperate to retool around their depleted core.
Boston’s strategy is clear: shed salary, stay competitive, and position themselves for a blockbuster move before the February trade deadline. With Simons as their centerpiece, the Celtics are betting on his youth, scoring prowess, and potential to either anchor their rebuild or fetch a haul of assets in a trade. It’s a $100 million gamble that could either spark a new era of Celtics dominance or reshape the franchise’s future entirely. One thing’s for sure—Brad Stevens isn’t done making waves in the NBA.