The Boston Celtics’ grueling schedule caught up with them on the second night of a back-to-back, falling 114-111 to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center – a poignant night honoring Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement. Despite the double-overtime thriller against the Nets 24 hours earlier (ending at 4 a.m. hotel check-in), Anfernee Simons refused to lean on fatigue as an excuse postgame.
“Coming off the double overtime, not getting to the hotel until 4 o’clock in the morning… Having come in here on an emotional night. Those things can play a factor. But, we’re not going to give ourselves any of those types of excuses,” Simons said. “We knew we came here to play a game. Coming here fully expecting to win the game. No matter the cost, no matter what obstacles we had to go through before the game, the night before, it doesn’t even matter. We’ve got to come together and just win a ballgame. And that’s really the attitude that we have.”
Simons’ leadership shone through – his “no excuses” mentality embodies the Celtics’ grit. Boston (now 28-17 after the loss) will look to rebound Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, with Jayson Tatum’s return looming to boost their title push.
Simons Drawing Deadline Interest As the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches, Simons – in the final year of his $100M contract ($27.6M salary) – is generating buzz. ClutchPoints’ Tom Azerly reports the Los Angeles Clippers are among suitors:
“Other players that have been linked to the Clippers over the last several days are Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, and Coby White. All three players are on expiring contracts… The Clippers are in need for another ball-handler and playmaker who could spell James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, so any of those three players could be an upgrade at the guard position for LA.”
Simons has been a trade chip since his offseason arrival (part of Jrue Holiday deal), valued for his scoring (13.9 PPG, 40% 3PT) and bench spark. His expiring deal makes him ideal for salary matching, but recent performances (e.g., 27 points vs. Bulls, all in the second half) may shift the front office’s calculus.
Extension Talks? Mid-Level Deal a Possibility Early-season rumors painted Simons as expendable, but his impact (third in team 3PM made, fourth in scoring/assists) has sparked long-term interest. NBA cap expert Keith Smith (on “Celtics Chronicle” podcast) outlined a potential extension:
“I think Simons’ contract number is gonna come down… I think he’s gonna be more around the mid-level amount. Now, if I’m the Celtics, I’m okay with giving him a little bit more than the mid-level. Just to keep his number a little higher for future trade reasons down the line… So, if they started around $15, $16 million, I don’t have a huge issue with that. Even if they went as high as $20 in year one, and then did it as a descending contract that came down slightly year to year, that would be fine too.”
A mid-level extension ($15-20M starting, descending) keeps Simons as a bench weapon without luxury tax pain, while maintaining trade flexibility. If he continues embodying the “no excuses” ethos, Brad Stevens may prioritize re-signing over dealing.
Celtics’ Dilemma: Trade or Keep the Spark? Simons’ versatility (14.1 PPG off bench, +169 plus-minus) has been crucial amid Tatum’s absence, ranking him fourth in NBA bench scoring (min. 20 games). But with contenders like Clippers needing backcourt help, his value peaks now. Boston’s path: deal for a star (e.g., center upgrade) or lock him in as a cost-effective sixth man?
Celtics Nation – trade Simons for a big splash, or extend and keep the bench fire? Drop your thoughts below!