In a surprising turn of events that has Boston buzzing, former Celtics guard Anfernee Simons has hinted at a possible return to the team following his recent trade to the Chicago Bulls. The 26-year-old, who had been a vital bench contributor for Joe Mazzulla’s squad, was dealt at the deadline in a move that brought veteran center Nikola Vucevic to Boston.
Simons, a career starter prior to joining the Celtics, embraced his sixth-man role this season, sacrificing personal stats to bolster the team’s Eastern Conference contention. However, salary cap constraints forced Boston’s hand, leading to the trade as Simons entered the final year of his contract. The deal not only eased the Celtics’ luxury tax burden but also shored up their frontcourt, positioning them for a legitimate championship run in 2025-26.
Now with the Bulls—a team lacking clear direction and playoff prospects—Simons is set to finish the season before hitting unrestricted free agency. But in a post-game interview after Chicago’s 124-105 loss to Boston on Wednesday night, Simons didn’t shy away from expressing fondness for his former team.
“For sure. Obviously got to finish our season here first and then see what happens there. But, you know, for sure down the line,” Simons told reporters, via CLNS Media. “Like I said, I enjoyed my time here and built great relationships here. And so, yeah, I see it for sure.”
The comments come amid Simons’ underwhelming return to TD Garden, where he managed just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting in 28 minutes. Since the trade, he’s started all four games for the Bulls, but his future remains up in the air.
With a relatively weak free-agent class this offseason, Simons stands out as a prime young talent in the backcourt. Yet, limited cap space across the league could restrict his options for a lucrative long-term deal. This scenario makes a reunion with Boston on a team-friendly contract increasingly plausible, especially given his proven fit and the organization’s high regard for him.
As the offseason approaches, all eyes will be on the interest Simons draws league-wide—and whether the pull of unfinished business in Beantown proves too strong to ignore. Stay tuned for more developments on this potential Celtics comeback story.