The Boston Celtics, fresh off their 2024 NBA championship, made waves this offseason by acquiring Anfernee Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland, per ClutchPoints (July 10, 2025). However, with Simons in the final year of his $27.6 million contract and the Celtics teetering on the second luxury tax apron, GM Brad Stevens is reportedly exploring trade options to shed salary and bolster depth, per The Hoops Collective (July 9, 2025). A proposed deal with the Washington Wizards for Corey Kispert, Richaun Holmes, and two second-round picks aims to address these needs, while a potential reunion with Marcus Smart adds intrigue, per X posts (July 8, 2025). As Boston balances financial constraints and championship aspirations, will they trade Simons or keep him alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? Share your thoughts on X: should the Celtics trade Simons or build around him?
Simons’ Arrival and the Luxury Tax Challenge
The Celtics’ trade for Anfernee Simons, part of a blockbuster deal sending Jrue Holiday to Portland, added a dynamic scorer to their roster. Simons, 26, averaged 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds in 2024-25, shooting 38.5% from three, per ESPN (June 30, 2025). His offensive fit in Joe Mazzulla’s pace-and-space system is undeniable, with his 4.1 three-pointers made per game ranking among the league’s elite, per NBA.com. However, his $27.6 million expiring contract pushes Boston into the second luxury tax apron, triggering strict CBA restrictions, including 1-for-1 salary matching and limited trade flexibility, per Spotrac (July 7, 2025).
Boston’s offseason saw significant turnover, with Kristaps Porzingis traded to Oklahoma City, Luke Kornet lost to free agency, and Al Horford’s potential retirement looming, per Boston Globe (July 5, 2025). These moves left the Celtics thin at center and over the second apron ($188.9 million), with a projected $45 million tax penalty, per Spotrac. @CelticsBlog on X noted, “Stevens is in a tough spot. Simons is a stud, but the tax bill is brutal” (July 10, 2025). Brian Windhorst reported on The Hoops Collective that the Celtics are “actively” shopping Simons, suggesting his defensive limitations (1.4 defensive win shares) and high salary may not align with their long-term goals of developing talent around Tatum and Brown, per ESPN (July 9, 2025).
Proposed Wizards Trade: Kispert and Holmes for Simons
ClutchPoints’ Bailey Bassett proposed a trade to help Boston duck the second apron while adding depth: Simons to the Wizards for Corey Kispert, Richaun Holmes, and two second-round picks, per ClutchPoints (July 10, 2025). Kispert, 25, signed a four-year, $54 million extension and will earn $13.97 million in 2025-26, while Holmes, 31, is set for $13.28 million over two years, per Spotrac. The combined $27.25 million incoming salary matches Simons’ $27.6 million, satisfying second-apron rules, and reduces Boston’s tax burden by roughly $10 million, per CBS Sports (July 10, 2025).
Kispert, a career 38.8% three-point shooter, averaged 13.4 points in 2024-25, with 2.3 threes per game, making him a floor-spacing wing to complement Tatum and Brown, per NBA.com. Holmes, a rim-running center, averaged 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 17.5 minutes for Washington, offering depth behind Neemias Queta, per ESPN. Bassett argues Holmes addresses Boston’s thin center rotation, while Kispert’s shooting (41.3% from three in 2024-25) enhances their offense, per ClutchPoints. @NBA_University on X praised Kispert’s fit: “His catch-and-shoot game is perfect for Boston’s system” (July 10, 2025). However, losing Simons’ playmaking and shot-creation could limit Boston’s ceiling, especially in playoff matchups against teams like Philadelphia, per The Athletic (July 11, 2025).
Marcus Smart Reunion: A Defensive Boost?
Jake Weinbach reported on X that the Wizards, with 17 players on their roster, may offload veterans like Marcus Smart, who could reunite with Boston, per X posts (July 8, 2025). Smart, traded to Memphis in 2023, was acquired by Washington in a June 2025 deal, per ESPN (June 29, 2025). The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 14.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.5 steals in 2024-25, per NBA.com. His $20.2 million salary could fit a separate trade, but second-apron restrictions complicate matters, requiring salary matching or a multi-team deal, per Spotrac.
Smart’s tenacity and leadership would bolster Boston’s second unit, especially after losing Holiday’s defensive prowess, per Boston Globe (July 5, 2025). @CelticsNation on X tweeted, “Smart back in green? The Garden would erupt!” (July 8, 2025). However, his 32.3% three-point shooting and ball-dominant style may clash with Mazzulla’s system, which prioritizes spacing, per The Athletic. A reunion would also require sacrificing assets, potentially draft picks or players like Payton Pritchard, who averaged 9.6 points and shot 38.5% from three, per ESPN. @NoaDalzell on X cautioned, “Love Smart, but his fit next to Brown and Tatum is tricky” (July 9, 2025).
Strategic Implications: Simons vs. Depth
Simons’ fit in Boston’s offense is ideal. His 5.5 assists and 38.5% three-point shooting complement Tatum (26.9 points) and Brown (23.0 points), per NBA.com. In a March 2025 game against Denver, Simons dropped 34 points and 7 assists, showcasing his ability to carry the offense, per ESPN (March 15, 2025). However, his defensive rating (115.2) ranks in the bottom 20% of guards, and his $27.6 million expiring contract poses a re-signing dilemma, with projections of a $30 million annual deal, per Spotrac. @JaredWeissNBA on X noted, “Simons is a scoring machine, but his defense and cost don’t scream ‘Celtics core’” (July 10, 2025).
The Wizards trade offers balance. Kispert’s long-term contract and elite shooting provide stability, while Holmes fills a critical need at center, where Boston’s depth includes only Queta and rookie Baylor Scheierman, per Boston Globe. The two second-round picks (2026 and 2028) replenish Boston’s depleted draft capital, per CBS Sports. However, trading Simons risks losing a primary creator, forcing Derrick White (15.2 points, 5.2 assists) to shoulder more playmaking, per NBA.com. The Smart reunion, while emotionally appealing, may not align with Boston’s spacing needs, and his $20.2 million salary complicates matching without moving a key piece, per Spotrac.
Fan Sentiment and Market Dynamics
Celtics fans are split. @CelticsCentral on X supports keeping Simons: “He’s a perfect fit next to Tatum and Brown. Don’t trade him!” (July 9, 2025). Others, like @GreenRunsDeep, favor the Wizards deal: “Kispert’s shooting and Holmes’ rebounding make us deeper. Plus, we save cash” (July 10, 2025). A Boston Globe poll showed 55% of fans prefer trading Simons to avoid the second apron, per (July 11, 2025). The NBA’s competitive landscape, with Milwaukee and Philadelphia loading up, demands depth, but Boston’s 64-18 record in 2024-25 proves their core’s strength, per ESPN.
The trade market adds urgency. Washington’s roster crunch makes Kispert and Holmes available, but their interest in Simons, a D.C. native, aligns with their rebuild around Jordan Poole, per The Athletic (July 10, 2025). Smart’s availability depends on Washington prioritizing youth, per X posts. Boston’s $195 million payroll, second-highest in the NBA, forces Stevens to prioritize financial flexibility, per Spotrac. @NBAonTNT on X noted, “Celtics can’t afford to stay in the second apron forever. Simons might be the odd man out” (July 9, 2025).
Conclusion
The Boston Celtics’ acquisition of Anfernee Simons adds a dynamic scorer, but his $27.6 million contract and the second luxury tax apron have Brad Stevens exploring trades, per ClutchPoints (July 10, 2025). A proposed deal for Corey Kispert, Richaun Holmes, and two second-round picks offers depth and financial relief, while a Marcus Smart reunion tantalizes fans. As Boston balances championship aspirations with roster and salary constraints, trading Simons could solidify their depth but risks losing a star. Will the Celtics keep Simons or reshape their roster? Share your take on X: should Boston trade Simons or build around him?