In a stunning twist that’s shaking up the NBA landscape, Anfernee Simons—the 6-foot-3, 181-pound scoring guard who just lit up the bench with a team-high performance in the Boston Celtics’ thrilling 103-95 comeback victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night—finds himself at the center of trade rumors while also being eyed for a potential stay through the February 5 NBA trade deadline.
According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, the Celtics “could very well elect to keep Simons” amid their roster deliberations, but president of basketball operations Brad Stevens is aggressively pursuing trades to slash the team’s hefty tax bill—a strategy he’s employed since acquiring Simons in exchange for Jrue Holiday back in June.
“I do suspect, though, that if Boston could somehow move Simons for a rotational upgrade and lower their tax bill in the process—or get out of that penalty zone altogether—that would check all of the boxes Brad Stevens’ front office could conjure up,” Fischer revealed.
Anfernee Simons’ Future Hangs in the Balance Until January
The Celtics are operating on a razor-thin timeline, fully aware that their championship window is narrowing. With multiple players, including Simons, on expiring deals, the pressure is mounting. What sets Simons apart is his precarious position: he’s the least likely to return next season due to the steep free-agent price tag he’d command.
Simons doesn’t perfectly align with head coach Joe Mazzulla’s defensive-minded system, often earning minutes more as a showcase piece from the front office than a core fit. Yet, if his explosive, one-dimensional scoring can propel the team to victories, he’ll earn his spot in the rotation through the playoffs.
Even though Boston sealed the Pacers win without a single point from Simons in the fourth quarter—where they dominated 29-13—his nine-point burst in the third quarter was pivotal in sparking the rally. As a floor-spacer and self-creator, Simons adds a dynamic edge, perfectly complementing the gritty contributions from Jordan Walsh, Josh Minott, and Hugo Gonzalez. In his role as a go-to bench scorer, he’s a reliable option should Derrick White or Payton Pritchard go down.
Ultimately, the bombshell decision won’t drop until January. If Simons proves himself as an irreplaceable asset in driving wins, he’ll stick with the squad. But if the Celtics stumble and slip from playoff contention by the deadline, expect a cold, calculated business move: trading Simons to duck under the tax threshold and reset the financial clock.