The Boston Celtics’ purpose this offseason was to shed the dreaded second apron. Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles within the playoffs solely accelerated that course of. Boston now has extra monetary flexibility after buying and selling away Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford and strolling away from free company.
Within the Vacation commerce, the Celtics acquired guard Anfernee Simons from the Portland Path Blazers. Simons is on an expiring $27 million deal, and with Boston not providing him an extension earlier than the season, it feels that his future with the group is evident.
Anfernee Simons could not final the total season with the Celtics
As quickly because the Vacation commerce was made official, Simons discovered himself in commerce rumors. Boston has reportedly been trying to flip Simons, however wouldn’t thoughts him being on the roster when opening night time hits in October.
Simons is a advantageous offensive piece. He has hovered round 20 factors per recreation, 5 assists, and 38 % taking pictures from three. With Tatum set to overlook most of subsequent season, Boston goes to want a number of gamers to shoulder the load, and make up for the misplaced touches.
The issue is that Simons’ skillset could be very redundant with Payton Pritchard’s. Pritchard is about to have an enormous on-ball function this 12 months alongside Jaylen Brown and is trying to construct off of a career-best marketing campaign that noticed him win Sixth Man of the 12 months.
Simons and Pritchard will nearly by no means have the ability to share the court docket collectively as a result of they’re each detrimental defenders. It wouldn’t be stunning to see head coach Joe Mazzulla experiment with small ball and have all three of Simons, Pritchard, and Derrick White on the court docket, however the match simply would not work.
Buying and selling Simons for a greater roster match is the path to go
It doesn’t make sense to pay Simons $27 million to return off the bench. He comes off the books both method, however buying and selling him for a greater frontcourt match can be within the Celtics’ finest curiosity. Their guard depth led by Pritchard, and White is about.
Now, they should shore up their middle and ahead rotation, and buying and selling away Simons can be the way in which to perform that.
The East is wide-open this 12 months, and it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not or not Boston will go for a playoff spot, or take a spot 12 months within the gentle of Tatum’s damage. Both method although, plainly Simons days within the inexperienced, and white are numbered.
