Anfernee Simons is a great scorer. He’s a player who averaged over 19 points per game in each of his last three seasons in Portland, but he does not fit the Celtics’ needs, especially as an expiring contract.
Simons joined Boston in July when the Celtics traded veteran guard Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers. He’s yet to play in two months’ worth of games, but given the Celtics’ other needs, particularly on defense and at center, Simons is bound to be moved at some point by GM Brad Stevens.
Simons’ Defensive Struggles
The main concern for Celtics fans surrounding Simons was his defense, as he has never had a positive defensive box plus/minus in his first seven seasons in the NBA.
This trend has continued into the 2025-26 season, where the 26-year-old has the lowest rating on the team in that category, with a -1.5.
Simons has continued to score at the same level, this time coming off the bench, where, for his per 36 minutes, he is averaging over 20 points per game.
That play style can fit with many teams, but not when the Celtics get back Jayson Tatum from his Achilles injury.
Celtics’ Desperation for a Center
The biggest weak point of Boston’s roster has been its center position.
After playing just 13 total minutes in the 2025 playoffs, Neemias Queta has become the Celtics’ starting center after Boston shipped out Kristaps Porzingis and lost Al Horford in free agency.
Queta has not been awful, averaging 10 points and eight rebounds a game. His backups, Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman, have been decent, but a rotation of those three big men is not good enough for a contending team like Boston.
This stat proves that notion: the Celtics have the second-worst defensive rebound percentage in the league at 71.4%.
Queta has a $2.6 million team option for next season, but with Boston currently $30 million under the first apron, the Celtics will most likely make a move for another center.
Trade Finder Ideas for Simons
With that, NBA fans have begun to create mocks where the Celtics trade Simons for a center.
The two most popular players in those exchanges have been the Clippers‘ Ivica Zubac and the Nets’ Nicolas Claxton.
Zubac and Claxton would be ideal fits in Beantown with contracts that also run to the end of the 2028 season.
It isn’t that easy, though, with Simons having a $27 million expiring contract.
With the former first-rounder set to hit free agency in the summer of 2026, it is more than likely the Celtics won’t have him on next year’s roster even if he isn’t shipped before February’s trade deadline.
It is still too early to tell if Boston will be a championship contender for the 2026 playoffs as they await the return of Tatum, but they will aim to be next season.
This puts the team in a position with Anfernee Simons where it is crucial to trade him for a center that can be a vital piece on the roster for years to come.
Nearly anything will be better than not moving the struggling defensive guard and letting him walk in free agency for nothing.
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