Anfernee Simons Could Begin Next NBA Season on Boston Celtics Despite Being in Trade Rumors

Anfernee Simons could begin the 2025-26 NBA season on the Boston Celtics despite being in trade rumors.

The Celtics, who acquired Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday deal, have shopped the 26-year-old since acquiring him, but no deal has taken place yet.

“You never know, but the team they have now is probably the team they’ll start the year with,” one NBA general manager told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports. “They could get themselves involved in some blockbuster. But they’re not in a hurry to make that move (on Simons).

“He is going to a team with a different coaching staff, a different front office, a whole different system of teaching. Sometimes a situation changes and the light bulb goes on for a guy. That could be the case with him (Simons). He is still a young guy, and if he is willing to learn, he could come out a better player. So you wait to trade him to see if that happens.”

Anfernee Simons will make $27.7 million next season in the final year of his contract. The athletic scoring guard averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Trail Blazers last season, shooting 42.6% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 90.2% from the free-throw line in 70 games.

The Celtics didn’t hold an introductory press conference for Simons, who has career averages of 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the NBA. That should tell you how the franchise views him.

Boston lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in six games. Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 4. He could miss all of next season, although he is out of his walking boot.

To save money, the Celtics traded Holiday to the Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason.