Brian Windhorst says teams are telling him the Boston Celtics plan to trade away $27.7 million player

Boston Celtics expected to trade Anfernee Simons

Simons is in the last year of his contract and will make $27.7 million this season. Between Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White, the Celtics can’t really afford to pay another ball-dominant perimeter player a massive salary, so he is expected to leave next summer in free agency, unless he can be traded before that.

Simons was brought to Boston in the cost-cutting move that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, and while the Celtics seemed excited to have him, his long-term fit is questionable at best.

“Anfernee is a really good young player who has continuously improved in his seven years in the NBA,” said Brad Stevens after the trade

“Good young players” tend to command significant value on the trade market, and his expiring contract makes him easy to flip.

“I have talked to other teams who have said the Celtics are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Simons is a valuable trade piece

With only one season left on his contract, Simons is easy to move. A rebuilding team like the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, or Washington Wizards might be enticed to take his salary, as well as some draft capital, in exchange for lesser deals, allowing Boston to save some money.

Players like Marcus Smart, Jusuf Nurkic, and perhaps even Josh Green would balance the books enough for a trade, while allowing Boston to save a few million dollars.

Even if Simons balls out in Boston and keeps the Celtics’ playoff hopes alive, it’s hard to imagine him being long for Bean Town. He does fit their timeline to a degree, but his skillset is redundant, and the Celtics will spend next offseason looking for a center to replace Porzingis and Horford.

Isaiah Hartenstein and Robert Williams II might be free agents in 2026, so expect Boston to throw money their way instead of making an effort to keep Simons.