NBA Executive Thinks Boston Celtics Should Keep Anfernee Simons

One NBA executive believes the Boston Celtics should keep Anfernee Simons instead of trading the talented guard.

The Celtics acquired Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday trade. Simons didn’t have an introductory press conference with Boston and multiple NBA rumors have stated that the Celtics are looking to trade the Florida native.

However, Steve Bulpett of Heavy Sports spoke to an NBA executive who doesn’t understand why Boston wants to part ways with Simons.

“I don’t know what the Celtics are thinking, but other than Jaylen Brown, there’s not a better scorer than Simons on that roster,” the NBA executive said. “I mean, they obviously aren’t going to play the same way they played when they had (Kristaps) Porzingis and (Al) Horford and Holiday. Joe Mazzulla’s going to have to completely change the style of play. And Simons… nobody can score like him on that team other than Brown. He’s the second-best scorer, and it’s not even close.”

Simons averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks for the Trail Blazers last season in 70 games. He shot 42.6% from the field, 36.3% from 3 and 90.2% from the free-throw line. 

The 26-year-old Simons will make $27.7 million next season in the final year of his contract. He won the 2021 Slam Dunk Contest.

“I bet you he’s their leading scorer,” the NBA executive said about Simons. “Even with Jaylen. He’s going to have the ball a lot, and that dude can really score. That offense is going to have to change to accommodate him, and, on the last year of his contract, he’s going to let it fly.

“As the kids say, he’s a bucket. He is. That dude is a bucket. He can really fill it up. And remember, he was averaging around 20 in the West. What do you think he’s going to do in the Eastern Conference, which is a LOT less competitive? How’s he not going to score and score big?”

Simons has career averages of 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.1 blocks in the NBA. He was the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.