Two Teams Chased Celtics’ Anfernee Simons This Summer, Says NBA Insider
Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons remains with the team despite ongoing trade rumors that have circulated since his acquisition nearly five months ago. According to NBA insider Michael Scotto from El-Balad, discussions regarding trades involving Simons took place between the Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets over the summer. However, none of these scenarios were finalized. The Milwaukee Bucks also expressed interest in monitoring Simons’ situation.
Current Performance of Anfernee Simons
Throughout the ongoing season, Simons has participated in all 17 of the Celtics’ games. He is coming off the bench and is currently averaging:
- 14.4 points per game
- 2.6 assists per game
- 2.4 rebounds per game
- 24.9 minutes per game
While these statistics are lower than his previous five-year averages, he is enjoying a career-best shooting percentage of 44.8% from the field and 41.1% from three-point range.
Potential Trade Dynamics
Simons’ name continues to surface in trade discussions, primarily due to his expiring contract valued at $27.68 million. As per Scotto’s insights, the Celtics aren’t actively pursuing trades to alleviate their luxury tax bill but are open to a suitable offer. The franchise could potentially lower its tax burden by trading Simons or by offloading other players like Sam Hauser.
Despite the speculative trade environment surrounding him, Simons has maintained strong performance on the court, unaffected by the rumors. The Celtics, however, are reluctant to pair a first-round pick with Simons’ contract in any potential trade negotiations.
