The Celtics are looking to move Anfernee Simons just months after acquiring him from Portland. Several contenders are already lining up with interest in the 26-year-old sharpshooter.
Boston swapped two-time NBA champion Jrue Holiday for Simons in a deal with the Trail Blazers earlier this offseason. The move was primarily about cutting costs, and now it seems the Celtics aren’t planning to keep Simons around for long.
NBA insider Sam Amico recently reported that the Milwaukee Bucks have serious interest in bringing Simons to Wisconsin. After trading away Damian Lillard this summer, the Bucks desperately need another scorer to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
It’s easy to see why teams are interested.
Simons has averaged exactly 21.0 points per game over the last three seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s most reliable young scorers.
The Bucks aren’t alone in their pursuit. Both the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets have also been linked to Simons, according to Amico.
Simons’ journey to this point has been impressive. Portland selected him with the 24th pick in the 2018 draft straight out of IMG Academy. He spent seven seasons with the Blazers, appearing in 389 games and starting 213 of them.
Last season was particularly strong for Simons. He started 70 games for Portland, averaging 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per contest.
Money is likely driving Boston’s decision to shop him. Simons is due $27 million next season and will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 campaign. The Celtics may not want to commit that kind of money long-term.
Philadelphia would be an interesting landing spot, though they already have solid depth in their backcourt. It’s not entirely clear where Simons would fit in their rotation.
Denver might use him as a sixth man, providing scoring punch off the bench for a team that’s always in the championship conversation.
Where do you think Simons will end up playing when the new season tips off? The clock is ticking as teams finalize their rosters for what promises to be an exciting 2025-26 campaign.
