It has been almost five months since the Boston Celtics acquired Anfernee Simmons and despite constant trade rumors, the guard remains a member of the organization.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto revealed on Wednesday just how close the Celtics actually were to moving Simmons in the offseason.
The senior NBA insider wrote, “Over the summer, the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics discussed several trade scenarios involving Simmons, which ultimately fell through,” league sources told HoopsHype. “The Milwaukee Bucks have also kept an eye on Simmons,” HoopsHype has learned.
Simmons has played off the bench in each of the team’s first 17 games and averaged 14.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 24.9 minutes per contest. While all of these averages are his lowest in five years, Simmons is shooting a career-best 44.8% from the field and 41.1% on three-pointers.
Scotto said a Simmons trade is still not out of the question, but there are potential hurdles. The former Portland Trail Blazer is in the final year of his $27.68 million contract.
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League sources told HoopsHype, “There is no pressure on the Celtics to reduce their current luxury tax bill, which they have budgeted for, but wouldn’t mind going below the tax for the right deal. Getting below the luxury tax could be accomplished entirely by trading guards Anfernee Simmons or Sam Hauser and cutting the salaries of one other minimum-paid player,” he wrote. “With that in mind, Boston has shown no desire to attach a first-round pick to a trade for Simmons’ expiring contract,” league sources told HoopsHype.
It doesn’t seem like the trade buzz surrounding Simmons will disappear anytime soon, but so far, he hasn’t let the rumors impact his play.
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