The Boston Celtics entered this season with more questions than answers. Losing Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday was a massive blow, and not having Jayson Tatum because of an injury didn't do much to help.
Acquiring Anfernee Simons was a bit of a sweetener, but he was always expected to be trade bait to round up the roster. So far, he's looked like a seamless fit on the offense, and he should only get more playing time going forward, especially if it helps the Celtics capitalize on any potential trade value he might have before February's deadline.
December Is Perfect Time for Celtics to Showcase Anfernee Simons
Dec. 15 marks the unofficial start of trade season in the NBA. That's when the players who signed a new contract in the offseason are first eligible to be traded, and with several teams already knowing whether they can make a playoff run or have to think about the NBA draft, a lot of opportunities might open up for general manager Brad Stevens and the Celtics.
Simmons, 26, is on an expiring contract with a $27.6 million cap hit, per Spotrac, making him an affordable guard for contending teams that want to bolster their backcourt. Even though he isn't guaranteed to sign with any potential trade partner he joins, he might be open to a long-term extension if said team can offer him better long-term job security than the Celtics.
With that in mind, head coach Joe Mazzulla needs to make sure to give Simons as much exposure as possible, starting in December. He's currently fourth on the team with 24.0 minutes a night, but he should be getting closer to 30 minutes per game for the next couple of weeks.
Simons has been solid from all three levels, despite playing all 21 games off the bench, averaging 13.6 points per game on .452/.402/.848 shooting splits and 2.6 assists. Those numbers pump up to 28.4 points and 5.4 dimes per contest per 100 possessions minutes. Everybody knows he can put up points in a hurry, and if he can excel as a starter in the same way he's having bench success, Simons might be one of the most valuable trade chips in the league.
The Celtics clearly need an upgrade at center, and it wouldn't hurt to add another 3-and-D wing. Using Simons' expiring contract as a means to achieve those goals is a no-brainer, especially since his salary is high enough to land an impact player.
In the worst-case scenario, the Celtics will only get another scoring threat on the floor more often, and while adjusting rotations is always challenging, Simons has been used to playing starter minutes for years now, and he could be a part of their closing lineup in most matchups. There's no reason not to see what he can do, especially when it's December, and he's yet to be in the starting lineup.
There's literally no downside to bumping his minutes. Simons can either have some big scoring games to drive his trade value up, especially when all signs point to an offseason exit if he stays. Getting any return is better than letting him walk for free, giving the Celtics every reason to put him under the spotlight sooner rather than later.