The Boston Celtics continue their busy offseason this week by trading Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz and signing veteran big man Chris Boucher in free agency. The most important aspect of this series of transactions was cutting more salary and saving more money ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Now, the Celtics are comfortably below the second apron with one available roster spot. They could either use it to sign a player to a minimum deal or convert one of their youngsters on two-way deals to a guaranteed deal.
Another possible scenario for the Celtics is to try to shed even more salary. Boston is now only $5.4 million above the first apron and around $13 million away from the luxury tax line. With another corresponding move, GM Brad Stevens could create massive savings for the Celtics. The obvious trade candidate there is Boston's offseason acquisition Anfernee Simons.
Celtics May Trade Anfernee Simons to Shed Even More Salary
Simons is on the books for $27.7 million for next season and will be an unrestricted free agent in the 2026 offseason. The 26-year-old arrived in Boston in the Jrue Holiday trade earlier in the summer, but the speculations about another trade involving him have been endless.
There is a chance that the Celtics want to take a look at Simons this season to see if he can be a part of the team upon Jayson Tatum's return. The complicating matter here is the fact that if Simons plays well, he may be out of Boston's price range in free agency and put them in a financial bind once again. Then, the Celtics would be risking losing him for nothing.
That is why the Celtics will likely keep Simons on the trade block until further notice. Even if they are not actively shopping the former Blazers guard, if they get a good offer for him, which would allow them to go under the luxury tax line, it's safe to assume that the Celtics would take that offer.
Unless Boston announces a contract extension for Simons or publicly shuts down any trade speculation, Simons will be a leading candidate to be moved until the 2026 trade deadline.