The Boston Celtics will be looking like a different team for the 2025-26 season due to multiple reasons.
Superstar forward Jayson Tatum is expected to miss the majority, if not all, of the season as he recovers from Achilles surgery. On top of this, Boston had to move multiple players from their 2024 championship team in order to stay out of the NBA’s second luxury tax apron.
In the process, the Celtics acquired guard Anfernee Simons. Despite speculation he could be dealt again, Boston appears likely to keep him heading into the season.
NBA executives believe the Celtics will keep Anfernee Simons to start season
According to reports, an Anfernee Simons trade before the 2025-26 season starts doesn’t seem realistic for the Celtics.
“Other than Jaylen Brown, there’s not a better scorer than Simons on that roster. Nobody can score like him other than Brown. He’s the second-best scorer, and it’s not close. I bet he ends up their leading scorer. Even with Jaylen. He’s going to have the ball a lot, and that dude can really score,” an NBA executive said, according to Sam Amico of Hoops Wire.
MORE: Details surface on Al Horford’s verbal agreement with Warriors
Simons, 26, is due $27.6 million on an expiring contract this upcoming season. Going into the season with the Celtics, he will pair with forward Jaylen Brown and most likely take on a heavy workload as a top scorer on the team.
In 2024-25 with the Portland Trail Blazers, Simons was the top scorer for them. In 70 games last season, the young guard averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for a Blazers team that failed to make it to the postseason.
