Landing a reliable on-ball scoring threat to take pressure off of Stephen Curry will be one of the Golden State Warriors’ main priorities throughout the 2025 NBA offseason.
Golden State’s offensive attack became painfully predictable after the 4-time NBA champion and 2022 NBA Finals MVP went down with a hamstring injury that relegated him to the bench for four out of the team’s five games during the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Even in the midst of his 16th NBA campaign in 2024-25, the Warriors depended on Curry’s health and continued production more than ever.
As Curry prepares for season No. 17, Golden State’s general manager Mike Dunleavy and the rest of the franchise’s front office could plausibly take a gamble to support their future Hall of Fame inductee. In fact, the team could do so by contacting the Boston Celtics to begin trade negotiations centered around their newly-acquired scoring talent Anfernee Simons, as Boston has reportedly attempted to shop the versatile guard.
“I have talked to other teams who have said they are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst claimed during an episode of his podcast, Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.
“Whether they can or not is another (thing).”
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After acquiring the 26-year-old guard from the Portland Trail Blazers by trading away 2-time NBA champion Jrue Holiday, the Celtics are remaining active on the trade market. If Simons is to be dealt once again, Golden State could offer an enticing package consisting of their rising 3-and-D wing Moses Moody along with Buddy Hield, one of the NBA’s all-time great three-point sharpshooters.
By prospectively acquiring the savvy scoring threat, the Warriors would bring in their first young, dynamic scoring presence at the shooting guard position since the departure of 2022 NBA champion Jordan Poole.
Boston might also be inclined to pull the trigger on a deal of this nature, as their hypothetical return of Moody and Hield represents their core tenets of stifling perimeter defense and consistent distance shooting to a tee.
In 70 appearances with the Trail Blazers this past season, Simons contributed 19.2 points and 4.8 assists while knocking down 36.3% of his 8.5 attempts from long-range. His sweet handle and underrated athleticism could make the 6-foot-3 guard a perfect backcourt partner for Curry, but his defensive deficiencies might tell a different story.
While he’s improved marginally on that end in recent years, Simons has compiled a career -2.1 defensive box plus-minus and horrid 120 defensive rating per 100 possessions prior to the beginning of his eighth season in 2025-26.
Even still, his natural ability to put the ball in the basket and unlimited shooting range could warrant his arrival in Golden State and his insertion into head coach Steve Kerr’s vaunted offensive system alongside Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
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