Neither Anfernee Simons nor Georges Niang is technically a member of the Celtics yet, as the deals sending them to Boston won’t become official until July. However, the Celtics have explored the idea of flipping Simons to a new team, according to Jay King of The Athletic, who reports that Niang is also a candidate to be moved before the 2025/26 season.
Brian Robb of MassLive.com has published a similar report, citing sources who say Boston is expected to remain active in the trade market and will explore its options with players like Simons and Niang.
As both King and Robb explain, a desire to retain free agent centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet is one reason why the Celtics are motivated to continue making moves to create more cap flexibility.
After agreeing to send out Jrue Holiday to Portland in a deal for Simons and Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta in a trade for Niang, Boston projects to operate a little below the second tax apron, but would almost certainly have to go back above that threshold in order to re-sign Horford and Kornet.
The Celtics also appear hopeful about the possibility of moving below the luxury tax line entirely, writes King, since that would be a first step toward taking the team out of repeater taxpayer territory for future seasons (two years out of the tax are required to reset the repeater clock).
Getting below the tax line would require shedding at least $15MM-ish in additional salary, and more than that in order to re-sign Horford and Kornet.
As King observes, it likely wouldn’t be difficult to move off Sam Hauser, whose $10MM salary for 2025/26 would neatly fit into a team’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception. However, the Celtics have been more focused on scenarios that would allow them to hang onto the sharpshooting wing.
A trade involving Jaylen Brown or Derrick White could provide an avenue to significant cap savings, but multiple reports have suggested the Celtics would need to be blown away to consider moving either player. VP of basketball operations Mike Zarren told reporters on Thursday “there hasn’t been anything close to serious about trading” Brown or White, adding that “those guys are key parts of our team, and we’re lucky to have them here.”
They aren’t trading Brown or White FFS. they aren’t winning a chip next year, so obviously Simons and Niang, two players on expiring contracts, are expendable
Lol awe too funny. We’ll just completely ignore the words coming out of the front office on JB and D.White. I mean Giannis or Jokic. In other words not happening. See what Desmond Bane went for. Good luck with that.
Niang for Nick Richards
Suns have like 5 centres and could do with Niang as a 3/4 and another shooter. Whereas Boston could definitely do with a young more athletic centre.
Similarly Niang for Goga
Magic have Carter Jr and Mo Wagner and could do with adding a shooter like Niang.
Goga would add some size and physicality to Bostons interior
As for Simon’s
Simons for RJ?
Heard he’s been on the trade block recently, Raptors have a bunch of wings/forwards and particularly guys that can’t shoot. Simons would add a guard and a shooter.
For Boston, RJ would be a really nice SG between White and Brown. Can do abit of everything which is nice with Tatum out.
Simon’s for DeRozan
Kings might view Simons as someone who can play point guard for them. If not then it’s a simple salary dump getting out of the DeRozan deal for an expiring one.
As for Boston, DeRozan would provide a good leader and go to option with Tatum out. Good veteran leader for a young side and all that.
Lastly Simons for Kuzma
Bucks might see this as a salary dump getting out from Kuzma or as a Dame replacement. Someone who can score the ball at will next to Giannas.
As for Boston maybe they think they can turn Kuzma around after a terrible spell. He’d be the most like for like in replacing Tatum being a two way forward.
Niang makes more than Richards, Phx cant do that
Not a ton of obvious spots for Simons. I tried a three team trade. Clippers, nuggets, Celtics.
Clippers get: MPJ
Nuggets get: Simons and Derrick Jones Jr.
Celtics get: Bogdan and eubanks
Nuggets get their two for one. Clippers add a starter, Celtics cut salary.
I never thought they wanted Simons. Just his contract as it was just a better medium (than Holiday’s contract) to get Holiday’s 32 mm off their books. The Simons deal knocked 5 mm off of it, and made the rest expiring.
I now expect a trade of Simons this offseason that loses another 4-5 mm, and breaks up the rest into multiple deals that eat roster holds and can more easily be disposed of. Depending on their goal, they won’t need to lose the entire 27 mm, especially if they can move Hauser or Niang in addition to it.
Most definitely
With Brk seemingly waiving the white flag this trade is going to read like a novel when its finalized
Simons is the definition of a player who puts up points on bad teams.
I don’t see any contender wanting him unless it was for some scoring off of the bench.
Why do such an effort to keep both Horford and Kornet for more than the veteran minimum?
Horford will be in his forties in the 2026-2027 season.