Anfernee Simons is pumping up his trade value. The Celtics guard has posted back-to-back 23-point games. Playing time has been key — his minutes have fluctuated from 12 to 33 over the course of the season, and he’s averaging 24.9 MPG overall, Brian Robb of MassLive.com notes.
“I think honestly just keeping it simple,” Simons said. “In previous years, that was kind of my thing — just ease into the game and see how they guarded me, and then I started being more aggressive in the second half. And so here, obviously I don’t have that much time to be able to ease into the games, so taking the opportunities as they are — just being myself, aggressive, and also making the right plays, as well. So I think simplifying that way has been easy for me for the past couple games.”
Simons has a $27.7MM expiring contract, which could make him a major name on the in-season trade market.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Nets forward Noah Clowney has perked up after a slow start but he took an ill-advised late three-pointer in a loss to the Raptors on Sunday, Brian Lewis of the New York Post points out. Clowney has thrived since moving into the lineup and contributed a season-high 22 points against Toronto. The third-year pro, who is averaging 15.1 PPG in a starting role, is eligible for a rookie scale extension next offseason.
- Jared McCain delivered a season-high 15 points in 26 minutes in the Sixers’ loss to Miami on Sunday. McCain, who is working his way back into a groove after missing time with a thumb injury suffered in camp, had his rookie campaign short-circuited by a knee injury. “It definitely felt the best,” McCain told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer of Sunday’s game. “I think each game is just getting more reps on the knee and more reps of movement. But I felt really good (Sunday). Felt like I got a little burst for my first step, and yeah, just continue to build off each game. And the more minutes I play and the more time I’m in, I feel like I can get more reps up. And yeah, it felt really good.”
- The Raptors have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Is the hot start for real or a mirage? The Athletic’s Eric Koreen explores that topic, noting that Toronto has played just two games against the teams with the six best records — Detroit, Oklahoma City, Denver, the Lakers, San Antonio and Houston — and lost them both decisively.
Celtics need to play Simons. I mean COME ON!
He’s undersized and doesn’t play good defense.
Sounds like Payton Pritchard lol
Pritchard is far better on D than Simon’s ya big casual
“Casual” lol. You should say 6-7 next. Same level of thought patterns
Well if Simons was 6’7” he’d be a much better defender.
@mad dog, so would Pritchard, he’s more limited physically
And a far better defender than Simon’s as everyone knows ya big casual
Simons is doing a great job Celtics need done, doing most of the scoring for the 2nd team. Derrick, Jaylen and Payton do the scoring (and assisting and rebounding) for the first team. Keep lighting it up Anfernee!
Joe Mazzulla only won a championship because the other team played selfishly.
One hit wonder just like Doc, Bud, Carlisle. He has some good strategies, but when it comes to deciding minutes and leading players, he is not that guy. He just took over all the foundation that Brad Stevens and Udoka built.
Anfernee Simons is 10000x better than Payton Pritchard. But, I am not a Celtics fan and I dont care for their success, so I dont mind him playing Pritchard over Ant. But yeah stupid as hell.
I think you might be confusing Anthony Edwards and Anfernee Simons. I hope so. I don’t think Anfernee is better than Pritchard, much less 10,000 times better. Pritchard won 6th Man of the Year last season and was right up near the top in the total number of threes made.
Plus I think Coach Joe is doing an excellent job in playing his whole roster this season, putting in successful combinations and everything else. I can’t question anything he’s doing this year at all. Celts are still over 500 after losing 5 important rotation players. Not bad at all. Go Celtics!
Not at all, Anfernee Simons nickname is Ant and I didnt feel like writing his whole name lmao
Ok, thanks for clarifying.
C’s need to trim $10M, a package of Simons and someone else for a star PF/C would be the right move.
Good luck with that. Most of the league doesn’t want an undersized Simons that plays no defense. Otherwise Portland would have traded him a long time ago.
I think Simons should fit some contending team. He’s doing great with us as a scoring microwave, proving he can come off the bench hot, and I’d sure like to keep him. Not every NBA player can score like Anfernee. But money dictates he has to go … or a bunch of other Celtics.
Any GM would give their left nut for 20 pts/game
I wish. Celtics need to get under tax to save owners millions.
Trade him to the Kings for Sabonis. Kings collect guys who don’t play D, and seemingly always lose trades
Honestly a good idea
The only way it would work would be Simons, Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez, cash, a 1st and 2nd for Sabonis.
Yep, I was thinking the same: Sabonis, Naz Reed, Jarrett Allen
Along with Bam Adebayo, Jalen Duren, Paul Reed, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaiah Stewart, Robert Williams, Dario Saric, Sorber, and Tillman all should be playing PF and not C
I’m glad someone else can see what they really need. They definitely need a PF starter
Raptors are most definitely not for real. 9th/10th seed at best.
So why mention them? You obsessed little Gabe?
Maybe Bol Bol ?