Anfernee Simons said it was odd to find himself in the visitors’ locker room as he made his return to Portland Sunday night, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Simons spent the first seven years of his career with the Trail Blazers before the Celtics acquired him over the summer in a cost-cutting deal that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland.
“It kind of felt a little weird,” Simons said. “Being a visitor and going to the opposing locker room, coming out of the other tunnel. But it was fun to see everybody that you built strong relationships with in the organization. It was fun embracing the moment and embracing the love … knowing that you made some type of impact here.”
Along with a new team, Simons has been adjusting to a different role. After being a full-time starter with the Blazers for the past three seasons, he’s now a sixth man for Boston, averaging 12.8 points per game off the bench and playing just 23.5 minutes per night. He expected a long future in Portland after signing a $100MM extension three years ago, but he discovered that things can change quickly in the NBA.
“Obviously, it’s a business at the end of the day,” Simons said. “And at any point you can be here and then somewhere else. So you just have to enjoy each and every moment that you spend. And I think I did that last year. I enjoyed all the moments I had with our whole team, organization, and I won’t regret anything for sure.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Holiday wasn’t surprised that he was one of the players moved in Boston’s effort to escape the second apron, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe states in a subscriber-only piece. Holiday recognized that his contract, which pays $32.4MM this season and $34.8MM next year, was too pricey for a team with major cap and tax concerns. “I think we know basketball a little bit in terms of how the money is,” he said. “And how not everybody can stay and we knew there was going to be a change. You just don’t know what the change might be. But I don’t think I speculated or saw what was going to happen or where everybody was going to go. I think when you look at the business side of it, you kind of know that some changes are going to happen.”
- Jaylen Brown scored 37 points on Sunday, matching Larry Bird‘s franchise record of nine consecutive 30-point games, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Brown has taken over as the team’s primary scorer with Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury and is averaging a career-high 29.7 PPG.
- In a mailbag column, Robb examines the quick development of 19-year-old forward Hugo Gonzalez, who’s thriving in his rookie season with the Celtics after barely playing with Real Madrid last year. Robb also states that the team might be reluctant to commit big money to a center in the trade market with Neemias Queta playing so well. He cites Nets big man Day’Ron Sharpe as a potential low-cost option.
I think ideally Simons is still moved for a big. Claxton would be very nice
Nets will probably hold out for a late 1st for Sharpe considering the value with his contract.
Boston needs to move Simons for some more long term pieces
Celtics need a PF
My fellow spaniard Hugo has been a big surprise so far
Plays hard and how old. Loving the Hugo Boss for the Celtics.
Simons and Baylor Scheierman for a starting PF and cap space
John Collins fits
Simons, Baylor with a 2nd to the Clippers for John Collins and Cam Christie
Celtics get. Julius Randle, Bones Hyland and cash
Wolves get. Jrue Holiday and Reath
Portland get. Simons, Baylor Scheierman with picks
Who says no?
Are you a Celtics fan? I can’t figure you out. I mean you keep suggesting we give up our youngsters, our future, in the hope that some power forward is going to be the key for us win the title this season. And what happens to that power forward when Jason Tatum comes back? Just wondering.
PG. White, Pritchard sixth man
SG. Brown
SF. Tatum
PF. Randle
C . Queta
Aha! You can’t tell a lie so you don’t answer. You distract. Hmm, you’re not a Celtics fan thus your goal is to …?
Yes I’m a Celtics fan, I grew up in that area….
You are only trading Baylor and Simons
The goal is a championship not tanking
Ok, fair enough. Thanks.
I hate Tatum playing PF
I know you trust Brad. We will see.
They need to make a trade. Simons and Baylor can go. Everyone loves Gonzalez
So that’s your bottom line.You don’t want Tatum playing power forward. Why not? Wondering now which position Tatum himself would like to play. We’re supposed to get the most out of each player’s skills and talents.
When Tatum was drafted he played SF and for years until the past couple years
Brown was a SG when drafted.
They can adjust back
Yes I don’t want Tatum at PF at all. He is a undersized PF.
Julius Randle would be nice but wouldn’t lose any salary in which the Celtics are trying to do
White would have to play many different positions
Pritchard would go back to sixth man role though but I think everything would work
Well, ok, thanks for spelling it all. I’ll follow what happens and see if Stevens and Mazzulla agree with your thinking. Of course the tax we want to get under this year comes into play as well, probably overriding everything else.
What about a easy Baylor Scheierman and a 2nd for Marvin Bagley or just trading Simons to Brooklyn for Highsmith, saving 21M to fix the money problem and look at Bol Bol
Simons and Baylor Scheierman to Brooklyn for Highsmith and Jalen Wilson
Saves 17M
Simons, Hugo González and Baylor for Naz Reid(PF), Donte DiVincenzo and Bones Hyland
Bol Bol?