Key Takeaways:
- Anfernee Simons expressed a desire to play for a winning team before the start of the 2024-25 season, a goal unmet during his tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers.
- Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics in a move that also benefitted Portland.
- Simons’ performance and role have diminished in Boston, with reduced playing time and usage.
- The Celtics’ early-season struggles and potential financial motivations for acquiring Simons raise questions about his long-term fit with the team.
- The surprising early success of the Portland Trail Blazers highlights the potential missed opportunity for Simons in his current situation.
- Simons could be a trade candidate by the February deadline, with the Celtics potentially looking to capitalize on his value.
Summary:
Anfernee Simons, entering his seventh season, had explicitly stated his desire to play for a team with a genuine opportunity to win. This aspiration, however, remained unfulfilled during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, who struggled to make the playoffs for four consecutive years. Despite a slight improvement in their record, it wasn’t the winning environment Simons had envisioned. This past offseason, Simons was finally traded to the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics’ acquisition of Simons seemed to be motivated more by financial considerations, specifically to avoid exceeding the second apron. While they explored trade options for Simons, they ultimately decided to retain him, at least to start the season, placing him in a sixth-man role.
However, Simons’ initial performance in Boston has been underwhelming. His statistical output has declined, with lower scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers compared to his previous seasons. This is partly attributable to reduced playing time and a lower usage rate within the Celtics’ system. The question arises of how satisfied Simons is with his current role, given that he’s playing a reduced role and on a team that previously considered trading him. Most importantly, despite the move, he still isn’t winning.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the Celtics have had a shaky start to the season. This casts doubt on whether Simons made a worthwhile sacrifice by joining the team. Perhaps most frustrating for Simons is the surprisingly strong start of his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Given these factors, it appears that Simons’ current situation in Boston may not be ideal for him. He is likely to be considered a trade candidate by the February deadline, with the Celtics potentially looking to acquire assets for him before his contract expires. It remains to be seen whether the Celtics will trade Simons to a team where he can have the opportunity to win as he desires.
