Nets Eye Celtics Guard Anfernee Simons in Potential Trade

Brooklyn eyed as landing spot to help Boston shed salary

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly in discussions with the Boston Celtics, potentially reigniting a trade relationship that began when Brooklyn relocated to its current borough over a decade ago. With the Nets often serving as a desirable destination for teams looking to reduce payroll, the possibility of another transaction with Boston is on the table.

Simons Emerges as Key Trade Target

A player generating buzz is **Anfernee Simons**, whom Boston is reportedly exploring trade avenues for. Following his move from the Trail Blazers in exchange for **Jrue Holiday**, **Simons** has attracted attention from teams aiming to manage their finances.

Salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan highlighted Brooklyn as a prospective destination for Simons in his Third Apron newsletter. He explained that acquiring Simons would enable Boston to dip below the luxury tax threshold, thereby avoiding a significant projected tax penalty of $70.75 million.

Simons, who led Portland in scoring last season, averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game. He shot 42.6% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range. His standout performance included a 34-point effort against the Philadelphia 76ers. Over the last three seasons, Simons has consistently averaged over 20 points per game, with his 2023-2024 campaign marking a career-best 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. He is currently under a four-year, $100 million contract with the Trail Blazers, signed before the 2022-2023 season.

Future Roster Implications

While **Simons**’ scoring prowess presents an attractive option for a Nets team needing offensive impact, the move’s viability hinges on the potential departure of **Cam Thomas**. Despite ongoing offseason negotiations, **Thomas** has reportedly shown limited interest in other teams, suggesting Brooklyn may have leverage.

Should Simons join a roster that already includes Thomas and Michael Porter Jr., he would likely transition to a reserve role. Furthermore, committing a substantial contract like Simons‘ might be better allocated to a proven playmaker or a complementary frontcourt player for Nic Claxton. In the 2023-2024 NBA season, the average team payroll was approximately $165 million, underscoring the financial considerations in such a transaction.