{"id":146569,"date":"2025-06-24T11:07:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=146569"},"modified":"2025-06-24T11:07:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T15:07:16","slug":"anfernee-simons-to-the-celtics-trade-grades-and-cap-implications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/24\/anfernee-simons-to-the-celtics-trade-grades-and-cap-implications\/","title":{"rendered":"Anfernee Simons To The Celtics: Trade Grades And Cap Implications"},"content":{"rendered":"

BOSTON<\/strong> \u2013 The Boston Celtics<\/a> just made the first of what will likely be several cost-cutting moves. The Celtics traded 2024-25 champion Jrue Holiday<\/a> to the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> for Anfernee Simons<\/a> and two second-round picks. Brad Stevens took another swing at the fences with this deal. More details will emerge, but so far it looks like a home run.<\/p>\n

Anfernee Simons To The Celtics: Trade Grades And Cap Implications<\/h2>\n

Holiday joined the Celtics via a three-team trade with the Trail Blazers and Suns<\/a>. The Blazers acquired him from Milwaukee<\/a>, then quickly moved him to Boston. He spent two successful years in Boston, helping the team win 80 combined regular season and playoff games en route to Banner 18.<\/p>\n

In Milwaukee, he served as the second scoring option. In Boston, he embraced the role of fourth option. Holiday sacrificed for team success. But with Jayson Tatum<\/a> sidelined for the season with a torn Achilles, the Celtics had to change direction and cut costs.<\/p>\n

Brad Stevens Pulls Another Smart Move<\/h3>\n

Stevens built this championship roster with smart trades for Holiday and Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is.<\/a> Now, he\u2019s retooling under pressure. The Celtics were on pace to reach a half-billion payroll. Trading Holiday saved them $4.1 million in cap space and about $40 million in tax payments.<\/p>\n

Once Holiday signed an extension in April last year, the writing was on the wall. Keeping this team together under the new CBA wasn’t realistic. Tatum’s injury accelerated a decision the front office likely would\u2019ve made anyway.<\/p>\n

This trade also lands the Celtics a potential gem in Anfernee Simons. Simons flew under the radar in Portland due to mediocre team results and the post-Lillard rebuild. He averaged over 20 points and shot 38.1% from three the past three seasons.<\/p>\n

Simons adds scoring and fits Mazzulla\u2019s three-heavy system. His contract expires soon, giving Boston flexibility. His defense struggled in Portland, but his 6’9″ wingspan suggests he could improve.<\/p>\n

Team sources<\/a> say the Celtics originally asked for a first-rounder and salary filler. This package isn\u2019t that, but might be even better.<\/p>\n

Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Financial Implications for the Celtics<\/h3>\n

Boston also acquired two second-round picks, useful in future trades. The Celtics still own all but one of their future first-rounders, including pick No. 28 in this draft. The exception is a 2029 pick owed to either Portland or Washington<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The trade clears $72 million in future commitments to Holiday. Still, the Celtics remain $18 million above the second apron. More moves are coming as they try to get under the hard cap.<\/p>\n

Trail Blazers\u2019 Motives Aren\u2019t Clear<\/h3>\n
\"Jrue
Apr 7, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Portland\u2019s decision to trade Simons and two second-rounders for a 35-year-old Holiday is puzzling. Holiday will earn $32.4 million in 2025-26 and could pick up a $37.2 million option for 2027.<\/p>\n

On the bright side, Holiday brings defense and leadership. He could help young guards like Scoot Henderson<\/a>, Shaedon Sharpe<\/a>, and rookie Donovan Clingan<\/a>. Henderson, especially, could benefit from his mentorship.<\/p>\n

The front office may not have seen Simons as part of their long-term plans. He\u2019s in a contract year. Portland may have doubted his long term fit or willingness to extend. They may also want to free up minutes for Sharpe.<\/p>\n

But giving up Simons and<\/em> picks to take on Holiday\u2019s salary feels aggressive. If Holiday stays healthy\u2014despite missing 63 games in four years\u2014this might work. Otherwise, it could backfire.<\/p>\n

Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cap Implications for the Trail Blazers<\/h3>\n

Portland lost two second-round picks, which likely won\u2019t matter long-term. They still own all their future firsts, except the 2026 pick owed to Chicago<\/a>. They also hold swap rights with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030.<\/p>\n

If they pick up team options on players like Henderson, Sharpe, and Rayan Rupert<\/a>, they\u2019ll have 13 players under contract.<\/p>\n

Notable free agents include Dalano Banton<\/a> (unrestricted) and Jabari Walker<\/a> (restricted). The team sits just $3 million under the second apron. Extensions for Sharpe, Rupert, Toumani Camara<\/a> (an All-Defensive Second Team selection this year), and Matisse Thybulle<\/a> could push them well over.<\/p>\n

This is a heavy payroll for a team that won only 36 games this season. Maybe this move gets them into the play-in, but at what long-term cost?<\/p>\n

BOSTON \u2013 The Boston Celtics just made the first of what will likely be several cost-cutting moves. The Celtics traded 2024-25 champion Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks. Brad Stevens took another swing at the fences with this deal. More details will emerge, but so far it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":146579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,5,62,3,23],"tags":[50219,1559,239,98,1382,49742,4702,4600],"class_list":["post-146569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-nba","category-news","category-trailblazers","tag-2025-nba-free-agents","tag-anfernee-simons","tag-jrue-holiday","tag-nba-draft","tag-nba-trade","tag-salary-cap","tag-scoot-henderson","tag-shaedon-sharpe"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146569"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146587,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146569\/revisions\/146587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}