With 20 days left until the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons continues to force a difficult discussion within the organization.
The options are simple: either trade Simons and reduce the team’s luxury tax burden, or keep him and see how things play out. So far, it’s been the latter. Simons has stayed out of major rumor mill developments and on Boston’s bench, ready to contribute. He’s provided the scoring production of a starter without logging a single start over 40
appearances, and his willingness to accept the backseat has earned him a growing respect from Celtics teammates.
That respect grew even more after Simons scored a season-high 39 points against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, helping the Celtics recover from consecutive losses with a 119-114 win at the Kaseya Center.
“Everybody was pretty excited,” Simons told reporters, per CLNS Media. “It speaks to how together the team is and how much we want to see each other succeed. We know that any given night it could be somebody’s night, and tonight was mine.”
Simons knocked down 13 of 28 field goal attempts, including 7 of 16 from three. His final basket, a step-back 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, put Boston back on top, 104-102, with 4:43 remaining. With teammates erupting in celebration, including Jayson Tatum, who couldn’t contain his excitement, Simons scored the fourth-most points ever by a Celtics player coming off the bench.
For him, the opportunity to torch Miami came down to the difference between playing in Boston and starting with the Portland Trail Blazers. In Boston, he doesn’t log 30-plus minutes as an everyday starter, but when he does enter games, his impact is magnified. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is intentional about finding spots to plug Simons in, and Thursday night was a perfect example.
“Sometimes here, (Joe’s) feeling out the game, and he’s feeling out what the game needs,” Simons told reporters. “So you gotta be ready at any moment for your number to be called, no matter if it’s in the first quarter, second quarter, might be down to the fourth quarter. So that just always keeps you on your toes and always locked into the game and being ready when your number is called, which is helpful.”
Since Jan. 1, Simons has been on a tear. He’s averaged 18.3 points with 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 49.1% from the field and 51.6% from beyond the arc.
In addition to strengthening Boston’s offense, it’s what Simons has done on the other side of the floor that’s drawn high praise from Mazzulla.
“I thought he was great,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “The scoring is what he’s done most of his career, but to me it’s the way he defended. He had a blindside block, a couple of in-traffic rebounds, was physical at the point of attack — just a complete game.”
During the offseason, Simons was linked to trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks, which clouded his future in Boston. Shedding salary was a priority, and Simons’ $27.6 million salary for 2025-26 didn’t make him the easiest fit, even though he was the premier addition to a roster undergoing significant changes. Having averaged over 20 points for multiple seasons in Portland, the acquisition of Simons opened the door to a range of possibilities for what he could bring to the Celtics.
Now, that potential is coming to fruition.
“That was big time,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “That was an amazing performance. Off the bench, that was one of his best performances of the year, and we needed every basket. He was great tonight.”
The Celtics needed every bit of scoring they could get from Simons. They erased a 19-point deficit before reclaiming their first lead since the opening quarter in the fourth. Simons came through with 18 of his 39 points in the final 12 minutes, embracing the late-game pressure the 26-year-old said he craves after Boston’s Dec. 31 win over the Utah Jazz.
“I have hella respect for him,” Brown told reporters. “For him to come out, play winning basketball, and do what the team needs to do night in, night out — he doesn’t complain, just brings good energy and contributes in a positive way. But tonight, like we’ve seen at times, he can fill it up.”
There’s still no guarantee Simons makes it past the trade deadline wearing Celtics green. He’s accepted that reality, understanding it’s one of the many parts of being an NBA player he can’t control. Instead, Simons remains focused on contributing the best version of himself to align with Boston’s needs, leaving the ultimate decision to those above him within the organization.
To Simons, the secret to growing in Boston hasn’t been complicated, even while managing the major difference between his role with the Celtics and the one he held in Portland
“Just being coachable,” Simons told reporters. “Having some humility on the things you need to get better at, and just accepting the role, trying to be the best version of it. It’s got its ups and downs, but for the most part I feel like I’m learning each and every game, and you just go with the flow and continue to try to improve.”
