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Celtics Struggle to Find Trade Partner for Anfernee Simons Amid Defensive Concerns and Salary Hurdles
BOSTON – The Boston Celtics, who acquired guard Anfernee Simons in the deal that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland, are reportedly finding it difficult to trade him. Despite Simons carving out a role as a scorer off the bench, his $27.6 million salary and defensive liabilities are proving to be major obstacles in finding a willing trade partner.
According to an anonymous NBA executive cited by Heavy on Sports, the Celtics have been actively shopping Simons for months, but the market has been unresponsive. While teams are reportedly interested in potentially signing Simons in free agency, they are unwilling to absorb his current contract.
Simons’ defensive struggles have been a consistent issue throughout his career. While he’s shown effort to improve this season, he has yet to establish himself as a reliable defender.
Despite these concerns, Simons’ scoring ability could attract interest from teams closer to the trade deadline. However, if the Celtics fail to find a trade, they risk losing him in free agency for nothing, which would be a major setback.
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