Celtics Exploring Flipping $27.7 Million Scorer in Another Trade: Report

The Boston Celtics are not done reshaping their roster and re-structuring their finances after their pair of trade transactions that offloaded veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

According to Jay King of The Athletic, Anfernee Simons, the Celtics’ recent acquisition from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Holiday trade, is a prime candidate to be re-traded.

“Looking to continue shedding salary, the Celtics have explored the idea of flipping Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract, according to league sources. In such a move, they would be aiming to accomplish two organizational directives Brad Stevens emphasized after the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday: regaining more roster flexibility and setting up a path to retain free agents Luke Kornet and Al Horford,” King wrote.

The Celtics are currently $15 million above the luxury tax threshold. Offloading Simons’ $27.7 million expiring salary could open up the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception.

If they keep Simons, he fits the Celtics’ 3-point-heavy offense. The 6-foot-3 guard has shot 38.1% from the 3-point line in his career and averaged 19.3 points last season.

Brad Stevens on Celtics Centers

GettyThe Boston Celtics want to keep Al Horford.

Stevens made their position clear when it comes to their centers after the NBA Draft.

“I think the biggest thing is, as you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there’s no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back,” Stevens told reporters.

Both centers are unrestricted free agents.

Horford has been a long-time pillar of the franchise, spending seven of his last nine seasons in Boston. The 39-year-old center averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.3% from the 3-point line.

Porzingis’ departure makes Hoford’s return a priority for the Celtics.

On the other hand, Kornet was a reliable backup center last season. The 7-foot-1 beanpole proved he’s more than just a meme — his awkward yet effective defense of jumping up vertically on 3-point shooters from a distance — as he averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 66.8% from the field.

He gave Boston fans the highlight of his career with his 10-point, 9-rebound, 7-block performance in the Celtics’ Game 5 win in the second round. Returning to Boston will give him more opportunity to flourish with Porzingis now gone.

Al Horford Drawing Interest From Knicks

The uncertainty in Boston in the wake of Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles injury has emboldened the Celtics’ rivals.

Horford is drawing interest from the New York Knicks, the team that beat them in the playoffs, per  SNY’s Ian Begley.

“I think the Knicks will take a look at the guard market for a bench player,” Begley said. “Also, ESPN reports that Celtics veteran Al Horford will have a robust market this offseason. I think the Knicks will also at least check in on Horford’s situation in Boston. The Celtics shed salary by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and they certainly want Horford back, but are limited in what they can offer the veteran big man.”

If the Knicks will play two-big lineup next season like they did in the playoffs with Mitchell Robinson at the center and Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward, they will need another reliable center.

Horford is a floor-spacing big man that can also play next to Robinson.