Celtics Trade Eyes: Anthony Simmons, is it a bargaining chip or a savior?

"I have talked to several teams, and the news is very consistent - the Celtics are trying hard to send Anthony Simmons away!" This sentence by ESPN famous reporter Brian Windhorst is like a deep water bomb that has been put into a calm offseason, "But can it work? Hey, that's another matter!"

Less than a year ago, in order to strengthen the last championship puzzle, the Celtics won Anthony Simmons as an important bargaining chip in the Joo Holiday trade of the shock league. At that time, the Celtics management obviously hoped that this dual-sports guard with explosive scoring ability could become a sharp knife to tear the opponent's defense line on the bench. However, the bubble of winning the champagne has not yet dissipated, and trading rumors have followed - why did this scorer, who was in his year of playing, make it so quickly on the Celtics' "tradable list"?

A deep analysis of the motivations of the Celtic management, the heavy pressure of luxury tax is like a sword on the roof. Jason Tatum's unprecedented super maximum salary contract renewal has been completed, Jaylen Brown's huge contract is entering the execution period, and with the high salaries of core players such as Ju Holiday and Christapus Porzingis, the Celtics' salary book has already lit up a dazzling red light. Simmons' expiration contract of up to $27.7 million next season will instantly turn into a very tempting and flexible operational chip in the eyes of smart basketball operations president Brad Stevens - it can not only be used to match salary balance bulk transactions, but also release huge space next summer.

On the other hand, there is always a gap between Simmons' technical characteristics and the Celtics' almost strict system requirements. Admittedly, he played in 70 regular season games last season, averaging 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, proving that he is a reliable ball-holding scoring point; he can throw more than 3 three-pointers per game with a shooting percentage of 36.3%. This "draining" long-range firepower can indeed ignite the passion of North Shore Garden on certain nights. However, looking at the other side of the gorgeous data book: 42.6% shooting efficiency can only be considered a mid-level among players in the same position in the league, and the stability of handling the ball under high pressure defense is insufficient; more importantly, his contribution on the defensive end is often free from the overall system of the Celtics' emphasis on unlimited defense replacement and iron-blooded rotation, which is precisely the winning foundation that head coach Joe Mazula attaches most.

Stevens' persistent pursuit of "hardness" and "versatility" of the lineup has never changed. Looking back at the operation of the Celtics this summer: Peyton Pritchard, who decisively gave up his offensive talent but had shortcomings in defense, turned to sign the former Detroit Pistons player Jaden Springer, who has a more balanced offense and defense style. This in and out clearly conveys the management's preference for character players. Although Simmons has original talent and autonomous offensive explosive power that Prichard cannot reach, his similar shortcomings on the defensive end make his position in the Celtics' blueprint more subtle.

So, who may have given an olive branch to this scorer with distinct advantages and disadvantages? Teams that are eager to collect talents during the reconstruction period and need to expire contracts to maintain operational flexibility are natural candidates. The Utah Jazz have accumulated a large number of draft picks and urgently need guards with independent offensive capabilities to increase the ceiling; the San Antonio Spurs have a talented Vinban Yama and are looking for ball holders who can reduce their offensive burdens. Simmons and Vinban's high pick-and-roll cooperation is full of imagination; the Brooklyn Nets are also facing direction choices in the "post-bridge era", and Simmons can become their temporary offensive core in the transition period. However, the obstacles to the transaction are also huge - if the Celtics want to upgrade their lineup, they will inevitably require the other party to provide players who can immediately enter the rotation or even improve their combat power in return, rather than simply draft pick compensation; and Simmons' 27.7 million contract amount also greatly increases the transaction threshold, requiring accurate salary matching and deep compatibility between the demands of both parties.

The complexity of this potential deal is far from a simple assessment of player ability. The more stringent luxury tax penalty under the new version of the labor-cap agreement (especially for super luxury tax teams such as the Celtics) is like the sword of Damocles; the overall salary cap increase in the league is lower than expected, further compressing the operating space of each team; as the new champion, any lineup changes affect the delicate chemistry of the locker room and the ambition to defend the title.

Anthony Simmons' stay and departure is like a prism, reflecting the cruel reality and exquisite calculations faced by NBA championship-level teams in the era of salary explosion. The Celtics’ management is walking a tightrope between betting on the present and planning for the future. Every step is related to whether the dynasty can be continued.

Winderhorst's revelation of "it's actively seeking a deal" is by no means groundless. What the Celtics need to weigh is: is it to squeeze out the last drop of transaction value of Simmons' expiration contract in exchange for a puzzle that is more in line with the system? Or should I bet another year, and look forward to his explosive growth in the contract year and becoming an irreplaceable "raised war master" on the bench?

When gold dollar basketball meets the championship dream, the chips in Brad Stevens' hands are not only related to Anthony Simmons' next stop, but also whether the Celtic dynasty can open up a sustainable road to defend the title in the luxury tax storm.

Do you think the Celtics should bet on Simmons' potential, or do you trade decisively for real-time combat power? Which team of the guard who has talent and controversy will this defender wear in the new season? Welcome to leave your insights in the comment section!