The 2025 offseason has been particularly challenging for the Boston Celtics. Following Jayson Tatum‘s injury, Boston’s front office was forced to make some difficult decisions with the upcoming season in mind.
Considering that they wouldn’t be in a position to contend for the title, spending heavily on key players didn’t seem like a wise investment. Thus, the Celtics started facilitating trades to shed salary and get under the luxury tax apron.
The venture has been largely successful, as Boston has managed to clear up a significant amount of cap space. Unfortunately, the result hasn’t been as positive on the roster, as the team has seen a drastic drop-off in talent.
At this point in the offseason, the Celtics still feature some key players from their championship core. However, their lack of depth is quite concerning.
Given the current state of their rotation, Boston is far from being viewed as a contender. In an effort to remain competitive in the East, we look at two moves the Celtics should make before the start of the season.
Trade Anfernee Simons To The Hornets
Anfernee Simons was acquired as part of the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, aimed at clearing cap space and acquiring picks. Although the Celtics couldn’t gain draft capital, the salary reduction was beneficial.
While Simons has the potential to be a solid player in the rotation, reports suggest that Boston is exploring trades for him to free up more salary from its payroll.
With this in mind, a trade with the Charlotte Hornets could prove to be beneficial.
Proposed Trade Details
Boston Celtics Receive: Miles Bridges, 2028 first-round pick
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Anfernee Simons
For the Hornets, acquiring Simons could help add a secondary scoring option next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Given the talent at their disposal with this core, the Hornets could look to be quite competitive in the future.
The arrival of Miles Bridges and a 2028 first-round draft pick certainly has benefits for the Celtics. Acquiring a valuable draft pick aligns perfectly with Boston’s offseason approach. In addition to helping the Celtics shed $2.6 million in salary, Bridges could be crucial in adding depth to their frontcourt rotation.
The forward has proven himself to be a capable player. Boasting tremendous athleticism and solid scoring ability, the Celtics could use a player like him in a variety of settings.
In the starting rotation, Bridges would effectively play as a small forward, allowing Celtics star Jaylen Brown to move into the shooting guard spot. While this would relegate Payton Pritchard to the bench, his success off the bench has already been acknowledged with the 6MOY award.
Alternatively, having Bridges start in the power forward position could also have some merit. Although undersized, his strength and rebounding skills could help him stay effective.
Last season, the 27-year-old averaged 20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.1% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range.
His perimeter shooting leaves more to be desired, especially in Boston’s perimeter-heavy offense. However, with two years left on his contract, the Celtics could benefit from doing this deal.
Sign Ben Simmons
When examining the Celtics’ roster, the team is currently lacking depth, specifically in the form of playmakers and frontcourt players.
While Pritchard has all the necessary tools to be a successful starting point guard, not having a solid playmaker behind him could be a concern. Meanwhile, the absence of a solid big man following the departures of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis has left Boston’s frontcourt bare.
Addressing these issues could be a challenge, but Boston could take a risk and attempt to solve both needs by signing Ben Simmons.
At 6’10”, Simmons is effectively a big man with the skill set of a point guard. Although he is limited as a scorer, the three-time All-Star has established himself as a solid playmaker and a versatile defensive presence.
Last season, the 29-year-old averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game on 52.0% shooting from the field. If played as a defensive anchor and secondary playmaker, Simmons could be a high-value addition.
The three-time All-Star garnered a lot of interest this offseason, with the Celtics being among the many teams linked to him. However, due to his demand for a contract worth more than the veteran’s minimum, Simmons remains unsigned.
Given Boston’s cap space issues, offering him more than the minimum could be a challenge. But considering the guard’s desire to continue playing basketball, Boston may be able to swing a deal right before the start of the season.
What’s Next For The Celtics?
At the current juncture, there isn’t much to be optimistic about for Boston. While there is hope that the team will be competitive as constructed, the upgrades some of the teams in the Eastern Conference have made cannot be overlooked.
In this regard, the 2025-26 season is poised to be a gap year for the Celtics. As more salaries come off the books by next summer, the franchise will proceed to rebuild. Additionally, with Jayson Tatum expected to make a full recovery, Boston can hope to regain their spot at the top of the East as soon as the 2026-27 season.
