The Boston Celtics are evaluating trade options for their latest addition, Anfernee Simons, who was acquired as part of the Jrue Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers last month, aimed at reducing expenses.

Simons averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists last season and is on the final year of a $27.7 million contract.

Trading Simons could help the Celtics mitigate their $20 million salary cap overage ahead of the 2025-26 season.

“I have talked to other teams who have said they are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stated during Wednesday’s Hoop Collective Podcast. “Whether they can or not is another (story).”

Earlier, Dallas, Golden State, and New Orleans had shown interest in Simons before the Blazers settled on the deal with Boston. Although Simons encountered injuries during the 2023-24 season, limiting him to 46 games, he has demonstrated resilience in the current season. While he is not especially known for defense, the previously selected first-round pick has exhibited scoring talent over recent years with increased playtime.

According to Celtics operations president Brad Stevens, although they are not labeling this year as a rebuild, substantial changes are underway as they recover from Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury and adjust to Jaylen Brown’s costly contract.

Stevens remarked, “The reality is that we knew going into this year, regardless of how it ended, we would have hard decisions to make because of the penalties, where this apron is and where we’ve been the last two years.”

It’s clear that unloading Simons is essential for several reasons to escape the luxury tax and come under the second apron. Just hours after moving Holiday, the Celtics also traded Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal.