The Celtics may not be hunting for an Anfernee Simons replacement with urgency, but the door on that idea clearly isn’t shut. Boston had reportedly explored a reunion before Simons opted to join Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia, which at least suggests the Celtics are kicking the tires on possible fits.
One name that keeps surfacing is DeMar DeRozan. He’s not a Celtics player right now, but that could change soon.
Yahoo Sports! Kelly Iko reported that Sacramento is expected to move on from DeRozan either through a trade or by waiving him, with the expectation that his partially guaranteed contract will be waived and stretched.
If that happens, DeRozan becomes a pretty low-risk swing for a team looking for another scoring option. He wouldn’t be asked to be Simons exactly, but on a team-friendly deal he could serve a similar purpose: a veteran who can get hot and put points on the board when Boston needs a bucket.
That’s the part of Simons’ appeal Celtics fans already understood. When the offense went cold, he had the kind of scoring burst that could change the mood in a hurry.
DeRozan brings a different style, but the same basic idea applies. He’s not the same player he was a few years ago, but he’s still dangerous enough as a scorer to punish defenses when he finds a rhythm.
Boston has already seen that firsthand in previous matchups. In a reduced role, he could still fill that bench scoring lane and give the Celtics another option without demanding a major offensive burden.
There’s also a separate layer to this if Boston wants to manage Paul George carefully. The Celtics clearly aren’t thrilled with the George addition, but they’re stuck making it work.
Part of the concern is his durability. He’s missed a lot of games over the last several seasons, and while this past season was because of a suspension, the bigger point remains the same: he’s on the wrong side of 30 and needs to be handled with care.
That means the Celtics should treat him more like Al Horford in terms of workload - resting him on back-to-backs and keeping his minutes in check even when he’s active. George can still score on the wing, but he isn’t the same offensive force he once was. If Boston wants to conserve him, DeRozan could help soak up those minutes.
That’s the real case for him. Not that he changes everything.
Not that he turns Boston into something it isn’t. Just that he can help cover the gaps, especially when George sits, and give the Celtics another useful piece for the long haul of a playoff push.
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