The Boston Celtics aren’t exactly scrambling to duck the luxury tax this season - and they’re making that clear around the league. According to league sources, Boston has let it be known they’re not attaching a first-round pick to Anfernee Simons’ expiring $27.7 million contract just to shed salary. If Simons is on the move, it’s going to be part of a deal that actually improves the roster, not just the bottom line.
Now, that doesn’t mean the Celtics aren’t open to making a move. They’ve explored options that would bring back a legitimate upgrade.
One such scenario involved sending Simons, a first-round pick, and a first-round pick swap to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac and some additional salary to make the numbers work. But that didn’t go anywhere - and for good reason.
The Clippers have won 16 of their last 19 and aren’t exactly looking to shake things up, especially not by moving a key piece like Zubac.
Earlier in the season, the Bulls reportedly floated a Simons-for-Vucevic swap - with a first-rounder included on Boston’s end - but the Celtics weren’t biting. That kind of lateral move, one that doesn’t clearly elevate their title chances, isn’t what they’re after.
Boston’s frontcourt situation is also evolving in real time. Neemias Queta has stepped up into the starting center role and is holding his own, while Luka Garza is managing backup duties.
That’s opened the door for the Celtics to consider moving some of their depth at the five. Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman have surfaced as potential trade chips, and teams like the Hawks, Sixers, and Suns have reportedly expressed interest in Boucher in particular.
Elsewhere around the league, the Timberwolves are getting calls on some of their core pieces - Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo - but they’re not eager to break up what they’ve built. McDaniels, in particular, is viewed as close to untouchable.
Minnesota would only entertain offers for Reid or DiVincenzo if it meant landing an All-Star caliber player. In other words, it would take a blockbuster to pry any of those guys away.
Meanwhile, the Spurs and Knicks had some exploratory talks involving Jeremy Sochan, Guerschon Yabusele, and Pacome Dadiet, but San Antonio wasn’t interested - largely because of Yabusele’s $5.8 million player option for next season. That contract wrinkle was enough to shut down the conversation.
As for the Knicks, they’re still in the market for roster upgrades and are willing to include the Wizards’ top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick in trade talks. That pick is unlikely to convey, but it would convert into Washington’s 2026 and 2027 second-rounders - and considering where the Wizards are in their rebuild, those second-round picks still carry some weight.
Finally, keep an eye on Ayo Dosunmu. The Bulls guard is heading toward unrestricted free agency, and there’s a growing belief among league executives that he could command a deal in the range of the full mid-level exception - or possibly even more. His stock is quietly rising, and teams are watching closely.
With the trade deadline approaching, the market is heating up. But for teams like the Celtics and Timberwolves, it’s not just about making a move - it’s about making the right move.