When the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons this past summer, it was easy to see the logic. Boston needed cap flexibility, and Simons brought scoring, youth, and a smaller expiring deal to the table. But 25 games into the season, the question isn’t just whether the move made financial sense - it’s whether Simons fits in a meaningful way on a team with championship aspirations.
So far, the answer is complicated.
Simons’ role in Boston is a far cry from what he had in Portland, where he was the offensive focal point. There, he had the ball in his hands constantly, orchestrating the offense with the freedom of a primary creator.
In Boston, that leash is shorter. Much shorter.
He’s now tasked with doing more in less time - making quicker reads, playing off the ball, and finding ways to contribute in a system that isn’t built around him.
The numbers reflect that shift. Simons is averaging 13 points in just under 24 minutes per game - his lowest scoring output in four years.
But the surface-level stats don’t tell the full story. His role has shrunk, yes, but he’s still playing with the instincts of a lead guard.
He leads the Celtics in seconds per touch and ranks second in dribbles per touch, even though his overall touches have plummeted from 65.1 per game in Portland to just 41.7 now.
That’s the crux of the issue. Boston doesn’t need Simons to be the guy with the ball in his hands every possession.
They need him to be decisive - to extend advantages, not create them from scratch. When he holds the ball and operates like he did in Portland, it slows things down and disrupts the flow.
And while his efficiency looks solid on paper, the impact hasn’t quite followed.
Boston’s offense is built on ball movement, spacing, and quick decision-making. Simons has the skill set to thrive in that environment - especially as a shooter.
He’s knocking down 45.7% of his catch-and-shoot threes, a number that jumps off the page. But on pull-up threes?
Just 29.9%. That’s a clear signal: the more he leans into an off-ball role, the better it is for both him and the team.
And yet, the fit still feels clunky at times - particularly when he shares the floor with Jaylen Brown. In theory, Brown’s gravity should open up clean looks for Simons.
In practice, they often play like two soloists rather than a duo. The numbers back that up:
- Brown & Simons together: -0.83 Net Rating
- Simons without Brown: +1.89
- Brown without Simons: +7.87
That’s not an indictment of either player individually. But it does suggest that the pairing hasn’t found its rhythm.
When they’re on the floor together, Boston isn’t getting the offensive lift it hoped for. It’s not that Simons is hurting the team - it’s that he hasn’t moved the needle in the way a high-scoring bench piece is expected to.
Defensively, Simons has shown effort and focus - something that hasn’t always been a given in his career. He’s clearly trying to hold up his end of the bargain on that side of the floor.
But his physical limitations are still there, and Boston’s early-season lineups didn’t do him any favors. Pairing him with Luka Garza, for example, created a defensive black hole.
That duo posted a brutal -8.5 Net Rating, and it wasn’t hard to see why: two below-average defenders trying to hold the line without a rim protector behind them.
The good news? That’s changed.
When Simons shares the floor with Neemias Queta, the picture brightens considerably. That pairing has a +5.96 Net Rating, thanks in large part to Queta’s ability to protect the rim and cover for mistakes.
Simons can now navigate screens and recover without worrying about what’s behind him. Even smaller lineups with Josh Minott have fared better.
That speaks to how important lineup context is for a player like Simons. He’s not the kind of defender who can anchor a unit, but with the right pieces around him, he can hold his own. And when he’s supported on defense, it frees him up to be more aggressive on offense - especially in pick-and-roll situations, where he’s most comfortable.
So where does that leave things?
Simons is still adjusting. The Celtics are still figuring out how best to use him.
And it’s clear that both sides are in a bit of a feeling-out process. This isn’t a plug-and-play situation - it’s a puzzle that requires some tinkering.
There’s a version of this where Simons becomes a dangerous secondary scorer who punishes second units and stretches the floor. But to get there, he’ll need to fully buy into a role that doesn’t always highlight his strengths.
This is also a contract year for Simons, which adds another layer of urgency. Whether it works out in Boston or not, he has every reason to show he can be a valuable contributor on a contender. The Celtics, meanwhile, need to see if he can evolve into the kind of player who elevates the group around him - not just with points, but with presence.
Right now, Simons is efficient. What he hasn’t proven yet is that his efficiency translates into consistent impact.
That’s the gap Boston is trying to close. If he can find the right balance between his natural scoring instincts and the demands of his new role, there’s still time for this partnership to work.
But the clock is ticking, and the Celtics - like Simons - are still waiting for it all to click.