Anfernee Simons is back on the Celtics’ radar, and Boston may not be alone for long. NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported that the Celtics are expected to show interest once free agency opens, alongside the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors.
The situation is notable because Simons already had a short run in Boston before being moved again. He was traded to the Celtics last July in the deal that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland, then later landed with Chicago ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline in a move that brought Nikola Vucevic to Boston.
Why Simons Still Draws Attention
Simons, now 27, gave Boston useful bench production during his stint with the team. Across 49 games, he averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 24.5 minutes per game while shooting .440 from the field, .395 from three and .889 at the line.
| Team | Role In Simons’ Recent Path | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Former team | Acquired him last July in the Jrue Holiday trade |
| Chicago Bulls | Current team | Received him ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline |
| Golden State Warriors | Expected suitor | Also interested once free agency opens |
That production came off the bench, which made him a flexible piece even as Boston kept reshaping its roster. He then appeared in only six games with Chicago after the February trade because of injury.
John Karalis had already mentioned Simons as a possible Celtics free-agent target in mid-May, and Tuesday’s reporting from Fischer and Stein added stronger confirmation that Boston remains in the mix. With the Bulls and Warriors also watching, Simons is shaping up as one of the more closely tracked guards on the market.
