It might have seemed like the Boston Celtics were getting desperate to get rid of him for a minute during the 2025 NBA offseason if the rumors about the front office trying to trade former Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons to a new team after having gotten the Florida native back in the deal that sent vet guard Jrue Holiday back to the Blazers this summer.
But whether or not that was actually the case, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had plenty to say in favor of the newest member of Boston’s backcourt rotation at this season’s media day proceedings. “I’m excited to have him,” said the Celtics coach.
“He’s been in this league a long time, and he’s shown that he can do some things and just brings another piece to our team, to our roster,” offered Mazzulla.
“And again, the message is the same. Don’t put yourself in a box about how you can impact the game,” continued the West Virginia alum, perhaps alluding to the former Portland guard’s defense, widely pointed to as a major flaw in his game.
Should the former Slam Dunk Contest winner demonstrate that he can turn on his defensive skills at will, as he intimated in his own media day interview, fans of the team will likely quickly buy some real estate of their own on Simons island.
