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Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics

KEEPING SIMONS: Why the Boston Celtics Could RETAIN Anfernee Simons for a Game-Changing Run

Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics

Locked On Podcast Network

Celtics Game, Celtics News, Boston Basketball, Nba Podcast, Sports, Podcast, Boston, Boston Celtics Podcast, Basketball Podcast, Celtics Basketball, Celtics Highlights, Boston Celtics, Celtics, Celtics Nba, Daily Podcast, Basketball, Nba, Celtics Today, Celtics Podcast, Celts, Sports Podcast, Boston Nba

4.7 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 26 December 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Boston Celtics eye a strategic offseason with Anfernee Simons as a potential long-term sixth man. Could a championship run fuel Simons’ breakout and redefine his market value? John Karalis and Keith Smith dissect the Celtics’ options around the NBA trade deadline and beyond, debating whether to keep Simons using Bird rights at a team-friendly deal. They evaluate Simons’ evolving role behind stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, his fit next to Payton Pritchard and Derrick White, and how second apron restrictions limit rival bidders. The conversation includes Simons’ locker room mindset, the impact of Joe Mazzulla’s coaching, and what embracing a Lou Williams/Jamal Crawford-style career could mean for Simons and Boston. Can Brad Stevens’ front office build a roster that maximizes Simons’ talents and keeps the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference? Tune in for expert salary cap analysis and insights on Boston’s championship blueprint.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Bonus content here because like I had Keith on for 35 minutes.

0:05.3

I'm like, that's not enough.

0:06.5

People want more Keith.

0:09.5

And I wrote down, we were talking about Anthony Simons.

0:13.6

I put like big circle on that because Simons is obviously a guy that we talk about being traded.

0:20.2

But I think there's a potential to keep the guy.

0:26.8

You know, like you have his bird rights.

0:29.8

You have the potential to, you can sign him for whatever you want.

0:32.9

And it doesn't have to be for more.

0:34.4

It can be for less.

0:36.0

Like the Celtics have exceptions.

0:39.5

They have guys they can move.

0:42.3

They could do, I'll throw this at you.

0:46.4

They do nothing at the deadline.

0:49.9

Tatum comes back.

0:50.8

They spend the summer building around this team filling gaps with the

0:56.7

trade exceptions and all that stuff. And then they use the bird rights to bring back

1:03.0

Simons at a lesser number because his cap hold is going to be high anyway. So you're not,

1:09.4

you're not like handcuffed by it.

1:13.7

You actually end up saving money in the long run.

1:17.5

I don't know.

1:18.4

I think, I think there's a world where the Celtics don't do anything at the deadline.

...

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