Celtics Acquire Simons, Two Picks in Holiday Deal

The Celtics acquired 26-year-old guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday trade. Simons, a 19.3 PPG scorer with a career 38.1% 3-point mark, said he’s excited to join Boston’s winning culture but acknowledged at Media Day that playing defense “is just a matter of if I want to do it or not,” and discussed adapting to the team’s standards. He is on a one-year expiring $27.7 million contract, making this season pivotal for his next deal and Boston’s roster/planning. Boston sees high offensive upside but remains concerned about his defense, and the combination of on-court fit, his expiring salary, and the team’s cost-cutting leaves potential trade-market uncertainty.