Report: Nets, Celtics discussed Anfernee Simons trade during offseason

The Brooklyn Nets came into the 2025-26 NBA season having made some moves to switch up the roster in the hopes of having a better season than they did in 2024-25. Brooklyn had every incentive to explore trades with other teams due to the amount of cap space they had for the offseason, including potentially acquiring a young guard in the process.

"Over the summer, the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics discussed several trade scenarios involving [Boston Celtics guard Anfernee] Simons that ultimately fell through, league sources told HoopsHype," HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported on Wednesday. This isn't the first time that Simons has been mentioned in connection with the Nets as he appeared to fill a need for a Brooklyn team that was still looking for its point guard of the future.

"Getting below the luxury tax entirely could conceivably be achieved by trading guard Anfernee Simons," Scotto continued while explaining why the Celtics could potentially consider trading Simons at some point this season. "With that in mind, Boston hasn’t shown a willingness to attach a first-round pick to trade Simons’ expiring contract, league sources told HoopsHype."

Simons, 26, is having a down season compared to his days with the Portland Trail Blazers as the Celtics have been bringing up off the bench behind Payton Pritchard. Simons, who is averaging 14.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting while shooting 44.8% from the field and 41.1% from three-point land, reportedly drew some interest from Brooklyn in the summer, but general manager Sean Marks and company wanted too much draft compensation, per NetsDaily.

"Reportedly there was also some level of talks between Nets and Celtics about Simons but supposedly, Nets wanted too much in draft assets," NetsDaily wrote on X in August. As Scotto noted, Boston hasn't been willing to attach a first-round pick to Simons in a trade and with rookie guard Egor Demin showing some signs of being worth the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, it's possible that the Nets won't risk his development just to acquire another point guard.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Report: Nets, Celtics discussed Anfernee Simons trade during offseason