NBA Writer Believes Celtics Could Deal One More Player Before Trade Deadline

The Boston Celtics made significant changes this summer by trading guard Jrue Holiday and forward Kristaps Porzingis, as well as allowing centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet to leave in free agency.

Boston might not be done parting ways with players just yet this season.

The Athletic’s NBA Writer John Hollinger thinks the Celtics could trade guard Anfernee Simons or forward Sam Hauser by February.

“Anfernee Simons’ $27 million expiring contract seems likely to be on somebody else’s books by February, unless the Celtics can find a taker for Sam Hauser instead,” Hollinger wrote Wednesday. “Moving at least one of those two gets Boston all the way out of the CBA’s punishing repeater tax and sets the Celtics up to build back with a recovered Jayson Tatum a year from now.”

Boston traded Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason for Simons and two second-round picks.

Trade rumors have surrounded Simons since the Celtics acquired him in July. If Boston is out of playoff contention by the NBA trade deadline, he could be dealt.

Simons is currently in the final year of his contract, making him a more viable trade candidate compared to Hauser, who is entering the first season of his four-year, $45 million contract extension he signed last summer.