14+3! Celtics score big in trade! On track for the Sixth Man of the Year award

Surprisingly, the Celtics are still so formidable without Tatum, Holiday, and Porzingis,holding a 25-15 record this season to rank second in the East, just behind the Pistons at 29-10, with a 4.5-game difference.

Statistics show that the Celtics rank second in the league by allowing 110.2 points per game, second in three-pointers made with 15.6 per game, and second in offensive efficiency at 121.5, remaining one of the best two-way teams in the NBA.

Of course, the biggest contributor to the Celtics' success this season is Jayson Brown, truly deserving of the Finals MVP title, averaging 29.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1 steal per game, shooting 49.1%, 37.3%, and 78.5% respectively, with a career-high scoring average. In the NBA's latest MVP rankings, he stands fifth, behind Alexander, Jokic, Doncic, and Embiid.

Besides that, newcomer Anfernee Simons has been outstanding, heading straight for the Sixth Man of the Year award,appearing in all 40 games off the bench this season, averaging 24.3 minutes, contributing 14.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 40.5% and hitting 2.7 three-pointers per game.He is currently the Celtics’ most crucial second-unit scoring option.

Last offseason, the Celtics traded Holiday to acquire Simons from the Trail Blazers, primarily to save $40 million in luxury tax. It’s worth noting that the Celtics are considering trading Simons this season because he is on a contract worth $27.68 million this year, and not moving him now could mean losing him for nothing next summer.

Born on June 8, 1999, Simons is a 1.91-meter tall sharpshooter with a 2.06-meter wingspan. He was a starter and key player for the Trail Blazers, averaging impressive stats of 22.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the 23-24 season. He clearly does not want to remain a bench player with the Celtics, so a trade before the February 6 deadline is quite possible.

Notably, Simons once won the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in the 20-21 season.

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