With another steady, intentional night against Toronto, Simons continues turning himself from a movable piece into a real decision point for the Celtics.
The funny thing about Anfernee Simons is that just when you start to mentally pencil him into the “clean deadline piece” category, he reminds you why that label never quite sticks.
Friday night was another example.
In Boston’s 125-117 win over a shorthanded Raptors team (23-16) at TD Garden, Simons didn’t dominate the box score or hijack the offense. He didn’t need to. Instead, he delivered something arguably more important at this stage of the season:
Clarity through competence.
Simons finished with 15 points in 26 minutes, but the numbers only tell part of the story. What stood out was how those points came. Tough pull-ups when the shot clock dipped. Confident catch-and-shoot threes that punished defensive lapses. A couple of timely drives that forced Toronto to collapse and scramble. Every touch felt intentional, not forced - a notable shift from earlier stretches this season.
This is why Simons remains such a complicated evaluation for the Celtics (24-13).
Early on, the path felt obvious. Boston had offensive redundancy, defensive questions, and looming roster decisions. Simons, talented but imperfect, looked like the logical name to circle when conversations turned to balance and flexibility. He could score, sure, but was he essential?
Lately, that answer has gotten murkier.
Against Toronto, Simons once again showed why he’s more than just a plug-and-play scorer.
His shot-making gives Boston a release valve when possessions bog down - something that becomes magnified with Jayson Tatum still sidelined. When defenses load up on Jaylen Brown or overplay the perimeter, Simons can create offense without needing a full schematic shift.
Just as importantly, his defense hasn’t been a liability.
That’s not to say he’s suddenly a stopper, but his effort level and positioning have been consistently playable. He’s competing through screens, staying engaged off the ball, and avoiding the kind of breakdowns that force coaching staff into uncomfortable rotation decisions.
That matters.
Jan 9, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; iToronto Raptors guard Alijah Martin (55) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) and guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) n the second half at TD Garden. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)MORE CELTICS STORIES:
The Celtics don’t need to trade Anfernee Simons. That’s the difference now.
If they choose to move him, it will be because the return clearly upgrades the roster, not because he’s an expendable piece clogging the rotation.
And that’s a credit to Simons.
“Yeah, man - it’s the NBA,” said Simons postgame in the locker room when asked about hearing his name in rumors. “I mean, I’ve been in trade rumors since my third year. Every other week it’s something new, you know what I mean? So, you know, it’s just a part of the NBA, and you just gotta be where your feet are.”
He’s turned himself from a question mark into a leverage point.
Every solid performance tightens the margin on any potential deal and raises the internal cost of subtraction. Boston can afford to be patient - and patience is a luxury contenders don’t always have.
Friday’s win over Toronto was about offense, balance, and professionalism against a team that wouldn’t go away. But quietly, it was also another chapter in Simons’ evolving case to stay.
Not flashy. Not definitive.
Just effective enough to make things complicated.
And for the Celtics, that’s a good problem to have.
Oct 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) defended by Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the first half at TD Garden. (Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.