Anfernee Simons is vital to what the Boston Celtics plan to do before the trade deadline.

The Boston Celtics didn't see this coming.

After Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury, everyone thought this season would just be a transition year. But they've become real contenders in the Eastern Conference. They were 18–11 as of Wednesday, which puts them third in the East. Now, the front office has to rethink whether they should be aggressive when the NBA trade deadline hits on Feb. 5.

Simons is key to the Celtics' trade plans as the deadline approaches. He was Boston’s big offseason pickup and their most valuable trade piece.

NBA insider Jake Fischer says the Celtics might actually keep Simons past the deadline. This is a big change since they initially saw him as mostly a way to match salaries in trades.

Fischer wrote, The Celtics could keep it simple and look for deals that get rid of the guard’s $27.6 million salary. This would help them avoid the luxury tax while Tatum is out. He added, But Boston is doing way better than expected. Let's say the Celtics use Simons to get a good frontcourt player. Then they might challenge teams in the East, even if Tatum is out all season.

Fischer also mentioned, I've heard from sources that Boston might just decide to keep Simons. They are okay with paying some luxury tax this season after saving a lot of money in the offseason by getting rid of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.

Simons is doing well in Boston, but nothing too crazy.

In 29 games with Boston, Simons is scoring 13.0 points, with 2.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds. He's giving them some outside shooting and spacing in Coach Joe Mazzulla’s offence that relies a lot on three-pointers.

Simons usually shoots 38 per cent from three-point range and scores 14.9 points per game. Now, he's playing a role where he supports the main guys, instead of being the star like he was in Portland. He's playing consistently, but he's not a game-changer, so he's still part of trade talks.

His contract makes him pretty valuable. It's a $27.7 million deal that ends this year. This gives Boston options: they can improve the team or cut costs if they need to.

The Celtics have looked into Simon's trades before.

Back in November, Michael Scotto from HoopsHype said Boston checked out some trades involving Simons soon after they got him. They even talked to the Brooklyn Nets.

Scotto wrote that Boston and Brooklyn talked about a few trades that didn't work out before the season started. These talks happened while the Celtics were dealing with the league’s restrictions and changing the team.

It wasn't just about Simons. Scotto also mentioned that Boston wanted Nets centre Day’Ron Sharpe to help the frontcourt. Even though Boston could only offer a minimum contract at the time, they thought Sharpe could compete for a starting spot.

Sharpe is putting up 7.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 16.3 minutes. Boston was interested because they needed help inside.

They still need frontcourt help.

The Celtics have been counting on Neemias Queta, who averages 10.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. But they don't have another consistent inside player who can defend well and grab rebounds.

That's why Simons is still up for trade if the right offer comes along.

Fischer wrote, I think if Boston could trade Simons for a better player and lower their tax bill, or avoid the tax altogether, Brad Stevens would do it in a heartbeat.

The luxury tax is still a worry, but not as much.

Boston is about $12 million over the luxury tax. But, according to Scotto, the Celtics don't have to cut salary unless a good deal comes up.

They already saved money by trading Holiday and Porziņģis. Plus, the owners are willing to pay some tax if the team stays competitive.

The Celtics don't want to give up draft picks just to trade Simons’ contract, which makes it harder to save money.

Optionality defines the deadline.

Boston is in a good spot because it's doing better than expected.

They're not just trying to save money or get assets. They can choose to stay put, get better, or make small changes.

Simons represents that choice.

Whether Boston keeps him, trades him for a frontcourt player, or uses him to tweak the roster will show how far this season can go. It will also show how the Celtics balance winning now with planning for the future.

Right now, the Celtics aren't selling.

They're figuring things out.

The Raiders' awful 2025 season just got even worse. Brock Bowers, their superstar, is out for the rest of the year with an injury and is headed to the IR.

The second-year player was close to beating Mike Ditka's receiving yards record for a tight end in his first two seasons.

Instead, Bowers will watch his 2-13 Raiders play the 2-13 Giants next Sunday. The game will really decide who gets the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Bowers, who's 23, only played 12 games in 2025. Even so, he's still the Raiders' leader in catches (64), receiving yards (680), and receiving touchdowns (7).

He hurt his knee in their Week 1 win against the Patriots and tried to play through it. He ended up missing three games in October.

The Raiders will likely get a high draft pick next season as Bowers hopes for his first playoff appearance. Maxx Crosby, their star edge rusher, doesn't care who they pick as a result of Sunday's game against the Giants.

“Yeah, I don’t give a crap about the pick, to be honest,” he told the media. “I don’t play for that. My job is to be the best defensive end, and that’s what I focus on every day: being a great leader and being that guy for my team.”

Bowers still made the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row, even though he missed multiple games. Last year, he set the rookie record for catches and receiving yards by a tight end.

Coaches and players have said a lot of good things about him. "God blessed Brock with amazing skills, and he's showing it," Raiders safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. told ESPN. [Las Vegas] better be ready to pay him big time. Jags coach Liam Coen said, He can run option routes like Cooper Kupp and run the seams like Tony Gonzalez. He's just multipurpose.

After their game against the Giants, the Raiders will finish 2025 against the Chiefs. Surprisingly, the game doesn't matter for the playoffs since Patrick Mahomes is also out for the year.