The Celtics are planning a gambler! In order to renew the inside double tower, Simmons may make a deal chip

According to the latest report by the well-known sports media The Athletic, the Boston Celtics are actively evaluating the possibility of trading team defender Anfini Simmons, with the core goal pointing directly to one - to free up valuable salary space and keep inside pillars Luke Cornett and Al Horford.

"The core intention of the Celtic management trend is quite clear," The Athletic emphasized in the report, "is to obtain enough roster flexibility by handling Simmons' $27.7 million contract that will expire next summer to ensure a smooth renewal with Cornet and Horford." Simmons joined the Celtics in a previous deal about Holiday.

This season's regular season, Simmons played 70 games and delivered a record average of 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists. As a shooting guard, he has the ability to create offensive opportunities independently, and his three-point shooting percentage is also maintained at 36.3%. This expiring contract is indeed attractive to some teams seeking short-term salary releases or have room to eat.

The strategic center of gravity of the Celtics is clearly visible. As a reliable inside rotation, Cornet provides stable basket protection and rebounding battles; and veteran Horford's value cannot be measured by data alone. His rich playoff experience, top defensive IQ and his role as a leader in the locker room are all indispensable "champion puzzles" for the Celtics who are determined to win the championship. Leaving these two inside players is seen as a key step to consolidate the team's foundation for the championship.

Simmons is not a negative asset, but for the Celtics whose salary structure is already quite tight and the luxury tax is as high as 190 million, his big contract has become a potential breakthrough for optimizing the lineup and retaining core rotation. If successful, the Celtics will be able to revolve around Tatum and Brown's dual cores more calmly, retaining the key puzzle that supports their great success this season.

This potential lineup bet indicates that the Celtics management is clearing obstacles to the road to defending the title, sacrificing the current combat power in exchange for long-term stability, and whether it can be achieved will become an important highlight in the offseason.