Celtics’ Brad Stevens Gives Thoughts On Recent Trade Additions
The Boston Celtics are in a state of flux…
The NBA finally processed the paperwork on a pair of trades that sent center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, putting a bow on the deals despite them being reported weeks ago.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens released a statement regarding the deals, giving us his initial thoughts on the returning players: Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang.
“Anfernee is a really good young player who has continuously improved in his seven years in the NBA,” Stevens’ statement read. “Georges is no stranger to Boston and has continuously been a winning player over the course of his career. We are excited to add both of them to the team.”
Simons, 26, is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $27.6 million for the 2025-26 season. Simons averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists per game last year with the Portland Trail Blazers, though reports of a potential trade have already surfaced.
Niang, 30, is a local product (Lawrence, Mass.) who attended the Tilton School in Tilton, New Hampshire. Niang averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last year across stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Celtics likely aren’t done making deals involving this duo, though.