Mar 23, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen/Imagn ImagesThe Boston Celtics are committed to shedding salary this offseason, in the wake of an early playoff exit that saw star forward Jayson Tatum suffer a catastrophic injury.With Tatum slated to miss the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon, the Celtics have placed all of their energy toward getting under the NBA's second tax apron. As a result, they've traded Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons, then Kristaps Porzingis for Georges Niang. As a result, they will save tens of millions on their cap sheet.One place they have fallen short in trying to shed additional salary, according to The Athletic's Jay King, is trading Simons. “At this point, I don’t think it’s a matter of how much draft capital the Celtics would get for trading Simons,” King wrote. “It’s a matter of how much draft capital they would have to give up. He doesn’t seem to have a strong market.“In any trade of Simons, the Boston front office would likely prioritize shedding as much salary as possible rather than a frontcourt upgrade. While Stevens has made it clear he does not want to part ways with significant draft assets to cut salary, it would be helpful to get out of the luxury tax and begin the process of resetting the repeater tax if a feasible path to do so exists.”Simons is coming off a strong season with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 19.3 points and 4.8 assists a game while shooting 42.6% from the field and 36.3% from three. Simons is scheduled to make $27.7 million for the 2025-26 season.MORE NBA NEWSLakers reveal plan to build around Luka Doncic – not LeBron James