Celtics Predicted To Trade $100 Million Guard

The Boston Celtics opened their 2025–26 season with a heartbreaking 117–116 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a game they led for most of the night. But even after just one outing, the conversation in Boston has already shifted — not to the loss, but to the future.

At the center of it: Anfernee Simons. The 25-year-old guard made his Celtics debut on Wednesday and is already drawing early trade speculation.

Celtics Predicted To Move On?

In Bleacher Report’s season-opening “1 Overreaction For Each Team” column, Andy Bailey floated the idea that Boston could explore salary-saving moves before the February deadline.

The Celtics are roughly $12 million away from escaping the luxury tax, and Bailey suggested that “players like Anfernee Simons and/or Sam Hauser could be on the move” if the team struggles to find consistency.

Simons is on an expiring $27.6 million deal — a figure that naturally draws interest in a league obsessed with flexibility. For Brad Stevens, any decision involving Simons will come down to timing and trajectory: how Boston looks by midseason, and how the roster fits once everyone’s healthy.

Why the Celtics Might Hold Off

It might be too early to frame Simons as a trade piece. His debut showed encouraging flashes — especially on defense, an area that has long defined his reputation.

Throughout training camp, Joe Mazzulla challenged Simons to elevate that part of his game, reportedly telling him he’s “not as bad as people think.” Simons’ response? “It’s just a matter of whether I want to do it or not.”

Against Philadelphia, he backed it up. He fought through screens, rotated with purpose, and even hustled back to strip Tyrese Maxey in transition — a sequence that caught Mazzulla’s attention.

Once Jayson Tatum returns, Simons’ scoring and shot creation could become even more valuable. The Celtics have often lacked a guard who can heat up instantly, and Simons brings exactly that element.

Boston Should Be Patient

Simons’ contract makes him an obvious candidate in trade rumors, but it’s also what gives Boston leverage. There’s no rush to move him — not when the team is still learning how all its new pieces fit.

If Simons continues to buy in defensively and brings that “microwave” scoring punch, he could end up being worth far more to Boston on the floor than as a financial move on paper.

It’s a long season. The Celtics are one game in, and they know better than to let early speculation dictate their plans. For now, patience might be the smartest play.

Lions Announce Bad News on Starting Defensive End

The Detroit Lions were without their starting defensive end during their 38-30 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. And he’ll be sidelined for at least three weeks after that, as well.

The team announced on Monday that Marcus Davenport would be headed to injured reserve. Davenport suffered a chest injury and had already been ruled out for Monday’s game, but now his long-term future is in doubt as well.

Despite Davenport’s absence, the Lions pass rush had seven sucks, led by Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad. The seven sacks tied the most allowed by the Ravens in team history, according to the Lions.

Marcus Davenport’s Injury Grew More Serious

As Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire reported, the Lions initially listed Davenport’s injury as his shoulder but later clarified that it was his chest.

“Davenport suffered what was initially listed as a shoulder injury while recording the team’s first sack of the season in the Week 2 win over Chicago,” Risdon wrote. “It was later changed to a chest injury, indicative of a pectoral muscle issue. Davenport was spotted in an immobilizing sling on his right arm after a practice session.”

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on Friday that the team still had to determine the severity of the injury.

“Yeah, I don’t see Davenport playing. We’re still trying to decide what to do. We’ve gotten some other tests back,” Campbell said. “We do not feel this is season-ending, but don’t see him playing this week.”

Campbell said the team would look for a replacement from within for now, saying he was satisfied with the organization’s depth at edge rusher.

“Yes, we do. I feel good about the depth,” Campbell said.

The Lions did not add an edge rusher from the practice squad for Monday’s game, instead elevating tight end Ross Dwelley to the active roster.

Lions Announce Inactives for Ravens Game

After putting Davenport on injured reserve, the Lions had an open roster spot and announced five players would be inactive for Monday’s game. Inactives included safety Thomas Harper, running back Craig Reynolds, center Kingsley Eguakun, and defensive linemen Chris Smith and Mekhi Wingo.

Campbell said this week that his team’s defensive players would need to work hard to stay disciplined against a quarterback as talented as Jackson.

“We’re going to have to be on point again,” Campbell said, via USA Today’s Lions Wire. “You can’t paralyze your guys, either. You can’t pull back so far on them that they lose what makes them great players. Or like a guy like (Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch, you’ve just got to be careful.”

Campbell said his players need to stay grounded when facing Jackson, keeping him contained and swarming to tackles.

“So, yes we have to be disciplined … Don’t leave your feet,” Campbell said. “You just keep moving with a base until you get reinforcements, and let’s just close it in on them. That’ll certainly be a point of emphasis.”

The Lions moved to 2-1, tying the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings at the top of the NFC North.