Boston faces a salary-cap tightrope with Jayson Tatum sidelined, making a potential run at a cheap but productive scorer crucial. The Celtics swapped Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons to dodge the second apron, and the market around Simons remains active: teams and GMs eye a deal that avoids heavy long‑term commitments. If Simons stays, he could become Boston’s primary scorer as the offense adapts to his scoring punch, though his expiring deal complicates any long‑term plan. The upcoming trade deadline looms as the likeliest fork in the road for Simons and Boston.