Raptors Trade Rumors: Proposed 3-Team Deal Sees Celtics' Anfernee Simons Landing in Toronto

We're hearing that the Boston Celtics might not be done salary dumping just yet this summer, with incoming Anfernee Simons a potential candidate to be flipped before he even pulls on the leprechaun jersey. His $27.6 million salary has already led to rumors of three teams being interested in his services.

But courtesy Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report, we're now getting a proposed trade that would see Simons head to the Toronto Raptors as part of a three-team deal. There are some issues with this idea, which we address below:

Toronto Raptors Receive:

Anfernee Simons (from Celtics)

Boston Celtics Receive:

Terance Mann (from Nets)
Ochai Agbaji (from Raptors)
2030 second-round pick from Toronto

Brooklyn Nets Receive:

R.J. Barrett (from Raptors)
2031 second-round pick from Boston

For Toronto, it seems like a bit of a haul to give up both hometown favorite Barrett and Agbaji plus a second-rounder, to get Simons. But Bailey suggests that Simons' ability from beyond the arc (38.6% over the last five seasons) would help fill the Raptors' biggest need, plus shipping out a wing player like Barrett and adding a guard helps balance the lineup, he posits. We're not convinced.

The argument against this is that Agbaji actually had a career year this past season, and shot 39.9% from long range (though, granted, not anywhere near the volume of Simons), while Barrett filled up the stat sheet in general, at 21.1 points per game, 6.3 boards and 5.4 assists. But it's true that the addition of Brandon Ingram does create a logjam at his position.

For the Celtics, they already got themselves below the dreaded second apron after dealing off Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, now this trade would get them under the first apron as well, plus they get a couple of players they could possibly turn around in a trade, even at the deadline.

The other question of this trade though, is whether the Nets, who are in tank mode, will want to take on the two years and almost $58 million left on Barrett's contract, plus his production which might raise their 'compete' score. If they think they can find a taker in a trade to flip him, maybe it makes some sense for them.