TITLE: Celtics Continue to Shop Anfernee Simons; Knicks’ Jokubaitis Signs With Bayern; Sixers Off National TV Early in 2025-26
SLUG: celtics-shopping-simons-jokubaitis-bayern-sixers-tv-schedule
CONTENT:
Boston still seeking a landing spot for Simons
The Boston Celtics are actively trying to move guard Anfernee Simons but have yet to locate a trade partner, according to Grant Afseth of FastbreakJournal.com. Boston acquired Simons and two future second-round picks earlier this offseason while sending Jrue Holiday’s contract elsewhere in a cost-cutting move.
Simons, 25, owns an expiring $27,678,571 deal and has produced 19.9 points and 4.5 assists per game with .436/.381/.901 shooting splits across the past four seasons in Portland. Offloading his salary would push Boston below both the first tax apron and the luxury-tax threshold; the club currently sits less than $8 million over the tax line after trading Georges Niang to Utah last week.
Jokubaitis joins Bayern on three-year pact
Draft-and-stash guard Rokas Jokubaitis, whose NBA rights belong to the New York Knicks, has signed a three-year contract with Bayern Munich, the German club announced. Chosen 34th overall in 2021, the 23-year-old Lithuanian already has seven EuroLeague seasons under his belt.
Jokubaitis averaged 12.6 points last year with Maccabi Tel Aviv following three seasons at FC Barcelona. “Rokas is still so young, one of Europe’s biggest talents, yet he has already established himself as one of the leading point guards in the EuroLeague,” Bayern sporting director Dragan Tarlac said in the release.
Philadelphia absent from marquee television windows
The Philadelphia 76ers will not appear on the NBA’s Christmas schedule for the first time in four years and were also omitted from national broadcasts during opening week and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, notes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia finished 24-58 last season after injuries triggered a late-season tank that ultimately yielded lottery pick VJ Edgecombe.
The club’s visibility will hinge on the health of stars Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. George, signed in July, underwent knee surgery last month and is scheduled for a pre-camp evaluation.
In case you missed it: the Brooklyn Nets are taking a firm stance in negotiations with restricted free agent Cam Thomas.
Source: Hoops Rumors
