Celtics make surprise starting lineup change after Anfernee Simons trade

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Celtics make surprise starting lineup change after Anfernee Simons trade

Brian Robb · MassLive

Wed, Feb 4, 2026 ·

2 min read

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The Celtics starting five got a new look on Tuesday night against the Mavericks in the wake of a trade that shook up the team's rotation . Boston agreed to send Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic and a 2027 second-round pick.

The move was still not official as of Tuesday night but Simons was pulled from Boston's active roster for personal reasons, according to the team. Simons had played every game this season for Boston, leaving a void off the bench at the guard spot for Tuesday's game in Dallas . Joe Mazzulla addressed that issue by bringing Payton Pritchard off the bench for the first time all season. Baylor Scheierman got the start in his place.

The move helped the Celtics stagger their ball handlers over the course of the game, with Derrick White and Pritchard primarily splitting those duties without Simons available. Moving Pritchard to the bench now also may foreshadow what Boston's ultimate starting five will be once Jayson Tatum returns to the lineup.

Pritchard had no trouble readjusting to his reserve role on Tuesday night, scoring 19 points through the first three quarters while playing his usual amount of minutes to help spark a Boston rout against Dallas. Mazzulla stuck with a nine-man rotation without Simons with Luka Garza , Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez also getting minutes alongside Pritchard.

Brad Stevens will also have the ability to boost their backcourt depth ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. The Celtics currently still have an open roster spot and could still look to tweak the team's depth chart after acquiring a big in Vucevic, according to league sources.

The Celtics return to action on Wednesday night when they face off against the Rockets in Houston .

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