Shams: Niang to Jazz with SRPs, Celts also sign Boucher

[165bows]

Is Niang gettable or is he probably staying in Utah? He seems Kerr-y

A third of the roster is gettable in Utah.

Wouldn't surprise if he's got some more modest value later this year.

[SkyHook]

I know it’s too late and Utah probably never uses more than 18 million of the TPE anyways but.. could Utah trade Love for a player making below 5 mil (what’s left of TPE) and use Love’s salary to match Niang? Just to make us/me happy?

Say

Powell+Niang+Prosper+Dallas cash+Boston 2nds to Utah
Love to Dallas

That trims the money needed for Exum. And Love might/could give some minutes as a spacing big?

Or something similar with a team that could use a spot minute big?..

Or

Kyle Anderson to Sac
Saric+Niang+Sac second+Boston 2nds to Utah

Love for Powell + OMP works as a standard trade without Utah tapping into the balance of their NTMLE or any of their TPEs. Cash alone might get it done, but I imagine that the Jazz would want at least one SRP in return, given that they expect to shed most of Love's salary in a buyout.

I like the SAC deal as it preserves the entire Collins TPE.

They both should preserve the entire TPE, only reason Utah look at them. Utah still has part of the MLE and a smaller TPE to split the Dallas contracts in as.

I doubt Dallas has any interest in paying anything of real value for that deal though. Cash is about all imo.

I missed that on the first read through.

Given that Love's minimum salary after a buyout is $3.6MM+, the Jazz only expect to carry forward about $500K of his current contract. Taking on Powell + OMP (combined $7.0MM) adds $6.5MM to their otherwise expected payroll. That’s why I don't think Dallas gets this done with cash alone, even with preserving the full Collins TPE. Maybe I'm wrong though.

[Snakebites]

Given the circumstances the Celtics have done a decent job.

Can’t imagine too many Celtics fans are excited about this offseason, but these incremental cuts to minimize the cost of cutting salary were the right move.

Celtics fans are excited about 2026/2027. High draft pick, two big TPEs, big spending again. 2025/2026 necessary gap year.

As unfortunate as the Tatum injury was it brought a lot of clarity as to what next season ought to be for Boston.

Big hope now has to be that he recovers successfully.

[oldncreaky]

I'm a bit surprised that it was Boston who got Boucher on a vet min deal. Thought he'd be a much better fit as a depth piece (9th man) on a contender.

He's been inconsistent his entire career, and you don't want to have to rely on him in your top 7. However, if he comes in and hits a couple shots, he can get hot, play impact D, block shots, and tilt a game. On Boston, he just might win them a few games they'd rather lose -- as he did in TOR before he was benched to help the tank.

There's been a couple of low key reports they have liked him over the past couple of years, seemed like a guy that might land eventually. He porbably gets as many minutes as he can handle and then either plays well and gets dealt or gets a bigger deal next year. Or maybe he ends up as depth in 26/27 when Tatum is back.

Kind of a win/win imo except unless he does as you say wins too many games.

Hope he does well for you; I expect him to become a fan favourite

Since as a Celtics fan you're probably very unfamiliar with recent tanking methods in the league, it's not just sitting White and Brown because of hangnails and other such career-risking injuries that can help you lose. Creative coaching can help fuel a tank with tactics such as:
- Every player on a 10-day or called up from the GLeague should play 35 minutes, preferably out of position
- Just because the league office wants you to dress/play every healthy all-star doesn't mean you have to play them their full minutes ==> Brown/White should go to the bench anytime you are close in the 4thQ
- Encourage players such as Boucher and Quetta to find their inner Tatum and expand their game, preferably when the game is on the line
- That random guy on a 10-day who has never played PG after middle school? Have him close the game at PG, especially if he is playing alongside guys he has never practised with (seriously, the Raptors actually did this one game last season!)
- Ever wondered what it looks like if you play exclusively SGs, or exclusively PFs, or a lineup with no one who can dribble? Now is the time to find out!
- When your opponent gets in the bonus early in the 4thQ, make sure to foul your opponents best FT shooter

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On a serious note: as a BB fan I'm sad that this particular Boston team has to take a gap year and hope they bounce back next season, and I hope you and other Celtics fans keep your sanity in the meantime.