Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET)

[chrisab123]

Simons+Boucher to CHI for Collins+Phillips. We then reroute Phillips to a third team...

That almost gets us under tax...

Sent from my SM-A536B using RealGM mobile app

The Celtics are in 2nd place. I think getting under the tax is more of a priority for posters than the actual management. Making that trade doesn’t help the team this year. I’d rather just keep Simons.

Trade Boucher and Tillman and a pick for an upgrade in the front court. That’s the only real move I’d make.

[jmr07019]

getting under the tax is more of a priority for posters than the actual management.

Facts

[Larry_Russell]

Feels like Simons value isnt ever going to get any higher than it currently is.

If they are looking to deal him, time is now, imo.

If they are looking to find a taker for Hauser.....his value is feels pretty low....

Either way.....Someone is getting dealt soon.


Hauser to the bulls

Tillman, Boucher to the Nets with a 2nd

Ayo and Sharpe to Boston?


Pritch/Ayo/
White/Simons
Brown/Hugo/Scheierman
Walsh/Minott
Sharpe/Queta/Garza

Maybe Bring up Amari Williams and Shulga for depth and wait for JT to return

[bucknersrevenge]

For me it's Sharpe or Rob or probably nobody. The way we develop young talent with Williams already in the pipeline is the biggest X-factor. We don't need to pay for high priced bigs. If we're thinking about not just this season but beyond with regard to trades, I don't see the point in spending any more than MLE-level money on any big.Plus we still haven't seen any of our current bigs with the "Tatum bump" that is inevitably coming. If we can find a workable deal for Sharpe, fine. Maybe move Hauser for Rob. I'm all in. Beyond that, Don't give up a FRP for a high priced big. Stay the course. Neemy is already a better rebounder than any of our bigs the last 2 seasons and he's still learning. Luka is a excellent shooter and a great O-rebounder. Neither of these guys are done improving. Brad has to be considering that. How much better could they get next to a fully healthy Tatum next season at a fraction of the price that most of these trade targets are going for?

There is no chance we trade Hauser, who is good, for Rob, who is utterly unreliable. Rob is cooked.

Otherwise I agree. Not sure we make any kinda move right now. We incubate our talent and come back hard in 26-27.

Not sure we make any move either. In fact, I'm already bracing myself for that eventuality. Brad doesn't have to be pushed into making any move right now and can do some real tinkering in the offseason if he wants. As for Hauser, he's one of several effective bench wings we have and he makes the most money. But he also has an elite skill and his contract has value so I'm okay with moving him if that opens up more opportunities for Hugo and Walsh, and to a lesser degree, Scheierman. As for Rob, hard disagree on him being cooked. Just last night grabbed 11 boards and blocked 2 shots in a win vs ATL off the bench. And he's been doing that all season. He's a solid bench player on an expiring deal with an elite skill...Just like Hauser and we could actually use him.

[Larry_Russell]

Also, a part of me feels like when Kuminga gets out of GS he is going to go WILD.

I would absolutely take a risk on him as he potentially the type of Big forward who can protect the JAYs

Simons to the Warriors - Gives them a lightning rod guard who should fit well between Steph and Jimmy. Big expiring as well.


Tillman and Boucher to the nets with a boston 2nd - sheds some money for the Celtics, gives a pick to Nets


Kuminga and Horford to Boston - Also drops 800K below 1st apron


White/Pritchard
Brown/Hugo
Tatum/Hauser/Scheierman
Kuminga/Walsh/Minott
Queta/Horford/Garza

[Fierce1]

Since Simons became a Celtic, some here wanted him gone even before the season started.

Using Kuminga and Horford as a smokescreen to get rid of Simons is just too over the top.

Kuminga will protect the Jays?

From what?

Rain?

The Jays don't need protecting.

[GoCeltics123]

I'm going to refrain from the Simons stuff and have Brad make that call.

But this team needs a center who plays defense. Garza does good offensive things but his defense is PAINFUL to watch. If Simons stays, get me Day'Ron Sharpe or Yves Missi yesterday

[Hal14]

I can only pray that you are right. I have a nice bottle of Prosecco on ice for the day Simons is gone. Then they might actually start winning some close games.

This aged….oh never mind.

Check back February 6th

He's saying it aged badly because Curm said we can't win close games with Simons but he was proven wrong last night vs Miami.

[hugepatsfan]

Kuminga may very well be a breakout candidate, but the reasons it isn't happening in GS are the same reasons I don't believe it would here. Some guys need free reign to establish their game first and then you fit that into a winning framework. Young players don't often get that long a leash on teams trying to compete around established players. I just don't see a fit.

Apparently the Warriors only want long term money if it's a truly plus piece for them, so maybe there's a 3 team possibility. Simons to GSW as an expiring and then a player from a rebuilding team who wants Kuminga to us. The guy that immediately jumps out to me is Claxton from BRK. I could see BRK wanting to take the flier on Kuminga and I could see GSW deciding Claxton isn't worth long term commitment, which is where we'd come in.

At the same time, Simons is playing REALLY, REALLY well right now and could be a legitimate long term piece on his next contract. I'm not sure I'd be in a rush to move him.

[Parasite]

This aged….oh never mind.

Check back February 6th

He's saying it aged badly because Curm said we can't win close games with Simons but he was proven wrong last night vs Miami.

Correct. But I do hope he’s wrong about Simons being traded.

[hugepatsfan]

I'm going to refrain from the Simons stuff and have Brad make that call.

But this team needs a center who plays defense. Garza does good offensive things but his defense is PAINFUL to watch. If Simons stays, get me Day'Ron Sharpe or Yves Missi yesterday

If they sent out Hauser, Boucher, Tillman, Scheierman in trades that only netted Missi back and then they backfilled the other 3 spots with two rookies and one vet min deal they'd duck the tax by about $300K.

Pritchard / Simons
White / Hugo
Brown / Walsh
Tatum / Minott
Queta / Missi / Garza

Plus the 3 minimum signings (presumably Amari Williams and Shulga would be the rookies, and then probably a vet PG on the buyout market).

[brackdan70]

I'm going to refrain from the Simons stuff and have Brad make that call.

But this team needs a center who plays defense. Garza does good offensive things but his defense is PAINFUL to watch. If Simons stays, get me Day'Ron Sharpe or Yves Missi yesterday

If they sent out Hauser, Boucher, Tillman, Scheierman in trades that only netted Missi back and then they backfilled the other 3 spots with two rookies and one vet min deal they'd duck the tax by about $300K.

Pritchard / Simons
White / Hugo
Brown / Walsh
Tatum / Minott
Queta / Missi / Garza

Plus the 3 minimum signings (presumably Amari Williams and Shulga would be the rookies, and then probably a vet PG on the buyout market).

I really like this. Would NOP do it?

[GoCeltics123]

Amid Ja Morant trade talks, Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a player the Memphis Grizzlies want to build with, according to an ESPN report. However, that stance hasn’t stopped various teams across the league from registering interest in Jackson Jr, including the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, league sources told HoopsHype.

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/16/nba-intel-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr-anthony-davis-kyrie-irving-peyton-watson-jonathan-kuminga/88210035007/

[watsonthedragon]

Amid Ja Morant trade talks, Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a player the Memphis Grizzlies want to build with, according to an ESPN report. However, that stance hasn’t stopped various teams across the league from registering interest in Jackson Jr, including the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, league sources told HoopsHype.

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/16/nba-intel-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr-anthony-davis-kyrie-irving-peyton-watson-jonathan-kuminga/88210035007/

Are they just referencing the report from earlier this week...?

[GoCeltics123]

Amid Ja Morant trade talks, Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a player the Memphis Grizzlies want to build with, according to an ESPN report. However, that stance hasn’t stopped various teams across the league from registering interest in Jackson Jr, including the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, league sources told HoopsHype.

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/16/nba-intel-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr-anthony-davis-kyrie-irving-peyton-watson-jonathan-kuminga/88210035007/

Are they just referencing the report from earlier this week...?

No this is a new report from a different writer

[hugepatsfan]

I checked my math and the Missi deal works with Garza going out instead of Scheierman, which probably makes more sense since we're getting Missi back and Amari Williams would be signed to the NBA roster. Garza also has some value for them as a center I think can play with Queen and Missi has been mentioned in trade winds specifically because he doesn't fit with him as well.

NOP gives: Missi, Looney
NOP gets: Hauser, Garza, 2026 BOS 1st rounder

Why? Get a pick, a good depth wing on a sub MLE deal and a functional rotation big for a player who doesn't fit with their new centerpiece player.

3rd team gives: nothing
3rd team gets: Looney, 2026 MIL 2nd rounder, cash

Why? Expiring salary dump for a 2nd rounder.

BOS gives: Hauser, Garza, 2026 1st rounder, 2026 MIL 2nd rounder, cash
BOS gets: Missi

Why? Get a young rotation big, duck the tax,

Follow it up by dumping Boucher and Tillman on other teams at the cost of future 2nd rounders/2nd round swaps. Leaves three spots to backfill - Shulga and Amari Williams get two spots and then a veteran buyout ball handler for the last one.

Pritchard / Simons / (vet min)
White / Hugo / Shulga
Brown / Walsh / Scheierman
Tatum / Minott
Queta / Missi / AWilliams

Assuming the AWilliams and Shulga deals are multi year, everyone except Simons and the vet min guard would be signed for next year. We'd be like $28M below the tax with those 12 players signed. You could re-sign Simons to a MLE sized or less deal which seems reasonable based on how he's been supposedly valued in trade talks. They'd be able to use the full Porzingis TPE if they wanted to. They could use a portion of it and stay under the tax again to totally reset repeater rates (might involve going over and then having to dump player(s) again midyear to go back under, depending on actual numbers of the player acquired). Have to weight the cost-benefit of who's available.

If you like Missi, I think this would be a pretty solid multi year plan.

[Celticlifer]

Feels like Simons value isnt ever going to get any higher than it currently is.

If they are looking to deal him, time is now, imo.

If they are looking to find a taker for Hauser.....his value is feel pretty low....

Either way.....Someone is getting dealt soon.


Hauser to the bulls




Tillman, Boucher to the Nets with a 2nd

Ayo and Sharpe to Boston?


Pritch/Ayo/
White/Simons
Brown/Hugo/Scheierman
Walsh/Minott
Sharpe/Queta/Garza

Maybe Bring up Amari Williams and Shulga for depth and wait for JT to return

Why won't his value get higher? He's finding his way now, getting g trusted more. He puts up a bunch more like this his value will go much higher.

[redslastlaugh]

I'd be shocked if we traded for Jaren Jackson Jr, given his salary over the four years after this. I know Brad's first & primary love is big men who shoot and switch, but JJJ just doesn't impact the game the way he'd need to at that figure. So I'd be shocked

I think we're at this inflection point with Jays' age & health, and Brad/Zarren just need to do some GMing: drafting players, developing, finding undervalued pieces, and preserving cap sheet flexibility. What we do not need to do is cash in chips to pay sticker price for vets who already got paid. Such an approach to roster management, trading cheap swings for vets at full freight price, is not the move at this time, imo.

The move that increases the championship window the most, and by far, is finding another one or two Hugo Gonzalez's and maintaining flexibility that come this time next year, we have all the bullets (picks, prospects, limber cap sheet) in the clip ...

[Larry_Russell]

Feels like Simons value isnt ever going to get any higher than it currently is.

If they are looking to deal him, time is now, imo.

If they are looking to find a taker for Hauser.....his value is feel pretty low....

Either way.....Someone is getting dealt soon.


Hauser to the bulls




Tillman, Boucher to the Nets with a 2nd

Ayo and Sharpe to Boston?


Pritch/Ayo/
White/Simons
Brown/Hugo/Scheierman
Walsh/Minott
Sharpe/Queta/Garza

Maybe Bring up Amari Williams and Shulga for depth and wait for JT to return

Why won't his value get higher? He's finding his way now, getting g trusted more. He puts up a bunch more like this his value will go much higher.

cause he is an expiring and trade deadline is less than a month away.

[GreenBlooded]

Amid Ja Morant trade talks, Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a player the Memphis Grizzlies want to build with, according to an ESPN report. However, that stance hasn’t stopped various teams across the league from registering interest in Jackson Jr, including the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, league sources told HoopsHype.

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2026/01/16/nba-intel-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr-anthony-davis-kyrie-irving-peyton-watson-jonathan-kuminga/88210035007/

JJJ is a true unicorn big who would allow the team he's playing on to play 5 out on offense AND to switch everything on defense. There are only a couple of players in the NBA with this skill set combination. Added to the Jays, that is a big three that would be favorites in the East for several years.

Contracts and Memphis not being a complete dumpster fire make it unlikely but it definitely makes sense that the C's make an offer for him (especially being only 26 and locked up for 5 yrs) that fundamentally changes the direction of the franchise.