2025 Offseason Trade and Free Agency Thread (Wow this is fun!)

[Hal14]

It's not like Simons will be a 1st or 2nd option with the Cs.

Simons will be the 3rd or 4th option.

That's not bad at all.

After we trade KP, he could be the 2nd option, while Tatum is out.

And JB (coming off knee surgery and playing on a team that is basically punting the season) will be sitting out quite a few games so there could be quite a few games where Simons is the no. 1 option.

With that being said, as I research this deal more, it seems like Simons is likely not a long term piece here (mainly because of the really bad defense and with us losing Jrue, we need to fill that defensive void but also because he's kind of a selfish player, just looks for his own shots and moving him can help us get the tax bill lower, and get under the 2nd apron)..either he gets moved again this summer, gets moved at the deadline, or we wait till next summer when he hits free agency and let him walk or do a sign and trade to get something in return for him.

[Fierce1]

It's not like Simons will be a 1st or 2nd option with the Cs.

Simons will be the 3rd or 4th option.

That's not bad at all.

After we trade KP, he could be the 2nd option, while Tatum is out.

JB-White-Simons

[Froob]

important thing to keep in mind if he’s extended, we really haven’t committed to any one way player in Brad era.

[Bad-Thoma]

I was reading the Portland thread about this trade and the consensus seemed to be they were happy Simons didn't get extended there but were unhappy that they took on Jrue's contract in this deal without gaining any draft capital. I like it for both teams really, I don't think Simons will be here for more than one season (if that long) as he's pretty averse to defense but getting off that Jrue money with our cap situation had the potential for a much more difficult trade market. Simons can put up numbers and is expiring, I'd like to see PP get a chance to start and have Simons be the bench microwave guy for a season. For Portland their defense was already on the rise and Jrue can definitely help that, if he stays healthy and starts really hitting the 3 again he'll have trade value (which would be harder for us to capitalize on with our cap situation) for a contender looking to find an edge like Milwaukee and Boston. I'm surprised they gave up the second rounders but hey, they are second rounders.

[Hal14]

It's not like Simons will be a 1st or 2nd option with the Cs.

Simons will be the 3rd or 4th option.

That's not bad at all.

After we trade KP, he could be the 2nd option, while Tatum is out.

JB-White-Simons

Yeah I think we'll have to wait and see who scores more between Simons and White.

[hugepatsfan]

Brad made an upgrade by turning Jrue into Simons.

Now you want to downgrade by going from a 26-year old Simons to a washed 35-year old Klay???

So you think the Blazers gave up 2nds for a worse player on a higher salary and longer term deal and 10 years older? I understand every GM is not a genius, but that seems like a Celtics colored glasses view. Go read what any POR fan has said about Simons... he sucks. He's an empty stats player hwo plays losing basketball. Maybe he changes his tune here... it's a decent flier to take. But we got worse on the court if the goal is to win games. Simons is, so far in his career, a Kyle Kuzma type of player that lines up at guard. He is not someone, as he is right now, that anyone should be excited about having on this team for any reason other than how he helped our overall salary picture compared to Jrue.

One thing's for sure Simons is better than Klay at this stage of their careers.

And like I said, that's the beauty of this trade, the Celtics have an out because he's an expiring.

If Simons does not fit in then move him at the deadline.

But give him a chance from October to February.

I don't think that's certain at all, him being better than Klay. Simons is a worse shooter than Klay. While Klay has no lateral ability anymore, he's still better on defense by way of understanding the mental side of team defense and more size to use and Simons is just a disinterested bum on that end. Simons does have more handles/playmaking, but he's not particularly good at those things still.

Don't get me wrong I would rather take a flier on Simons maybe turning his career around. But I expect they need to get below the 2nd apron and if shedding the incremental salary this year allows me to make better moves for that elsewhere then sign me up for that if I can get picks too, which I think you could because of age/perceived upside.

Simons makes $27.7M next year. Hauser and Klay would combine to make $26.7M. If swapping Simons for Klay meant i didn't have to dump Hauser then sign me up for that. Hauser has mor eof a role on a winning team IMO and on a value deal.

[chrisab123]

I saw in this article Simons potential extension is 3yrs 125mil. No thanks.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/5/25/24162107/portland-trail-blazers-deandre-ayton-anfernee-simons-nba-draft-trade-extension-salary-free-agency

And this is why it’s more likely than not he never plays a game here.

[Bad-Thoma]

So you think the Blazers gave up 2nds for a worse player on a higher salary and longer term deal and 10 years older? I understand every GM is not a genius, but that seems like a Celtics colored glasses view. Go read what any POR fan has said about Simons... he sucks. He's an empty stats player hwo plays losing basketball. Maybe he changes his tune here... it's a decent flier to take. But we got worse on the court if the goal is to win games. Simons is, so far in his career, a Kyle Kuzma type of player that lines up at guard. He is not someone, as he is right now, that anyone should be excited about having on this team for any reason other than how he helped our overall salary picture compared to Jrue.

One thing's for sure Simons is better than Klay at this stage of their careers.

And like I said, that's the beauty of this trade, the Celtics have an out because he's an expiring.

If Simons does not fit in then move him at the deadline.

But give him a chance from October to February.

I don't think that's certain at all, him being better than Klay. Simons is a worse shooter than Klay. While Klay has no lateral ability anymore, he's still better on defense by way of understanding the mental side of team defense and more size to use and Simons is just a disinterested bum on that end. Simons does have more handles/playmaking, but he's not particularly good at those things still.

Don't get me wrong I would rather take a flier on Simons maybe turning his career around. But I expect they need to get below the 2nd apron and if shedding the incremental salary this year allows me to make better moves for that elsewhere then sign me up for that if I can get picks too, which I think you could because of age/perceived upside.

Simons makes $27.7M next year. Hauser and Klay would combine to make $26.7M. If swapping Simons for Klay meant i didn't have to dump Hauser then sign me up for that. Hauser has mor eof a role on a winning team IMO and on a value deal.

I kind of like that idea both for being more competitive and for flexibility. I do think Klay still offers more to a winning team than Simons if he can stay healthy and having both Klay and Hauser vs one Simons sounds pretty good. I'd be trying to get a little draft capital in that trade as well.

[Curmudgeon]

Terrible deal. Doesn't save any money, makes the team on the floor worse.

[165bows]

After we trade KP, he could be the 2nd option, while Tatum is out.

JB-White-Simons

Yeah I think we'll have to wait and see who scores more between Simons and White.

Contract year he will get his shots up.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if he looks really good for three months, puts up a 24/4/4 on 60TS% (hopefully) and when Tatum gets back they can move him on out of here for value.

[Fierce1]

Guess we'll have to wait a couple more days.

It was not so long ago that some believed that Brad would have to spend a 1st rnd pick just to get out of Jrue's contract.

Simons with Portland and as the #1 or #2 option would be a bad investment.

But Simons provides something the Cs are lacking and that's a dynamic scoring guard.

[Bad-Thoma]

Terrible deal. Doesn't save any money.

Are you being sarcastic?

[hugepatsfan]

Terrible deal. Doesn't save any money, makes the team on the floor worse.

You can't possibly think they're done? Jrue's contract was tough to work with. Only a select few teams are going to pursue a guy like that because it has to fit into 3 years of their cap sheet without blowing them past thresholds they don't want to go past. You can't be picky there. You have to just take the best you can get from the teams

It may be marginal savings this year, but it opens up a lot. Easier to shed incremental salary on Simons' 1 year deal vs. Jrue. Also, now that the long term money is gone, they can can use that to help another trade. Like for example, trade Porzingis' $30M for an expiring $20M player and you might have to give a pick. Trade his $30M for a player making $20M this year and $20M next year, and now you maybe get a pick. This trade allows them to pursue something like that now.

[Celtics_Champs]

I was super pumped to see the Celtics get Simons but as I read more and more I am starting to believe he may be dealt off. Dealer Brad had just begun.

[Celts17Pride]

It's not like Simons will be a 1st or 2nd option with the Cs.

Simons will be the 3rd or 4th option.

That's not bad at all.

After we trade KP, he could be the 2nd option, while Tatum is out.

JB-White-Simons

Print the tee shirts now, could be collector’s items soon

[brackdan70]

Terrible deal. Doesn't save any money, makes the team on the floor worse.

It’s saves 75 million in real salary over 3 years lol.
It puts the Cs in position to suck the tax in 2026/27 and they save about 40 million in lux tax this coming season.

They don’t get better on the court I agree, but all said and done Simmons (if he plays here) brings a different wrinkle.
He may not stay, as the Cs may look to trade him.
They can move him for a guy on a long term deal now. The Cs are in a place where they can take on extra money in future years.

[SparringPartner]

I saw in this article Simons potential extension is 3yrs 125mil. No thanks.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/5/25/24162107/portland-trail-blazers-deandre-ayton-anfernee-simons-nba-draft-trade-extension-salary-free-agency

And this is why it’s more likely than not he never plays a game here.

Read on Twitter

[hugepatsfan]

CHI gives: Huerter, Jevon Carter, 2 2nds
CHI gets: Simons

BOS gives: Simons
BOS gets: Huerter, 2nd

3rd team gives: nothing
3rd team gets: Carter, 2nd



Follow it up with...

BOS gives: Huerter
BOS gets: Nnaji, 2nd

DEN gives: Nnaji, Saric, 2 2nds
DEN gets: Huerter

3rd team gives; nothing
3rd team gets: Saric, 2nd



We get 2 more 2nds and below the 2nd apron, or at least close enough that you can get there with back of the roster math (i.e. trading #32 for an early 2nd, dumping Tillman mid year and replacing with a pro rated vet min, signing Drew Peterson for slightly smaller salary than JD Davison). And the key is we do so without needing to give a good value deal like Hauser away or trading away a really high upside piece in Porzingis for scraps.

[Gant]

I was super pumped to see the Celtics get Simons but as I read more and more I am starting to believe he may be dealt off. Dealer Brad had just begun.

Simon's chances of wearing a Celtics uniform are fairly low. There might be a series of incremental step-downs to escape the second apron, or should I say the dreaded second apron?

[brackdan70]

Wow. Unexpected for me. I think it’s a good trade for the Celtics. I don’t hate it for the Blazers either.
Simmons probably never plays here and gets rerouted to save money for 25/26 and bring back a guy that fit better…but maybe he does play IDK…I am cool with with it.