Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, part 2

[Fierce1]

There's player value and there's contract value.

People will soon realize that teams will be dumping salary and that's where Simons becomes valuable.

He clearly has negative value as a short term overpaid contract
But less negative value than a long term overpaid contract

But less negative than some - does not mean his contract has value

If you're Sacramento and you want out of DeRozan's contract because you're going to rebuild, you call Boston and ask about Simons.

Dallas is rumored to trade AD because they're going to start building around Flagg.
How do you trade AD's 50m contract and get the least amount of money in return?
You call Boston to help facilitate an AD trade.

There will be more teams that will want out of big contracts because their team is going nowhere.

Boston has Simons' expiring and all but one, 2029, of their 1st round picks.

Guess you'll just have to believe it when it happens.

[BostoNZ]

There's player value and there's contract value.

People will soon realize that teams will be dumping salary and that's where Simons becomes valuable.

He clearly has negative value as a short term overpaid contract
But less negative value than a long term overpaid contract

But less negative than some - does not mean his contract has value

If you're Sacramento and you want out of DeRozan's contract because you're going to rebuild, you call Boston and ask about Simons.

Dallas is rumored to trade AD because they're going to start building around Flagg.
How do you trade AD's 50m contract and get the least amount of money in return?
You call Boston to help facilitate an AD trade.

There will be more teams that will want out of big contracts because their team is going nowhere.

Boston has Simons' expiring and all but one, 2029, of their 1st round picks.

Guess you'll just have to believe it when it happens.

I pray that the Anthony Davis hypothetical given doesn't come true!!

I think we agree in disguise here - probably we will trade Simons, for 1) 2025-26 cap savings but increasing our future bill 2) combined with Hauser+assets for a better player or 3) smaller expirings (with a second or two attached to Simons)

But he has negative value on that deal - Sacramento would rather trade Derozan for zero return (pure savings) than Simons' contract

[Fierce1]

He clearly has negative value as a short term overpaid contract
But less negative value than a long term overpaid contract

But less negative than some - does not mean his contract has value

If you're Sacramento and you want out of DeRozan's contract because you're going to rebuild, you call Boston and ask about Simons.

Dallas is rumored to trade AD because they're going to start building around Flagg.
How do you trade AD's 50m contract and get the least amount of money in return?
You call Boston to help facilitate an AD trade.

There will be more teams that will want out of big contracts because their team is going nowhere.

Boston has Simons' expiring and all but one, 2029, of their 1st round picks.

Guess you'll just have to believe it when it happens.

I pray that the Anthony Davis hypothetical given doesn't come true!!

I think we agree in disguise here - probably we will trade Simons, for 1) 2025-26 cap savings but increasing our future bill 2) combined with Hauser+assets for a better player or 3) smaller expirings (with a second or two attached to Simons)

But he has negative value on that deal - Sacramento would rather trade Derozan for zero return (pure savings) than Simons' contract

For Sacramento to do that, they'd have to give up a 1st round pick.
Sacramento is not giving up a pick.

Also, right now I don't think DeRozan for zero return is possible.
Even the Nets can't do that anymore as they would have to send back some salary to Sacramento because taking DeRozan's contract for no return takes them over the cap.

[Fierce1]

Anthony Davis to Boston is not happening.

It would have to be something like AD goes to Chicago, Simons to Dallas, and Boston gets something from Chicago.

[BostoNZ]

Also, right now I don't think DeRozan for zero return is possible.
Even the Nets can't do that anymore as they would have to send back some salary to Sacramento because taking DeRozan's contract for no return takes them over the cap.

It's not - I mean, they would value having nothing over having Simons, so his expiring isn't an 'asset' per se. Semantics really...

Now in terms of being a 3rd team for Chicago to get AD, maybe Patrick Williams getting rerouted here would make sense (for Dallas). We would save 9.1m this year, but take on a pretty ugly contract for PWill going forward... might get a couple 2nds for our troubles but I don't love that

[Shak_Celts]

I know everyone is saying no to Ball, but I’m going in the opposite direction. For me, it depends on the price.

We likely can’t afford him given what we can give up. They’ll have to accept a pick heavy purchase, because I’m not sending the Jays. So, likely can’t afford him.

I get all the parts of why he’s not Celtics material and I still say, I’m not totally opposed. I expect Celtics culture to win out vs. his aloofness. I believe in Celtics culture and we still have guys here who have carried that on for nearly a decade now. Our backfill vets would have to be replenished though, get some Al personality types in here.

I worry more about his health than his other faults. Needs Celtics structure!

[Fierce1]

Also, right now I don't think DeRozan for zero return is possible.
Even the Nets can't do that anymore as they would have to send back some salary to Sacramento because taking DeRozan's contract for no return takes them over the cap.

It's not - I mean, they would value having nothing over having Simons, so his expiring isn't an 'asset' per se. Semantics really...

Now in terms of being a 3rd team for Chicago to get AD, maybe Patrick Williams getting rerouted here would make sense (for Dallas). We would save 9.1m this year, but take on a pretty ugly contract for PWill going forward... might get a couple 2nds for our troubles but I don't love that

If you're the Kings, you get Simons for DeRozan and you're off the hook from DeRozan's 25.7m next season.

The bigger question is would the Celtics want to shoulder DeRozan's 25.7m next season?

Regarding the Bulls, they have 85m in expiring contracts this season.
I don't think PWill is a big issue.
The bigger issue is can they keep Coby White or Dosunmu?

It doesn't have to be the Celtics not giving up draft assets.
I think the Cs will give up draft assets as long as they're getting a good return.

Right now the Celtics can do Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White.
That's just an example.

Celtics can even trade Simons, Hauser, Baylor, and multiple 1st round picks for LaMelo Ball.
Again, just another example.

Point is the Celtics have more options than some people think.

[Fierce1]

I know everyone is saying no to Ball, but I’m going in the opposite direction. For me, it depends on the price.

We likely can’t afford him given what we can give up. They’ll have to accept a pick heavy purchase, because I’m not sending the Jays. So, likely can’t afford him.

I get all the parts of why he’s not Celtics material and I still say, I’m not totally opposed. I expect Celtics culture to win out vs. his aloofness. I believe in Celtics culture and we still have guys here who have carried that on for nearly a decade now. Our backfill vets would have to be replenished though, get some Al personality types in here.

I worry more about his health than his other faults. Needs Celtics structure!

Celtics can afford Ball if they offer multiple 1st round picks.

Simons, Hauser, Baylor, and multiple 1st round picks for LaMelo works.

Even with LaMelo, the Celtics will still be a 1st apron team next season.

So getting Ball is doable, but like you said, there's a health risk.