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

[Andre3822]

With so many players emerging we can go a lot of different ways, it's exciting and worrying at the same time as I don't want to lose any of the emerging youth we have. Hugo is a lock, Walsh needs to stay. Hauser too on his contract. I am ok with sacrificing Minott/Scheierman but I doubt there's much interest and even with Minott you're looking at someone who could be great insurance in our setting going forward.

Then you have Simons suddenly fitting in like a glove finding his spots and and you realise he's exactly the type of player that will thrive next to Tatum.

Tough decisions ahead, fact is we need to move SOMEONE if we want another big man.

I would love Day'Ron Sharpe but I have a feeling the Nets have already realised they have something of value there.

[Larry_Russell]

Just playing around with the recent rumor of Bulls being interested in Zion.

Pelicans get Simons, Vooch, Baylor, Boston Firstand a Bulls first (out Missi, Bey, Zion)

Bulls get Zion and Bouche, Boston 2nd (out Vooch, Ayo, Terry)

Celtics get Ayo, Missi, Terry, Bey (Out Simons, 1st, 2nd, boucher, Baylor)


Move puts Celtics 5 mill below 1st apron.

Pritchard/Ayo
White/Hugo/Terry
Brown/Hauser/Minott
Bey/Walsh/Tillman
Queta/Missi/Garza


IF Tatum is really coming back, flip Bey for 2nd rounders and 2 mill less salary and that takes team completely out of luxury tax.

[brackdan70]

Just playing around with the recent rumor of Bulls being interested in Zion.

Pelicans get Simons, Vooch, Baylor, Boston Firstand a Bulls first (out Missi, Bey, Zion)

Bulls get Zion and Bouche, Boston 2nd (out Vooch, Ayo, Terry)

Celtics get Ayo, Missi, Terry, Bey (Out Simons, 1st, 2nd, boucher, Baylor)


Move puts Celtics 5 mill below 1st apron.

Pritchard/Ayo
White/Hugo/Terry
Brown/Hauser/Minott
Bey/Walsh/Tillman
Queta/Missi/Garza


IF Tatum is really coming back, flip Bey for 2nd rounders and 2 mill less salary and that takes team completely out of luxury tax.

I like it.

[GreenBlooded]

Just playing around with the recent rumor of Bulls being interested in Zion.

Pelicans get Simons, Vooch, Baylor, Boston Firstand a Bulls first (out Missi, Bey, Zion)

Bulls get Zion and Bouche, Boston 2nd (out Vooch, Ayo, Terry)

Celtics get Ayo, Missi, Terry, Bey (Out Simons, 1st, 2nd, boucher, Baylor)


Move puts Celtics 5 mill below 1st apron.

Pritchard/Ayo
White/Hugo/Terry
Brown/Hauser/Minott
Bey/Walsh/Tillman
Queta/Missi/Garza


IF Tatum is really coming back, flip Bey for 2nd rounders and 2 mill less salary and that takes team completely out of luxury tax.

I like it.

I don't. Ayo would be a rental as an expiring who will likely get more than Simons in free agency this summer. And we'd be spending draft capital on 3 guys who are barely rotational on Boston's roster. Hard pass.

Tinker around the edges with 2nds and non rotational salaries or go Big with frps.

[jmr07019]

I was curious how NBA Champions spend their salary cap. The data:

2020 Lakers
1. LeBron - 37
2. Davis - 27
3. Green - 15
4. KCP – 8
5. Deng – 5
6. Bradley – 5
7. McGee – 4
8. Cousins – 4
9. Cook – 3
10. Caruso – 3
11. Dudley – 3
12. Rondo – 3
13. Howard - 3

2021 Milwaukee Bucks
1. Middleton – 33
2. Giannis – 28
3. Holiday – 26
4. Lopez – 13
5. Tucker – 8
6. Connaughton – 5
7. Portis – 4
8. Leur – 3
9. DiVincenzo – 3
10. Forbes – 2

2022 Warriors
1. Curry – 46
2. Thompson – 38
3. Wiggins – 32
4. Green – 24
5. Wiseman – 9
6. Kuminga – 5
7. Looney – 5
8. Moody – 4
9. Iggy – 3
10. Porter – 3
11. Poole – 2
12. Bjelica – 2

2023 Nuggets
1. Jokic – 33
2. Murray – 32
3. Porter Jr – 31
4. Gordon – 20
5. KCP – 14
6. Brown – 6
7. Smith – 5
8. Green – 5
9. Braun – 3
10. Nnaji – 3
11. Cancar - 2

2024 Celtics
1. Holiday -37
2. Porzingis – 36
3. Tatum – 33
4. Brown – 32
5. White – 18
6. Horford – 10
7. Pritchard – 4
8. Kornet – 2
9. Spring – 2
10. Brissett - 2

2025 Thunder
1. SGA - 36
2. Hartenstein - 30
3. Dort - 16.5
4. Joe 13
5. Chet - 11
6. Wiggins - 11
7. Caruso - 10
8. K Williams - 7
9. Wallace - 6
10. Dieng - 5
11. Topic - 5
12. J Williams - 5

Recent champs have spent on 5-6 guys and the rest of the roster is on cheap contracts. To me this data supports the idea that the Celtics could add a Markkanen/Bam/JJJ and be just fine from a spending perspective.

Thunder spent their money differently however they were paying two of their top players (Chet and J Williams) on rookie scale contracts. It's very tough to win in the NBA with rookie scale contract players being at the top of the rotation. Credit to OKC.

[brackdan70]

Just playing around with the recent rumor of Bulls being interested in Zion.

Pelicans get Simons, Vooch, Baylor, Boston Firstand a Bulls first (out Missi, Bey, Zion)

Bulls get Zion and Bouche, Boston 2nd (out Vooch, Ayo, Terry)

Celtics get Ayo, Missi, Terry, Bey (Out Simons, 1st, 2nd, boucher, Baylor)


Move puts Celtics 5 mill below 1st apron.

Pritchard/Ayo
White/Hugo/Terry
Brown/Hauser/Minott
Bey/Walsh/Tillman
Queta/Missi/Garza


IF Tatum is really coming back, flip Bey for 2nd rounders and 2 mill less salary and that takes team completely out of luxury tax.

I like it.

I don't. Ayo would be a rental as an expiring who will likely get more than Simons in free agency this summer. And we'd be spending draft capital on 3 guys who are barely rotational on Boston's roster. Hard pass.

Tinker around the edges with 2nds and non rotational salaries or go Big with frps.

I see your point but I think Missi and Ayo are both solid rotational guys. Missi is playable now and a solid prospect for the future, probably? Better than anyone we draft with either pick. I think Ayo has more dimensions to his game and higher upside than Simons.

[Celts17Pride]

Again, if you trade Simons for a big that leaves you with just DWhite and Pritchard as really the Celtics only back court players. Celtics will need another serviceable back court player coming in the trade or you are just filling one hole and creating another.

[Larry_Russell]

Again, if you trade Simons for a big that leaves you with just DWhite and Pritchard as really the Celtics only back court players. Celtics will need another serviceable back court player coming in the trade or you are just filling one hole and creating another.

But Ayo addresses that and probably can get resigned on a deal like Pritchard....and Ayo is a perfect off the bench fit with Payton, imo.

I think MIssi has a higher potential than Queta...I might be alone in that thought though.

[Celts17Pride]

Again, if you trade Simons for a big that leaves you with just DWhite and Pritchard as really the Celtics only back court players. Celtics will need another serviceable back court player coming in the trade or you are just filling one hole and creating another.

But Ayo addresses that and probably can get resigned on a deal like Pritchard....and Ayo is a perfect off the bench fit with Payton, imo.

I think MIssi has a higher potential than Queta...I might be alone in that thought though.

I like Ayo but who knows what he will get for a contract next season. Could be $15 million per year.

[Larry_Russell]

Again, if you trade Simons for a big that leaves you with just DWhite and Pritchard as really the Celtics only back court players. Celtics will need another serviceable back court player coming in the trade or you are just filling one hole and creating another.

But Ayo addresses that and probably can get resigned on a deal like Pritchard....and Ayo is a perfect off the bench fit with Payton, imo.

I think MIssi has a higher potential than Queta...I might be alone in that thought though.

I like Ayo but who knows what he will get for a contract next season. Could be $15 million per year.

could be,. I feel like less though. If Celtics got Pritch, Hauser on their deals, I think they can resign Ayo around the same (although if more I still think Ayo has a higher ceilinged potential than those 2. )

[hugepatsfan]

Again, if you trade Simons for a big that leaves you with just DWhite and Pritchard as really the Celtics only back court players. Celtics will need another serviceable back court player coming in the trade or you are just filling one hole and creating another.

Kind of depends on how BOS wants to line up their rotations when Tatum is back. Do they want to move Pritchard back to the bench? Do they want to continue playing double guard lineups with White/Pritchard sharing the court so much? Would they prefer more 1 guard lineups with 3 wings and a big or 1 guard/2 wings/double big lineups since Tatum coming back gives you another ball handler.

White / Pritchard
Brown / Hugo
Hauser / Walsh / Scheierman
Tatum / Minott
[player you trade Simons for] / Queta / Garza

They don't really need another guard there in the rotation. If White/Pritchard are going to each play 30+ minutes game and Tatum/Brown can handle their usual ball handling load, it's very easy to line your rotations up so 2 of them are on the court at all times and 3 of them for most of the time. Adding another guard isn't a necessity. Obviously it makes you somewhat weaker in handling, but the trade off is now you're playing an extra wing instead of 3 guards which brings about added versatility in other ways especially on defense.

They would need another guard on the roster for depth of course, but it doesn't have to be an actually in the rotation guy.

EDIT: and even if you want to continue starting Pritchard there, it still works. But it does get a little clunkier to stagger him and White for the PG minutes if they're also starting together

[GreenBlooded]

But Ayo addresses that and probably can get resigned on a deal like Pritchard....and Ayo is a perfect off the bench fit with Payton, imo.

I think MIssi has a higher potential than Queta...I might be alone in that thought though.

I like Ayo but who knows what he will get for a contract next season. Could be $15 million per year.

could be,. I feel like less though. If Celtics got Pritch, Hauser on their deals, I think they can resign Ayo around the same (although if more I still think Ayo has a higher ceilinged potential than those 2. )

FWIW on some ringer or ESPN podcast I listened to a few weeks ago, their speculation was Ayo was in line for a contract starting in the $20-25 million range.

[redslastlaugh]

Any interest in Andre Drummond from Philly? Reports say Philly is looking to cut payroll and we could move Boucher or Tillman or both to a 3rd team and take Drummond off their books?

They also want to trade Johni Broome, their 35th pick last year who is signed to a multiyear roster contract but so far looks like a real busto.

I wouldnt mind Drummond, low money commitment with the size on the boards, but Philly also seems like a headache to deal with, lol ... Drummond also is one of the lowest IQ players who always seems on the losing side... and I don't want to give anything to Philly at all. I still think Philly should pay us back for the picks we had to burn to dump Springer after they foisted him on us, lol

[Dogen]

Just playing around with the recent rumor of Bulls being interested in Zion.

Pelicans get Simons, Vooch, Baylor, Boston Firstand a Bulls first (out Missi, Bey, Zion)

Bulls get Zion and Bouche, Boston 2nd (out Vooch, Ayo, Terry)

Celtics get Ayo, Missi, Terry, Bey (Out Simons, 1st, 2nd, boucher, Baylor)


Move puts Celtics 5 mill below 1st apron.

Pritchard/Ayo
White/Hugo/Terry
Brown/Hauser/Minott
Bey/Walsh/Tillman
Queta/Missi/Garza


IF Tatum is really coming back, flip Bey for 2nd rounders and 2 mill less salary and that takes team completely out of luxury tax.

I like it.

Larry has some nice ideas, but when was the last time Brad was part of orchestrating a 9 player/ 5 pick deal mid-season?

Missi would be a nice pickup, and Ayo too, but it's big overhaul even if Celtics are losing 3 players that arguably are not in the long term plans.

[Celts17Pride]

I like Ayo but who knows what he will get for a contract next season. Could be $15 million per year.

could be,. I feel like less though. If Celtics got Pritch, Hauser on their deals, I think they can resign Ayo around the same (although if more I still think Ayo has a higher ceilinged potential than those 2. )

FWIW on some ringer or ESPN podcast I listened to a few weeks ago, their speculation was Ayo was in line for a contract starting in the $20-25 million range.

Don't doubt they were saying that but this new CBA and aprons are knocking everyone's salary down. I will be surprised if Ayo gets more than $15-17 million, the same for Anfernee Simons. The new CBA only rewards the superstars.

[djFan71]

could be,. I feel like less though. If Celtics got Pritch, Hauser on their deals, I think they can resign Ayo around the same (although if more I still think Ayo has a higher ceilinged potential than those 2. )

FWIW on some ringer or ESPN podcast I listened to a few weeks ago, their speculation was Ayo was in line for a contract starting in the $20-25 million range.

Don't doubt they were saying that but this new CBA and aprons are knocking everyone's salary down. I will be surprised if Ayo gets more than $15-17 million, the same for Anfernee Simons. The new CBA only rewards the superstars.

yeah, you gotta be pretty special non-start to get much above the NTMLE, imo. Midrange $20-25M contracts are gonna be like midrange shots were before OKC/JB brought them back.

[jmr07019]

Any interest in Andre Drummond from Philly? Reports say Philly is looking to cut payroll and we could move Boucher or Tillman or both to a 3rd team and take Drummond off their books?

They also want to trade Johni Broome, their 35th pick last year who is signed to a multiyear roster contract but so far looks like a real busto.

I wouldnt mind Drummond, low money commitment with the size on the boards, but Philly also seems like a headache to deal with, lol ... Drummond also is one of the lowest IQ players who always seems on the losing side... and I don't want to give anything to Philly at all. I still think Philly should pay us back for the picks we had to burn to dump Springer after they foisted him on us, lol

Yes. Geting a 3rd center without having to give up Simons or Hauser is definitely something I'm interested in.

Any 3rd string player is going to have warts but Drummond at least has clear strengths that he brings to the game.

[165bows]

Saw a Poeltl rumor and thought that was interesting until I saw he’s getting paid $27M until he’s 34 and is currently out with a back injury (insert turning around meme here)

[Fierce1]

How comfortable Brad is with Queta getting significant playoff minutes could determine what move to make on or before trade deadline.

[Celts17Pride]

Queta will be a significant playoff player for the Celtics regardless of what Brad Stevens does at the trade deadline. If Stevens acquires another center it will be at the expense of Garza minutes. Did anyone watch the Detroit game? Queta was outstanding