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

[Larry_Russell]

who is a big time starting center (that's healthy?)

Jarrett Allen
Ivica Zubac
Domantas Sabonis
Bam Adebayo
Karl Antony Towns
Nikola Vucevic
Jusuf Nurkic

lol, what are the criteria for Shams to consider someone a "big time starting center" ???

Good question.

I would say the first 4 on your list.

Allen, Bam or Sabonis would be pretty lethal

[Larry_Russell]

who is a big time starting center (that's healthy?)

Jarrett Allen
Ivica Zubac
Domantas Sabonis
Bam Adebayo
Karl Antony Towns
Nikola Vucevic
Jusuf Nurkic

lol, what are the criteria for Shams to consider someone a "big time starting center" ???

I'd include JJJ on that list.

JJJ will be the Center in crunch time, if the Cs get him.

They will start with a double big with Queta and JJJ, but they will finish with JJJ at Center.

Imagine a lineup of JJJ, JT, JB, White, and Sam or PP or Walsh.
That's one hell of a defensive team.

And tatum is forced to be a 14rpg guy.

Jjj not gonna happen, in a decline and a terrible terrible terrible rebounder

[Fierce1]

I'm more of an offense guy.
Shooting, fast breaks, and cutting are some of the things that for me makes basketball exciting.
But seeing what the Cs are doing this season, the way they're working hard on defense is a thing of beauty.

The Celtics are really locked in this season and their defense reminds me of those IT teams of Brad Stevens that were very scrappy.

It doesn't really make sense to hold on to JJJ if they're trading Ja Morant.
So it will come down to what the price is for JJJ.

[Fierce1]

who is a big time starting center (that's healthy?)

Jarrett Allen
Ivica Zubac
Domantas Sabonis
Bam Adebayo
Karl Antony Towns
Nikola Vucevic
Jusuf Nurkic

lol, what are the criteria for Shams to consider someone a "big time starting center" ???

I'd include JJJ on that list.

JJJ will be the Center in crunch time, if the Cs get him.

They will start with a double big with Queta and JJJ, but they will finish with JJJ at Center.

Imagine a lineup of JJJ, JT, JB, White, and Sam or PP or Walsh.
That's one hell of a defensive team.

And tatum is forced to be a 14rpg guy.

Jjj not gonna happen, in a decline and a terrible terrible terrible rebounder

If JJJ has no weaknesses then he's Giannis and there's no way the Cs will be able to trade for him.

The point of getting JJJ is so that you can play double big.

Queta will still start and having JJJ with Queta will allow Queta to get more rebounds.
It's a double big setup if you're trading for JJJ.
So there's really no pressure for JJJ to rebound a lot as Queta will still be the Center and Tatum will end up getting rebounds also.

[Curmudgeon]

I wouldn't call Karl Anthony Towns "big time."

[165bows]

I wouldn't call Karl Anthony Towns "big time."

But is Sharpe big time that is the question.

[165bows]

Hauser/Simons/filler young guys and picks enough value for Sabonis?

Because the money works.

What’s up with him, he’s been hurt? Seems like an off year.

[Fierce1]

Regarding the rebounding situation, would you guys believe the Celtics are better at rebounding this season compared to last season?

Last season the Cs had KP, Al, and Luke, but the Cs just had a +1.6 rebounding differential.

This season the Cs are 6th in rebounding differential with a +3.3 rebounding advantage per game.

The Celtics are doing this without KP, Al, Luke, and Tatum.

So Joe has figured it out.

Rebounding is not an issue anymore.

A big man who can defend or bang with bigs like Duren and Mitchell Robinson is what the Cs need.

Mitchell Robinson was a very big problem for the Cs in last year's playoffs.

Duren is a beast every time the Cs face Detroit.
But even if it looked like Duren dominated the Cs in the paint, the Cs still won the rebounding battle against the Pistons, 45-41.

I think the Cs don't really need a rebounder.
What the Cs need is a big who can defend other bigs.

The Clippers have a great rebounder in Zubac, but the Clips are -1.7 in rebounding differential.

Rebounding is more about team than an individual.

[Fierce1]

Hauser/Simons/filler young guys and picks enough value for Sabonis?

Because the money works.

What’s up with him, he’s been hurt? Seems like an off year.

If you're going for Sabonis then might as well go for JJJ.

Sabonis is not a good defender.

We also can't lose both Simons and Hauser.
One has to stay because losing both those guys will result in the Celtics lacking a shooter.

[Larry_Russell]

Hauser/Simons/filler young guys and picks enough value for Sabonis?

Because the money works.

What’s up with him, he’s been hurt? Seems like an off year.

playing with lavine and demar will do that.

[Celts17Pride]

Shams saying Celtics are trying to add a "big time starting center"?

Read on Twitter

Sounds good but honestly, Shams doesn't know ****!

[SuperDeluxe]

If Boston offered a Jaylen Brown-centered package for Giannis, would any other offer trump it?

Asking for a friend.

[brackdan70]

Hauser/Simons/filler young guys and picks enough value for Sabonis?

Because the money works.

What’s up with him, he’s been hurt? Seems like an off year.

If you include Walsh or Hugo and 2026 first I think that’s more than enough value.
I’d rather get someone a bit cheaper both in Salary and Assets.

[fallguy]

Sabonis. Please no.

[Fierce1]

If Boston offered a Jaylen Brown-centered package for Giannis, would any other offer trump it?

Asking for a friend.

Absolute disaster.

Jaylen Brown is more than just a basketball player to Boston.

Giannis for JB will never happen.

[GreenBlooded]

If Boston offered a Jaylen Brown-centered package for Giannis, would any other offer trump it?

Asking for a friend.

Yes. What would Milwaukee do better with Brown that they couldn't do with Giannis?

An offer with multiple prospects and picks would be more attractive to the bucks.

[165bows]

Hauser/Simons/filler young guys and picks enough value for Sabonis?

Because the money works.

What’s up with him, he’s been hurt? Seems like an off year.

If you're going for Sabonis then might as well go for JJJ.

Sabonis is not a good defender.

I can appreciate that logic. Just not sure if JJJ is attainable or for the same cost.

Otoh could be great fun constructing a bunch of packages built around Queta for Sabonis but what do I know.

[BleedGreen1989]

Sabonis. Please no.

Seriously.

People who have concerns about Garza getting smoked in the playoffs and want Sabonis have apparently not watched much Sabonis in their lifetime.

[threrf23]

Sabonis is a much better rebounder than Garza, also one of the league's best assist men amongst big men. Limited defensively, yes, tho his defensive on/off metrics haven't been that bad.

He is sort of the opposite of JJJ who is a highly capable but slightly overrated defender who doesn't rebound or pass.

Neither is ideal considering their contracts, assuming new ownership doesn't have endless pockets. But JJJ makes even more money and we alr have Tatum to fill a similar role on the defensive end (Hugo too). I would def take Sabonis over JJJ.

[brackdan70]

Big time starting center….in the G league…found him
Amari Williams. End thread////