Celtics 2025-26, Off-Season/Training Camp Thread

[Bill Lumbergh]

Yeah..but if we sign him we're back over the 2nd apron.

So I think we would maybe sign either Bassey or Simmons but probably only happens if we're able to dump Tillman on some team via trade first..

Celtics have all year to get below the 2nd apron, a few hundred thousand dollars means nothing

1) I think that we'd have to cut Walsh?
His Salary is only Guaranteed for $200K.

2) Simons and Niang are the bigger Contracts, though.

3) Just Sign Bassey, going over the limit, and figure it out before the Season Starts.

I'm fine with cutting Walsh loose to sign Bassey. Limited sample size, but he looked better than Queta to me. I hope it happens.

[165bows]

Spotrac has the Celts $1,938,785 under the 2nd apron. IMO, I think we should offer Bassey to a 4-year deal starting at 1,900,000 (keeping us under the 2nd apron)

The minimum for a vet with 4 yrs of NBA experience is $2.4 mil though..

They don’t pay the whole freight for vet mins but it’s more than 1.9.

[165bows]

There’s def some teams with really bad C rotations. But I’d take Basset why not.

Maybe Chicago wants Tillman once they solve their Vuc situation.

[brackdan70]

Celtics have all year to get below the 2nd apron, a few hundred thousand dollars means nothing

1) I think that we'd have to cut Walsh?
His Salary is only Guaranteed for $200K.

2) Simons and Niang are the bigger Contracts, though.

3) Just Sign Bassey, going over the limit, and figure it out before the Season Starts.

I'm fine with cutting Walsh loose to sign Bassey. Limited sample size, but he looked better than Queta to me. I hope it happens.

Walsh is better, younger and way more upside than Bassey.
That would be a bad move IMO.
I’d like to sign Bassey but I think you do it by trading Niang or Tillman or someone else.
Bassey tore it up in summer league….that doesn’t mean he is better than Queta.

[brackdan70]

Spotrac has the Celts $1,938,785 under the 2nd apron. IMO, I think we should offer Bassey to a 4-year deal starting at 1,900,000 (keeping us under the 2nd apron)

The minimum for a vet with 4 yrs of NBA experience is $2.4 mil though..

They don’t pay the whole freight for vet mins but it’s more than 1.9.

I believe though if it’s a multi year deal you do pay the full freight. You only get the subsidy if a one year deal.
I think the subsidized rate is equal to a 2 year minimum which is $2,296,274.

[Hal14]

1) I think that we'd have to cut Walsh?
His Salary is only Guaranteed for $200K.

2) Simons and Niang are the bigger Contracts, though.

3) Just Sign Bassey, going over the limit, and figure it out before the Season Starts.

I'm fine with cutting Walsh loose to sign Bassey. Limited sample size, but he looked better than Queta to me. I hope it happens.

Walsh is better, younger and way more upside than Bassey.
That would be a bad move IMO.
I’d like to sign Bassey but I think you do it by trading Niang or Tillman or someone else.
Bassey tore it up in summer league….that doesn’t mean he is better than Queta.

Also:

a) Summer league means basically nothing in terms of projecting how good a guy is an a real NBA game. If SL was super important for projecting players in the NBA, then Carsen Edwards would be better than Trae Young and Mfiondu Kabengele would be better than Wemby.

b) Bassey only played 3 SL games for us..that's a tiny sample size. In the 1 game where he had to face a legit NBA level big (vs Miami with Kel'El Ware), he was meh..also, most of the damage he did in SL was coming off the bench, going against SL bench players

c) He's 24 yrs old with 4 yrs of NBA experience..he's supposed to be good in SL..again, it means very little for what he would do in a real game NBA, hence why he has has basically 0 NBA teams all offseason show interest in signing him

[Parliament10]

The minimum for a vet with 4 yrs of NBA experience is $2.4 mil though..

They don’t pay the whole freight for vet mins but it’s more than 1.9.

I believe though if it’s a multi year deal you do pay the full freight. You only get the subsidy if a one year deal.
I think the subsidized rate is equal to a 2 year minimum which is $2,296,274.

My understanding is that, for the Minimum Salary, the NBA pays the 2nd Year Vet Minimum.
Anything over that (for like a 10 year Vet, for example) the NBPA pays the difference.

[Gant]

Stats for some centers last season, per 36 minutes:

Porzingis: 24.3 points, 8.4 rebs, 1.9 blocks
Horford: 11.7 points, 8.0 rebs, 1.1 blocks
Kornet: 11.7 points, 10.3 rebs, 1.9 blocks
Queta: 12.9 points, 9.8 rebs, 1.8 blocks
Bassey: 15 points, 14.6 rebs, 2.9 blocks
Garza: 22.7 points, 8.9 rebs, 0.5 blocks

[darrendaye]

Spotrac has the Celts $1,938,785 under the 2nd apron. IMO, I think we should offer Bassey to a 4-year deal starting at 1,900,000 (keeping us under the 2nd apron)

The minimum for a vet with 4 yrs of NBA experience is $2.4 mil though..

They don’t pay the whole freight for vet mins but it’s more than 1.9.

If they sign him now, the way that offers most protection for the team is a partially guaranteed deal with Bassey. If they can't find a decent trade to lower salary further by the deadline, they could cut Bassey at that point to slip under the 2nd apron.

I favor Bassey over Tillman because I think they need another competitive rebounder on the roster. At good health I love the defensive versatility Tillman provides, but I also don't trust Garza to be an effective rebounder against better competition he will play now as a regular rotation player.

I think it's important to stay away from being boxed in a corner with the 2nd apron, so the non-guarantee option or the Tillman + contract buyout cash for never to be seen 2nd rounder route hopefully is taken if they bring anyone else on with NBA deal.

[darrendaye]

Stats for some centers last season, per 36 minutes:

Porzingis: 24.3 points, 8.4 rebs, 1.9 blocks
Horford: 11.7 points, 8.0 rebs, 1.1 blocks
Kornet: 11.7 points, 10.3 rebs, 1.9 blocks
Queta: 12.9 points, 9.8 rebs, 1.8 blocks
Bassey: 15 points, 14.6 rebs, 2.9 blocks
Garza: 22.7 points, 8.9 rebs, 0.5 blocks

If I could add, just for full context, 23-24 season in Memphis prior to coming to Boston...

Tillman 6.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 2.2 steals

[165bows]

Stats for some centers last season, per 36 minutes:

Porzingis: 24.3 points, 8.4 rebs, 1.9 blocks
Horford: 11.7 points, 8.0 rebs, 1.1 blocks
Kornet: 11.7 points, 10.3 rebs, 1.9 blocks
Queta: 12.9 points, 9.8 rebs, 1.8 blocks
Bassey: 15 points, 14.6 rebs, 2.9 blocks
Garza: 22.7 points, 8.9 rebs, 0.5 blocks

Scoring volume is obviously the most referenced stat but scoring volume normalized to a rate is under appreciated.

It was a big thing that helped me focus on KP as a guy to target (along with his efficiency) before any reports came out. The team really had a front court scoring volume and diversity issue in the Al/Rob days.

Garza is interesting to se how that number holds up but I don’t think he’s shy to get shots up.

[jirrit]

You can't cut Walsh for a player like Bassey, there's dime a dozen of them out there. Not saying Walsh is gonna be the guy we want him to become but..

[Bill Lumbergh]

1) I think that we'd have to cut Walsh?
His Salary is only Guaranteed for $200K.

2) Simons and Niang are the bigger Contracts, though.

3) Just Sign Bassey, going over the limit, and figure it out before the Season Starts.

I'm fine with cutting Walsh loose to sign Bassey. Limited sample size, but he looked better than Queta to me. I hope it happens.

Walsh is better, younger and way more upside than Bassey.
That would be a bad move IMO.
I’d like to sign Bassey but I think you do it by trading Niang or Tillman or someone else.
Bassey tore it up in summer league….that doesn’t mean he is better than Queta.

What evidence is there that Walsh is better? He's done nothing thus far. As Gant shared, Bassey has good per 36 numbers in regular season games; better than Queta's. Eye of the beholder, but I think he looked better than Queta. I am not hell bent on getting Bassey, but I liked what I saw, and wouldn't care at all if we dumped Walsh to get him. Perfectly fine if people believe in Walsh more than I do. I haven't watched enough of Minott to know his game or potential. He's also young, and is an SF. Might he be better than Walsh? There are Walshes in the second round of any draft, imo.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I'm fine with cutting Walsh loose to sign Bassey. Limited sample size, but he looked better than Queta to me. I hope it happens.

Walsh is better, younger and way more upside than Bassey.
That would be a bad move IMO.
I’d like to sign Bassey but I think you do it by trading Niang or Tillman or someone else.
Bassey tore it up in summer league….that doesn’t mean he is better than Queta.

Also:

a) Summer league means basically nothing in terms of projecting how good a guy is an a real NBA game. If SL was super important for projecting players in the NBA, then Carsen Edwards would be better than Trae Young and Mfiondu Kabengele would be better than Wemby.

b) Bassey only played 3 SL games for us..that's a tiny sample size. In the 1 game where he had to face a legit NBA level big (vs Miami with Kel'El Ware), he was meh..also, most of the damage he did in SL was coming off the bench, going against SL bench players

c) He's 24 yrs old with 4 yrs of NBA experience..he's supposed to be good in SL..again, it means very little for what he would do in a real game NBA, hence why he has has basically 0 NBA teams all offseason show interest in signing him

Well, he does have better regular season per 36 numbers than Queta, too. I actually would like to keep both Queta, who I like fine, too, and sign Bassey. Bassey has had injuries, which have hindered him. What he proved in summer league is that he is healthy. Queta is 26, and bounced around from G league to the Kings roster. He finally got more of a shot when he was in Boston. Sometimes it's a matter of opportunity and environment, which were beneficial for Queta.

This is not a hill I am dying on. It's not that big a deal. I am just saying that, to my eye, I liked what I saw, and think he looks at least as promising as Queta, and that dropping Walsh for a roster spot and savings, is a neglible cost to sign Bassey, as I am not high on Walsh. Kumbaya.

This is eye of the beholder stuff. You be holdin a different viewpoint than I do.

[playa-hater]

Man, these are the Dawg days of summer. We are debating Bassy vs Walsh

So let me chime in..

If Brad/Joe really are trying to be competitive this upcoming season, then Bassy easy > Walsh. But If it is about being somewhat competitive but by using a great emphasis on Player development, then Walsh and/or Amari Williams > Bassy.

Not sure how anyone would see this differently.

As for Tillman. So many posters keep saying... "once we dump him" etc.. Yet, I really see Zero market for Tillman even as a dump, unless we offer a high 2nd rder or even multiple 2nd rders. He looked older than Al last season.

[darrendaye]

Man, these are the Dawg days of summer. We are debating Bassy vs Walsh

So let me chime in..

If Brad/Joe really are trying to be competitive this upcoming season, then Bassy easy > Walsh. But If it is about being somewhat competitive but by using a great emphasis on Player development, then Walsh and/or Amari Williams > Bassy.

Not sure how anyone would see this differently.

As for Tillman. So many posters keep saying... "once we dump him" etc.. Yet, I really see Zero market for Tillman even as a dump, unless we offer a high 2nd rder or even multiple 2nd rders. He looked older than Al last season.

They can send out enough cash to cover Tillman's entire salary now that they're below the 2nd apron. Shouldn't be too hard to find a team well enough below the tax line to take him in and cut (or keep) him for a top 55 protected 2nd.

[Hal14]

Walsh is better, younger and way more upside than Bassey.
That would be a bad move IMO.
I’d like to sign Bassey but I think you do it by trading Niang or Tillman or someone else.
Bassey tore it up in summer league….that doesn’t mean he is better than Queta.

Also:

a) Summer league means basically nothing in terms of projecting how good a guy is an a real NBA game. If SL was super important for projecting players in the NBA, then Carsen Edwards would be better than Trae Young and Mfiondu Kabengele would be better than Wemby.

b) Bassey only played 3 SL games for us..that's a tiny sample size. In the 1 game where he had to face a legit NBA level big (vs Miami with Kel'El Ware), he was meh..also, most of the damage he did in SL was coming off the bench, going against SL bench players

c) He's 24 yrs old with 4 yrs of NBA experience..he's supposed to be good in SL..again, it means very little for what he would do in a real game NBA, hence why he has has basically 0 NBA teams all offseason show interest in signing him

Well, he does have better regular season per 36 numbers than Queta, too. I actually would like to keep both Queta, who I like fine, too, and sign Bassey. Bassey has had injuries, which have hindered him. What he proved in summer league is that he is healthy. Queta is 26, and bounced around from G league to the Kings roster. He finally got more of a shot when he was in Boston. Sometimes it's a matter of opportunity and environment, which were beneficial for Queta.

This is not a hill I am dying on. It's not that big a deal. I am just saying that, to my eye, I liked what I saw, and think he looks at least as promising as Queta, and that dropping Walsh for a roster spot and savings, is a neglible cost to sign Bassey, as I am not high on Walsh. Kumbaya.

This is eye of the beholder stuff. You be holdin a different viewpoint than I do.

Are we not factoring in any context?

Just blindly looking at numbers and taking them at face value?

C'mon now. Surely we all understand that it's easy to put up numbers for a bad Spurs team that lost Wemby for most of the season (meaning more opportunity for a guy like Bassey) and was tanking for the entire 2nd half of the season and it's harder to put up numbers for a guy like Queta on a team as deep and talented as Boston was last season.

Also, sample sizes matter. Bassey only played in 36 games last season. And only played 10 MPG. That's such a tiny sample size, that his numbers during those mins are basically meaningless.

36 games, 10 MPG for Bassey = not a statistically significant sample size of data
62 games, 13.9 MPG for Queta = it is a statistically significant sample size of data

There's a reason why 1 of them is our projected starting center, while the other one had to play summer league just to try and get minimum contract offer from an NBA team, despite already having 4 yrs of NBA experience under his belt.

Literally the only teams who have shown interest in signing Bassey to a contract for the upcoming season are in Europe..

[Bill Lumbergh]

...
If Brad/Joe really are trying to be competitive this upcoming season, then Bassy easy > Walsh. But If it is about being somewhat competitive but by using a great emphasis on Player development, then Walsh and/or Amari Williams > Bassy.

Not sure how anyone would see this differently.
...

Interesting. Amari is 23. Bassey is 24. Why is it outlandish that someone would prefer Bassey? Walsh is very expendable, imo. I don't see the big upside that some of you apparently do. What I do see, though, is how people could see this differently. It appears I have the minority position on this. I'm okay with that. The most likely outcome is that none of the three will ever matter much for our team. Well, except for maybe Bassey.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Also:

a) Summer league means basically nothing in terms of projecting how good a guy is an a real NBA game. If SL was super important for projecting players in the NBA, then Carsen Edwards would be better than Trae Young and Mfiondu Kabengele would be better than Wemby.

b) Bassey only played 3 SL games for us..that's a tiny sample size. In the 1 game where he had to face a legit NBA level big (vs Miami with Kel'El Ware), he was meh..also, most of the damage he did in SL was coming off the bench, going against SL bench players

c) He's 24 yrs old with 4 yrs of NBA experience..he's supposed to be good in SL..again, it means very little for what he would do in a real game NBA, hence why he has has basically 0 NBA teams all offseason show interest in signing him

Well, he does have better regular season per 36 numbers than Queta, too. I actually would like to keep both Queta, who I like fine, too, and sign Bassey. Bassey has had injuries, which have hindered him. What he proved in summer league is that he is healthy. Queta is 26, and bounced around from G league to the Kings roster. He finally got more of a shot when he was in Boston. Sometimes it's a matter of opportunity and environment, which were beneficial for Queta.

This is not a hill I am dying on. It's not that big a deal. I am just saying that, to my eye, I liked what I saw, and think he looks at least as promising as Queta, and that dropping Walsh for a roster spot and savings, is a neglible cost to sign Bassey, as I am not high on Walsh. Kumbaya.

This is eye of the beholder stuff. You be holdin a different viewpoint than I do.

Are we not factoring in any context?

Just blindly looking at numbers and taking them at face value?

C'mon now. Surely we all understand that it's easy to put up numbers for a bad Spurs team that lost Wemby for most of the season (meaning more opportunity for a guy like Bassey) and was tanking for the entire 2nd half of the season and it's harder to put up numbers for a guy like Queta on a team as deep and talented as Boston was last season.

Also, sample sizes matter. Bassey only played in 36 games last season. And only played 10 MPG. That's such a tiny sample size, that his numbers during those mins are basically meaningless.

36 games, 10 MPG for Bassey = not a statistically significant sample size of data
62 games, 13.9 MPG for Queta = it is a statistically significant sample size of data

There's a reason why 1 of them is our projected starting center, while the other one had to play summer league just to try and get minimum contract offer from an NBA team, despite already having 4 yrs of NBA experience under his belt.

Literally the only teams who have shown interest in signing Bassey to a contract for the upcoming season are in Europe..

The fact that our 4th string center from last year is projected to start because the other three are gone and we don't have money to replace them is not a ringing endorsement of him. It's pretty much universally recognized that as presently constructed, our center position is a train wreck.

There really is not a case to be made that Queta is definitively, objectively better than Bassey, but he is your preference, and that's fine by me.

[redslastlaugh]

Celtics have hired Drew Nicholas, evidently to replace Austin Ainge as DoPP. Thus far, has anyone seen any quotes from Brad or Drew Nicholas about the hire or has there been an introductory press conference or even an interview with Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston or other introduction in the media?

Additionally, is there any reporting about Drew Nicholas's approach to scouting and any player transactions he is credited as supporting inside the Nuggets or Nets?

The Boston Celtics have reportedly hired Drew Nicholas as Executive Director of Player Personnel, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Per Scotto, "Nicholas spent last season as a scout for the Brooklyn Nets," and prior to that job, "he spent the prior two years as Director of Scouting for the Denver Nuggets."

Nicholas' path to the Celtics before those stops began as a player for the University of Maryland, where the Hempstead, New York native played at the NCAA level. After going unselected in the 2003 NBA draft, Nicholas played in Europe until 2012, with some stints played for higher-profile clubs like Panathinaikos and Emporio Armani Milano before becoming a scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016.

Stepping into the role played by former Celtics Director of Player Personnel Austin Ainge after his decampment to the Utah Jazz earlier this summer, the former Terrapin should be a solid option to help guide Boston in adding talent to their next contending roster.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/report-boston-celtics-hire-drew-080410522.html