Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[2Mas]

I don't see this team as "flawed" at all. It's just not a "push button" team like it has been for the last two years. There's some uncertainty about who is going to step up. We know that Brown and White are all-star caliber players, and Pritchard isn't far behind. Boucher is a known quantity as a hustle guy and Hauser, if he is still here in October, is a sniper. And I've seen enough of Queta to think that he can rebound and rim protect at a high level and a healthy Tillman is a useful player.

The question is who else will step up among Simons, Garza, Minot, Scheierman, Gonzalez and Walsh. They will all have an opportunity to show what they can do, and I have faith in Stevens to bring in guys who have the potential to become good players. Plus I'm guessing that someone will fill that empty roster spot at some point.

I agree.

Let me just add that Simons is also a proven vet that will give you 20 ppg.

So it's between Baylor, Garza, Mynot, Walsh, and Gonzalez.

If the Celtics just turn one of those 5 into a legit rotation player, the Celtics will win 45 games or more.

45 Maybe 35 if we're lucky.

I'm hoping for 25.

[chrisab123]

I don't see this team as "flawed" at all. It's just not a "push button" team like it has been for the last two years. There's some uncertainty about who is going to step up. We know that Brown and White are all-star caliber players, and Pritchard isn't far behind. Boucher is a known quantity as a hustle guy and Hauser, if he is still here in October, is a sniper. And I've seen enough of Queta to think that he can rebound and rim protect at a high level and a healthy Tillman is a useful player.

The question is who else will step up among Simons, Garza, Minot, Scheierman, Gonzalez and Walsh. They will all have an opportunity to show what they can do, and I have faith in Stevens to bring in guys who have the potential to become good players. Plus I'm guessing that someone will fill that empty roster spot at some point.

I agree.

Let me just add that Simons is also a proven vet that will give you 20 ppg.

So it's between Baylor, Garza, Mynot, Walsh, and Gonzalez.

If the Celtics just turn one of those 5 into a legit rotation player, the Celtics will win 45 games or more.

45 Maybe 35 if we're lucky.

I'm hoping for 25.

They aren’t getting 35 wins in a weak east with D White and Brown playing hard. It’s probably going to be in the 40s. It’s just not happening. Now if Joe does some funny stuff and gets Brown to pass up on showing he can be an alpha dog then sure it’s feasible.

[fallguy]

I agree.

Let me just add that Simons is also a proven vet that will give you 20 ppg.

So it's between Baylor, Garza, Mynot, Walsh, and Gonzalez.

If the Celtics just turn one of those 5 into a legit rotation player, the Celtics will win 45 games or more.

45 Maybe 35 if we're lucky.

I'm hoping for 25.

They aren’t getting 35 wins in a weak east with D White and Brown playing hard. It’s probably going to be in the 40s. It’s just not happening. Now if Joe does some funny stuff and gets Brown to pass up on showing he can be an alpha dog then sure it’s feasible.

Need to sit JB and DW down for large stretches of the season.

If we're smart.

[2Mas]

He'll get double that for sure. He can score and there's value in that.

No he won't. Jay Scrubb can score. The issue is, can you win? Scoring without more is for tank commanders. No one is giving Simons Jordan Poole money. Poole has the worst contract in the league that is being tossed around like a hot potato. GMs may learn slowly, but they learn.

I agree he’s not in line for a raise and likely a cut. The thing with scorers is they need to have some combo of size, defense or PG/playmaking, and elite efficiency scoring.

An average efficiency volume scorer is the group whose value has dropped the most the past few years.

But my point about the $8M is he will get more from some Chicago level team than he will in Boston so he’s not staying unless he accepts a deep cut which isn’t happening.

Simons is obviously gonna get more than $8m per. But i do agree that he's probably in line for a pay cut next season.

I like Simons i just don't see why we need him. Between PP White JB JT we have so many perimeter scoring. Like others said we should be using that slot on a big. Nothing against Simons, but just not the best fit here.

& whoever said we'll see if he's here in Sept means nothing. Lets see in Feb post deadline.

[2Mas]

I agree.

Let me just add that Simons is also a proven vet that will give you 20 ppg.

So it's between Baylor, Garza, Mynot, Walsh, and Gonzalez.

If the Celtics just turn one of those 5 into a legit rotation player, the Celtics will win 45 games or more.

45 Maybe 35 if we're lucky.

I'm hoping for 25.

They aren’t getting 35 wins in a weak east with D White and Brown playing hard. It’s probably going to be in the 40s. It’s just not happening. Now if Joe does some funny stuff and gets Brown to pass up on showing he can be an alpha dog then sure it’s feasible.

That's with you believing the Celtics are trying to win.

I firmly believe this is yr is a experimental yr to see who can help on our next competitive team in 26/27. Nothing is being done for the 25/26 season. & if it was, our front court wouldn't look like it does.


We won't be bad enough to really tank, but adding the 8th pick or whatever would be an awesome asset to have (Maybe 8th with a Simons S&T next summer?) to get our good big man.

[bfchs123]

My new dream scenario is to go after Myles Turner next offseason as the missing big piece. A lot would need to fall into place but if Giannis asks out then I'm guessing they would entertain Turner trades as well - would never had the chance if he was on IND

PP
White
JB
JT
Turner

Back in contention!

[chrisab123]

45 Maybe 35 if we're lucky.

I'm hoping for 25.

They aren’t getting 35 wins in a weak east with D White and Brown playing hard. It’s probably going to be in the 40s. It’s just not happening. Now if Joe does some funny stuff and gets Brown to pass up on showing he can be an alpha dog then sure it’s feasible.

That's with you believing the Celtics are trying to win.

I firmly believe this is yr is a experimental yr to see who can help on our next competitive team in 26/27. Nothing is being done for the 25/26 season. & if it was, our front court wouldn't look like it does.


We won't be bad enough to really tank, but adding the 8th pick or whatever would be an awesome asset to have (Maybe 8th with a Simons S&T next summer?) to get our good big man.

Which is all good until JB says “hey I want to win and this rookie is going to take 3 years to develop, can you send me to Atlanta or Miami?”

That’s the real problem. This isn’t LA or NYC. If the Celtics aren’t winning or trying to win for multiple years stars will leave.

[2Mas]

They aren’t getting 35 wins in a weak east with D White and Brown playing hard. It’s probably going to be in the 40s. It’s just not happening. Now if Joe does some funny stuff and gets Brown to pass up on showing he can be an alpha dog then sure it’s feasible.

That's with you believing the Celtics are trying to win.

I firmly believe this is yr is a experimental yr to see who can help on our next competitive team in 26/27. Nothing is being done for the 25/26 season. & if it was, our front court wouldn't look like it does.


We won't be bad enough to really tank, but adding the 8th pick or whatever would be an awesome asset to have (Maybe 8th with a Simons S&T next summer?) to get our good big man.

Which is all good until JB says “hey I want to win and this rookie is going to take 3 years to develop, can you send me to Atlanta or Miami?”

That’s the real problem. This isn’t LA or NYC. If the Celtics aren’t winning or trying to win for multiple years stars will leave.

Why would JB say that after a decade of winning lol? Wtf.

Let him be the man the 50/60 games hes gonna play. They know they have no shot to win it this yr.

[chrisab123]

That's with you believing the Celtics are trying to win.

I firmly believe this is yr is a experimental yr to see who can help on our next competitive team in 26/27. Nothing is being done for the 25/26 season. & if it was, our front court wouldn't look like it does.


We won't be bad enough to really tank, but adding the 8th pick or whatever would be an awesome asset to have (Maybe 8th with a Simons S&T next summer?) to get our good big man.

Which is all good until JB says “hey I want to win and this rookie is going to take 3 years to develop, can you send me to Atlanta or Miami?”

That’s the real problem. This isn’t LA or NYC. If the Celtics aren’t winning or trying to win for multiple years stars will leave.

Why would JB say that after a decade of winning lol? Wtf.

Let him be the man the 50/60 games hes gonna play. They know they have no shot to win it this yr.

Why would Giannis? Why would any of these guys who are used to winning and then all of a sudden on teams for a couple of years that have no shot. Giannis hasn’t asked for a trade yet but those rumblings are loud. Embiid won’t because of his bum ass knees. But it’s still very much a players league. If they get that 8th pick they should be using it to get one of those disgruntled players.

[Hal14]

Which is all good until JB says “hey I want to win and this rookie is going to take 3 years to develop, can you send me to Atlanta or Miami?”

That’s the real problem. This isn’t LA or NYC. If the Celtics aren’t winning or trying to win for multiple years stars will leave.

Why would JB say that after a decade of winning lol? Wtf.

Let him be the man the 50/60 games hes gonna play. They know they have no shot to win it this yr.

Why would Giannis? Why would any of these guys who are used to winning and then all of a sudden on teams for a couple of years that have no shot. Giannis hasn’t asked for a trade yet but those rumblings are loud. Embiid won’t because of his bum ass knees. But it’s still very much a players league. If they get that 8th pick they should be using it to get one of those disgruntled players.

So Giannis hasn't..and Embiid hasn't.

Who has?

SGA was on a tanking OKC team for 2.5 years. Did he ask out? No. He got it..he understood the long game, saw the vision. The look what happened.

Indy was bad when Haliburton first got there. Did he ask out?

DET was bad for 3 yrs when Cade got there.

GS was bad for 2 yrs when Steph and Klay had injuries. They were in the lottery 2 yrs in a row..did Steph and Draymond ask out? No, they reloaded and won another ring together.

The only guys who ask out are like Dame, Kyrie, Harden and KD. Dame because he was there for like a million years in Portland and they still couldn't make an NBA finals. The other 3 guys are just weirdos who hop from 1 team to another as a hobby lol.

OKC just won a ring in JDub's 3rd season. It was Chet's 2nd season (missed rookie year with injury).

[2Mas]

Why would JB say that after a decade of winning lol? Wtf.

Let him be the man the 50/60 games hes gonna play. They know they have no shot to win it this yr.

Why would Giannis? Why would any of these guys who are used to winning and then all of a sudden on teams for a couple of years that have no shot. Giannis hasn’t asked for a trade yet but those rumblings are loud. Embiid won’t because of his bum ass knees. But it’s still very much a players league. If they get that 8th pick they should be using it to get one of those disgruntled players.

So Giannis hasn't..and Embiid hasn't.

Who has?

SGA was on a tanking OKC team for 2.5 years. Did he ask out? No. He got it..he understood the long game, saw the vision. The look what happened.

Indy was bad when Haliburton first got there. Did he ask out?

DET was bad for 3 yrs when Cade got there.

GS was bad for 2 yrs when Steph and Klay had injuries. They were in the lottery 2 yrs in a row..did Steph and Draymond ask out? No, they reloaded and won another ring together.

The only guys who ask out are like Dame, Kyrie, Harden and KD. Dame because he was there for like a million years in Portland and they still couldn't make an NBA finals. The other 3 guys are just weirdos who hop from 1 team to another as a hobby lol.

OKC just won a ring in JDub's 3rd season. It was Chet's 2nd season (missed rookie year with injury).

Yeah right. & This also isn't gonna be a multi yr tank, or even a full out nasty looking tank. We can't be worse than like 12th in the east even if we try.

Just a calm cool reset mini tank yr. Grab the top 10 draft pick. Go 33-49 while developing & seeing if Garza, Minott, Baylor, Hugo can be rotation pieces in 26/27. Grab a stud big man & get back to contending in 26/27.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

I don't think the new ownership bodes well for Jaylen Brown, especially if they end up with an impactful player in the Draft. That guy could end up being Brown's replacement. You would hope they use Brown to obtain a better player of equal or larger salary, but they could opt for Tax Relief and Future Picks.

I just don't trust this new guy not to pull a Henry on Celtics fans...

[chrisab123]

I don't think the new ownership bodes well for Jaylen Brown, especially if they end up with an impactful player in the Draft. That guy could end up being Brown's replacement. You would hope they use Brown to obtain a better player of equal or larger salary, but they could opt for Tax Relief and Future Picks.

I just don't trust this new guy not to pull a Henry on Celtics fans...

Yeah this is where I’m at. If they trade Brown, Tatum isn’t sticking around for a rebuild with young guys. Especially when the Lakers are going to need someone to team up with Luka and he’s a life long Laker fan.

The real test will be if they extend Stevens or let him walk next offseason.

[Celts17Pride]

I don't think the new ownership bodes well for Jaylen Brown, especially if they end up with an impactful player in the Draft. That guy could end up being Brown's replacement. You would hope they use Brown to obtain a better player of equal or larger salary, but they could opt for Tax Relief and Future Picks.

I just don't trust this new guy not to pull a Henry on Celtics fans...

Yeah this is where I’m at. If they trade Brown, Tatum isn’t sticking around for a rebuild with young guys. Especially when the Lakers are going to need someone to team up with Luka and he’s a life long Laker fan.

The real test will be if they extend Stevens or let him walk next offseason.

In my opinion, Tatum is going to be asking out if all Bill is concerned about is pinching pennies. Brad Stevens seems optimistic about the future with Chisholm, so we will see. The first big test is 2026/2027.

[165bows]

I don't think the new ownership bodes well for Jaylen Brown, especially if they end up with an impactful player in the Draft. That guy could end up being Brown's replacement. You would hope they use Brown to obtain a better player of equal or larger salary, but they could opt for Tax Relief and Future Picks.

I just don't trust this new guy not to pull a Henry on Celtics fans...

Yeah this is where I’m at. If they trade Brown, Tatum isn’t sticking around for a rebuild with young guys. Especially when the Lakers are going to need someone to team up with Luka and he’s a life long Laker fan.

The real test will be if they extend Stevens or let him walk next offseason.

In my opinion, Tatum is going to be asking out if all Bill is concerned about is pinching pennies. Brad Stevens seems optimistic about the future with Chisholm, so we will see. The first big test is 2026/2027.

Yeah I actually feel slightly better about the ownership group with Joe M. extending.

Maybe they've snowed Brad thoroughly (which is very possible) but Joe has his bug-out camp and his RV paid off after his first deal he isn't signing on for more years if he can't exercise his psychotic competitive streak.

Just play the kids and make sure to rest the vets Joe.

Oh and on the wing situation, this team has (and had) had no front court long term and the team has spent all it's roster spots and draft picks on Walsh, Scheierman, Hugo and Minott. Then traded their best healthy 4 for RJ Luis. I don't think they are trading Brown but they sure aren't acting like the deepest wing team in the league.

[Parliament10]

I think that the Celtics make it to the 2nd Round of the Playoffs. Beyond that, I'm not sure.
It's not a good idea to get these Men to Tank. -- Hard-Tank, Soft-Tank, Little-itty-bitty-Tank. No Thank, You.

This is their Basketball Lives. They only have a limited time. No Player wants to Tank.
We have some of the Best Players from around the World. They All want to Win. They'll be done before they're 40.

Tank, or No Tank???
How about, No Thanks!!!

Take that to the Bank . . .

[redslastlaugh]

I don't think the new ownership bodes well for Jaylen Brown, especially if they end up with an impactful player in the Draft. That guy could end up being Brown's replacement. You would hope they use Brown to obtain a better player of equal or larger salary, but they could opt for Tax Relief and Future Picks.

I just don't trust this new guy not to pull a Henry on Celtics fans...

Yeah this is where I’m at. If they trade Brown, Tatum isn’t sticking around for a rebuild with young guys. Especially when the Lakers are going to need someone to team up with Luka and he’s a life long Laker fan.

I couldn't disagree more with your comments about Luka and the Lakers. I think Tatum is not the biggest Luka fan, JT really enjoyed beating Luka for a title and would never (n-e-v-e-r) sign up to be Robin to Luka's Batman - JT thinks he's better than Luka. Just not gonna be something JT will ever have interest in, so I really wouldn't lose sleep over it.

[Larry_Russell]

I don't think the new ownership bodes well for Jaylen Brown, especially if they end up with an impactful player in the Draft. That guy could end up being Brown's replacement. You would hope they use Brown to obtain a better player of equal or larger salary, but they could opt for Tax Relief and Future Picks.

I just don't trust this new guy not to pull a Henry on Celtics fans...

subtle tank the season for a top 5 or 6 pick
Trade brown for a young player and a top 4 pick

Walk away from draft with a player, and 2 of Boozer, AJ, Ament, Peat, Quintance and solid bench and role players.

Yeah, I can get behind that really fast.

[redslastlaugh]

If I wanted to speculate on the timing, I wonder if their is internal disagreement about what to about Simons. If there is not a trade for Ant, it seems like the other two options are :
1. pay 1st round draft assets to ship Ant into BRK's capspace
2. waive and stretch before the August deadline

Simons deal is basically the difference between being above/below the tax line, and once BRK fills their capspace and once the stretch deadline passes, there is no likely path to get under that line. Perhaps their is some disagreement about what to do about this problem?

[celtxman]

I wish the NBA had thought the SUPERMAX through with the collision with the new CBA. Brown and Tatum are home grown stars and poster children for success and encouraging for smaller markets. But then you have to either take the team apart or trade one of them.
How about the NBA not tax any monies between a MAX and SUPERMAX? The team pays the player but doesn't pay taxes or incur apron penalties for the difference.