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

[Fierce1]

It wouldn't be a shock if Jarrett Allen becomes available

I think he is.
But his salary is a cap killer.

Allen gets 20m this season, but the next 3 seasons will be for 30m per year.

[Larry_Russell]

It wouldn't be a shock if Jarrett Allen becomes available

I might be in a minority, but I think Allen would fit better.

But Zubac brings something different than Queta...so the overall balance I think is better with IZ

[Curmudgeon]

I'm curious to know how the Knicks are going to acquire Giannis. They don't have pics or any young players with significant upside.

[Cricket23]

I'm very curious how the coaches and front office view Queta. If they think he's a legitimate starter, they may be targeting a player/position that nobody sees coming. For all we know, they could target another guard and a backup 5.

[brackdan70]

I'm curious to know how the Knicks are going to acquire Giannis. They don't have pics or any young players with significant upside.

It’s going to be complicated and need help from a third team.
I think Bridges and picks to Bucks, KAT and or OG to a third team/ 4th team for picks. Kuzma and Giannis to Knicks.
The trick is what team will give enough quality picks for KAT or OG. It’s hard to make salary work and hard to find value. I’d be really surprised if it’s the Knicks….

[Curmudgeon]

I'm curious to know how the Knicks are going to acquire Giannis. They don't have pics or any young players with significant upside.

It’s going to be complicated and need help from a third team.
I think Bridges and picks to Bucks, KAT and or OG to a third team/ 4th team for picks. Kuzma and Giannis to Knicks.
The trick is what team will give enough quality picks for KAT or OG. It’s hard to make salary work and hard to find value. I’d be really surprised if it’s the Knicks….

So Brunson, Giannis and a bunch of nothing are going to contend? I don't think so.

[Cricket23]

See I think a better trade is NY sending out OG and Bridges plus whatever, maybe Robinson for Giannis and Kuz. The Knicks would have the floor spacing Towns to go along with Giannis, Brunson, and Hart, while the Bucks would have a nice frontcourt to work with rather than the tandem of Towns and Turner.

[redslastlaugh]

I think KAT + Mikal Bridges for Giannis + Kuzma is a theoretical framework without the Knicks having picks/prospects to trade. And then the Bucks decide id they want to play those guys, re-trade them like the Blazers did with Jrue Holiday, etc which just becomes something Bucks sort out over time

EDIT: Also, people think Bucks don't have their pick this year, which is not right. Bucks have the lesser pick of NOP/MIL so they could still have a high pick, I mean theoretically the Pels pick could be #1 (sent to ATL) and the Bucks could get #2... so this is a wrinkle if Bucks want to drop deep into lottery

I'm curious to know how the Knicks are going to acquire Giannis. They don't have pics or any young players with significant upside.

[brackdan70]

I'm curious to know how the Knicks are going to acquire Giannis. They don't have pics or any young players with significant upside.

It’s going to be complicated and need help from a third team.
I think Bridges and picks to Bucks, KAT and or OG to a third team/ 4th team for picks. Kuzma and Giannis to Knicks.
The trick is what team will give enough quality picks for KAT or OG. It’s hard to make salary work and hard to find value. I’d be really surprised if it’s the Knicks….

So Brunson, Giannis and a bunch of nothing are going to contend? I don't think so.

Right?! It doesn’t really make sense for either team.
I think if the Bucks cave and do it for KAT and OG to a third team for a pick is the only way but the Bucks would almost be better off doing almost anything else.

[Fierce1]

You're not winning anything with Giannis in today's NBA.

Giannis is too much of an iso guy and he's not a shooter.

OKC and Denver are the teams to beat.

Maybe Houston, because of superior talent and athleticism, is also in that mix.

So whether Giannis goes to NY or stays put in Milwaukee, the Celtics can beat both teams in the playoffs.

[gammajamma]

I think KAT + Mikal Bridges for Giannis + Kuzma is a theoretical framework without the Knicks having picks/prospects to trade. And then the Bucks decide id they want to play those guys, re-trade them like the Blazers did with Jrue Holiday, etc which just becomes something Bucks sort out over time

EDIT: Also, people think Bucks don't have their pick this year, which is not right. Bucks have the lesser pick of NOP/MIL so they could still have a high pick, I mean theoretically the Pels pick could be #1 (sent to ATL) and the Bucks could get #2... so this is a wrinkle if Bucks want to drop deep into lottery

I'm curious to know how the Knicks are going to acquire Giannis. They don't have pics or any young players with significant upside.

If that is the case if Im Milwaukee, I try to send Giannis to atlanta to get that pels pick and keep their own pick as well and get other assets. two picks in top 7 this year is good way to start rebuild

[Dogen]

Any interest in Nick Richards?

Maybe he's not the ideal big for Boston, I haven't seen enough of him to really evaluate. There is talk he is on the market as he is expiring and PHX has Williams, Maluach, and Ighodaro all under contract. That's a... plethora of bigs.

Richards seems to the one on the outside looking in on the Suns. His minutes and stats are down this year and he likely wants out.

For Boston, Nick is sort of a duplicate of Queta, perhaps more fluid and more experienced but I wouldn't necessarily assume he'd get the starting nod over Neemy, at least at first. But having another legit 7 foot rebounder with experience would be a plus. And Richards has some attitude. If Phoenix trades him they'd probably want him back east, not with a west playoff team with a grudge.

Hauser is the trade. Phoenix should be coveting an extra shooting ace as a compliment to what they have with Booker and Green. Sending Sam to Phoenix would not be a slight to him; Suns are playing well and could do some damage in the playoffs. A guy with a ring would be welcome there-- and Sam can work on getting a tan.

Celtics also shed more off the cap.

This leaves Simons at his bench scorer/ 6th man role. I'm OK with that if the front court is solid. Both Simons and Richards are expirings, but could really help the team this year if Tatum comes back. Basically, replacing Hauser with Richards makes the team stronger as it fits a need. If things work out here, one or both of Simons and Richards may sign a team friendly deal.

[redslastlaugh]

Any interest in Nick Richards?

honestly, no. i've not watched him much in his career, but you look at his bball ref and his teams have been better when he's off the floor. if we just need a dude though, maybe he'd be fine but not at the top of my list, lol

if the deal is simply financial, Celts want a cheap, expiring big body in exchange for getting off Sam Hauser's long term deal, then maybe that makes sense. i just haven't seen a lot of his film.

I also remember there was some issue concerning his personality or professionalism and I don't remember now what it was, my vague recollection was maybe a problematic marijuana habit causing consequences or something, i can't remember but there was some extracurricular type criticism going around online that made me think he wasn't a Celtics type of guy.

[redslastlaugh]

Trade Idea: Cleveland says EFF THIS

Cavs are badly underperforming (8th seed) with the highest payroll in the NBA ($232M) and this is a cut money move for them. Max Strus makes $15.94M this year and $16.66M next and Strus hasn't played yet this year. He's too expensive with Jaylon Tyson having a strong sophomore season, Cavs don't need him anymore at that price.

Celtics trade: Anfernee Simons
Celtics receive: Max Strus ($15.94M), Jalen Wilson ($2.2M)

Cleveland trades: Max Strus, 2030 CLE 1st Swap Rights
Cleveland receives: Cam Thomas (exp), Haywood Highsmith (exp), 2030 Brooklyn 2nd

Brooklyn trades: Cam Thomas, Haywood Highsmith, Jalen Wilson, 2030 BRK 2nd
Brooklyn receives: Anfernee Simons, 2030 CLE 1st Right to Swap

Why for Celtics: Trade saves $9.5M according to Spotrac, moving Jalen Wilson to a 3rd team gets team close to under tax line. Strus has one year after this. Strus hasn't played yet this year bc of offseason foot fracture surgery, but Strus is an experienced rotation playoff performer.

Why for Cleveland: Trade saves $4.3M this year and removes Strus's bloated $16.7M for 2026-27. Cam Thomas is scoring option off the bench and is expiring, Highsmith is expiring. The Cavs are badly underperforming and it's too expensive a roster for this result. They eat a swap 4.5 yrs out

Why for Nets: They get rid of their problem child, Cam Thomas. They spend a future 2nd, for an unprotected swap on a CLE 1st in 2030. SAS got an out year swap to take Reggie Bullock from Dallas when they acquired Grant Williams, so that's the precedent, an unprotected swap to save Cavs $20 million here.

Why for Cam Thomas: Thomas wants off the Nets, on the Cavs the fit is not perfect but Garland/Mitchell are frequently hurt and he will surely get some opportunities and could even get a nice role in the playoffs to show out going into free agency and shed his loser reputation. (Thomas has veto rights)

[Fierce1]

I don't think saving money is the goal anymore.

Cs making a trade should land them a big man in return.

The saving money part was when it was believed the Cs would be a lottery or play-in team this season.

But it's looking like the Cs have exceeded expectations and are better off upgrading the roster.

[brackdan70]

I don't think saving money is the goal anymore.

Cs making a trade should land them a big man in return.

The saving money part was when it was believed the Cs would be a lottery or play-in team this season.

But it's looking like the Cs have exceeded expectations and are better off upgrading the roster.

I agree. They still can’t take in more than they send out in a trade. But I think trades that don’t really save much money, but improve the team are on the table for sure.

[Celts17Pride]

I don't think saving money is the goal anymore.

Cs making a trade should land them a big man in return.

The saving money part was when it was believed the Cs would be a lottery or play-in team this season.

But it's looking like the Cs have exceeded expectations and are better off upgrading the roster.

I agree. They still can’t take in more than they send out in a trade. But I think trades that don’t really save much money, but improve the team are on the table for sure.

as long as the Celtics don't go over the 2nd apron. Celtics won't go over the 2nd apron.

[brackdan70]

I don't think saving money is the goal anymore.

Cs making a trade should land them a big man in return.

The saving money part was when it was believed the Cs would be a lottery or play-in team this season.

But it's looking like the Cs have exceeded expectations and are better off upgrading the roster.

I agree. They still can’t take in more than they send out in a trade. But I think trades that don’t really save much money, but improve the team are on the table for sure.

as long as the Celtics don't go over the 2nd apron. Celtics won't go over the 2nd apron.

They can’t take in more than sending out since they are over the 1st apron. They can aggregate though and just get hard capped at the 2nd . Shouldn’t be a problem.

[Fierce1]

I agree. They still can’t take in more than they send out in a trade. But I think trades that don’t really save much money, but improve the team are on the table for sure.

as long as the Celtics don't go over the 2nd apron. Celtics won't go over the 2nd apron.

They can’t take in more than sending out since they are over the 1st apron. They can aggregate though and just get hard capped at the 2nd . Shouldn’t be a problem.

Cs are at around 200m right now.

I think they stay below that number after a Simons trade.

Only way the Cs reset the repeater this season is if they trade Simons and Hauser for a player or players with a smaller salary.

Even if the Cs trade Simons for a guy like Vucevic, Cs save around 6m because Vuc is around 21m and Simons is at 27m.

Celts have options, it's just a matter of what direction Brad and the Cs want to go.

[Celts17Pride]

35 year old Vucevic can't defend. If the Celtics traded for him he would spend most of his time sitting right next to Luka Garza. Joe Mazzulla would never play him. If the Celtics traded for Vucevic it would be a straight money saving move.

Even though I am not a big fan of Anfernee Simons, you never trade a 26 year old for a washed up 35 year old player. Never.