Free Agent/Trade Thread 2026-27, Part X (It's a Tragedy to See the Dream is Over)

[cloverleaf]

Are we in search for a stretch-5 backup? Bring back Mike Muscala, out from retirement! Vitor, anyone?

"Mike Muscala is not walking through that door, and VItor Faverani is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they’re going to be gray and old."

[Fierce1]

Are we in search for a stretch-5 backup? Bring back Mike Muscala, out from retirement! Vitor, anyone?

"Mike Muscala is not walking through that door, and VItor Faverani is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they’re going to be gray and old."

[ryan in Maine]

Muscala is an old 35 lol.

[Larry_Russell]

Milos looked good too

[cloverleaf]

How about the guys who didn't make it into the game? Any good towel swingers? Excited standing Os through the overtime? A natural leader coordinating the cheer section?

[winsomme2]

So I listened to the most recent Bill Simmons and Joe House podcast today which had a large segment on the Jaylen Brown / analytics debate.

Such a rough discussion.

The whole premise was analytics dont account for how Jaylen single handidly carried a team of "bums" last season. On the basis you have to "watch games" - if either of them watched more than 15 games last season they'd know how dumb that sounds.

There was genuine shock as to why analytics dont favour a player whose scoring output is more easily replaced in lineups than a playmaker or elite defender... despite them comparing Jaylens analytics to other poor analytics profiles from other mid efficiency primary scorers like Carmelo, Stackhouse and Ai.

What capped it off was then in the same breathe saying that, in spite of all these misleading analytics, the Celtics would still be a 55 win team (which i agree).

Im not an analytics all or nothing guy, and not criticising Jaylen, but having these completely contradictory takes on the most influential sports entertainer in the worlds podcast does a massive disservice to the conversation. Get someone on that knows the basics please so the general nba fanbase can understand what they are reading. Rather than two drunk uncles trying to have a half assed conversation on it.

I guess im just exhausted from how terrible the public conversation on this situation has been. Zero nuance whatsoever.

The problem isn't just analytics. It's analytics that is then leading to a worrying commitment to the three pointer focused style of play. I agree that Jaylen controls the ball too much on offense and I get frustrated when he lets the limits of his ball handling skills get him into trouble leading to ugly turnovers but I don't think that that is why the team doesn't see him as the best fit next to JT. I think it is his 3pt shooting and focus on "long twos."

I totally disagree with this reasoning. Not only because it lead to trading JB, but also because this team's determination to lead the league in 3PA, doesn't lead to an effective playoff team. We lost two of the worst played playoffs series the past two years (Knicks and Sixers) because we were obsessed with the three point shot. We also had trouble defending the rim, but I think we addressed that with the addition of Mitchell Robinson. Our offense, however, has become more of a problem IMO.

With the loss of JB and the addition of Paul George, we have become more of a three point team. I don't see anyone on our roster who can consistently attack the basket off the dribble and I'm worried that we are going to be launching threes at an all time level. This will probably get a decent amount of wins in the regular season but will (as it's done the past two seasons) unravel in the playoffs.

I really wish we could have taken the addition of Mitchell Robinson and seen what two healthy Js could have done this season.

[Larry_Russell]

RE:

3pt shooting

We replaced browns <35% with George who is always around 40%
Pritchard 38-40%
Tatum >36%
White >36%
Baylor 40%
Hugo >36%
RHjr >36%

we good.

We dont need Hauser at 11 million.

I would rather dump him for pick(s) and savings and instead give Tonje an NBA contract at a fraction of the cost. He is so much better athletically and defensively than Hasuer, imo, and isnt just a 1 trick pony. Feels like the era of 1 trick ponies os OVER in this modern NBA. Just cannot afford to have that anymore.

Run next season with

Pritchard/White/Conley
White/Hugo/HarperJr
George/Baylor/Tonje
Tatum/CenacJr/Walsh
Robinson/Queta/Garza

2wp
Amari Williams
Dillon MItchell
Milos Uzan

That makes us much more athletic, bigger and vastly superior as far as versatility on the wing with slashers, re bounders, ball handlers, cutters, and spacing. That gives like 8 guys that get get a defensive rebound and head up the court immediately and initiate an offence.

If Hauser was indeed flipped for just picks we would be about 10 million below tax after signing John. LEaves opportunity to make a trade during the season if something came up with the TPE and picks, etc.

[Green89]

Any news on Kuminga? I thought it was a done deal and he was Laker bound, but reports came up that we're interested, too.

Read on Twitter

[greenbeans]

You gotta be down in the dumps if you're betting on Jonathan Kuminga's next team

[Curmudgeon]

A three point shooting team can be an excellent playoff team-- if they go in.

[Marvel]

Milos looked good too

How was he defensively?

[Larry_Russell]

Milos looked good too

How was he defensively?

Very nice. Smart

[neno]

Muscala is an old 35 lol.

Dudes so old
He was playing when Paul George was young

[Dogen]

RE:

3pt shooting

We replaced browns <35% with George who is always around 40%
Pritchard 38-40%
Tatum >36%
White >36%
Baylor 40%
Hugo >36%
RHjr >36%

we good.

We dont need Hauser at 11 million.

I would rather dump him for pick(s) and savings and instead give Tonje an NBA contract at a fraction of the cost. He is so much better athletically and defensively than Hasuer, imo, and isnt just a 1 trick pony. Feels like the era of 1 trick ponies os OVER in this modern NBA. Just cannot afford to have that anymore.

Run next season with

Pritchard/White/Conley
White/Hugo/HarperJr
George/Baylor/Tonje
Tatum/CenacJr/Walsh
Robinson/Queta/Garza

2wp
Amari Williams
Dillon MItchell
Milos Uzan

That makes us much more athletic, bigger and vastly superior as far as versatility on the wing with slashers, re bounders, ball handlers, cutters, and spacing. That gives like 8 guys that get get a defensive rebound and head up the court immediately and initiate an offence.

If Hauser was indeed flipped for just picks we would be about 10 million below tax after signing John. LEaves opportunity to make a trade during the season if something came up with the TPE and picks, etc.

The issue here is the Celtics would need to find a team that has both the cap space and the available picks to absorb Hauser. And there aren't many options out there.

Exception is Brooklyn. They have space, and a ton of 2nds. But do they want Hauser? with the current status of the Nets?

BKN has 3 2nds in both 2028 and 2030. Celtics could receive the ATL pick in 2028 and the BOS pick in 2030, for example, back for Hauser.

Maybe getting a 40% 3pt shooter with Championship experience is nice move for them. They are going to need to move off some of those picks, but might prefer to wait and hold those assets for a more substantial trade.

[bucknersrevenge]

RE:

3pt shooting

We replaced browns <35% with George who is always around 40%
Pritchard 38-40%
Tatum >36%
White >36%
Baylor 40%
Hugo >36%
RHjr >36%

we good.

We dont need Hauser at 11 million.

I would rather dump him for pick(s) and savings and instead give Tonje an NBA contract at a fraction of the cost. He is so much better athletically and defensively than Hasuer, imo, and isnt just a 1 trick pony. Feels like the era of 1 trick ponies os OVER in this modern NBA. Just cannot afford to have that anymore.

Run next season with

Pritchard/White/Conley
White/Hugo/HarperJr
George/Baylor/Tonje
Tatum/CenacJr/Walsh
Robinson/Queta/Garza

2wp
Amari Williams
Dillon MItchell
Milos Uzan

That makes us much more athletic, bigger and vastly superior as far as versatility on the wing with slashers, re bounders, ball handlers, cutters, and spacing. That gives like 8 guys that get get a defensive rebound and head up the court immediately and initiate an offence.

If Hauser was indeed flipped for just picks we would be about 10 million below tax after signing John. LEaves opportunity to make a trade during the season if something came up with the TPE and picks, etc.

The issue here is the Celtics would need to find a team that has both the cap space and the available picks to absorb Hauser. And there aren't many options out there.

Exception is Brooklyn. They have space, and a ton of 2nds. But do they want Hauser? with the current status of the Nets?

BKN has 3 2nds in both 2028 and 2030. Celtics could receive the ATL pick in 2028 and the BOS pick in 2030, for example, back for Hauser.

Maybe getting a 40% 3pt shooter with Championship experience is nice move for them. They are going to need to move off some of those picks, but might prefer to wait and hold those assets for a more substantial trade.

I know the last time someone in here asked if people would stop putting Hauser in trade scenarios I was a bit indignant. In truth, Sam is on a terrific deal. That's a fact. He's always played REALLY well next to Tatum and Payton Pritchard. There IS another level that I believe Hauser can reach in terms of driving closeouts and making plays off the dribble. Basic reads, hitting an occasional middle or getting to the basket. He's never gonna draw many fouls but he's obviously highly efficient. And while opponents leave him open ALL the time, when he does get a swing pass the recognition is immediate and they close out on him HARD. Given the other spacers, finishers, and processors we have on this roster, he is no doubt a weapon.

AND...

as I said before, by Brad's own hand, the moves he's made have made Sam somewhat redundant. We have a plethora of young wings with a variety of skills all capable of production. Do we just keep those guys on the bench? Hugo is out there trying to develop his all-around game. Baylor came along really nicely ending last season on a high. RHJ got a deal this offseason that at least suggests there's a plan for him. Walsh looked like a defensive monster for about 20 games and we just drafted Mitchell. So what do you do? Obviously depth is gonna be important for the next iteration of this team but so is CLARITY. I'm hoping that this logjam becomes a bit more clear this season.

[celtxman]

Muscala is an old 35 lol.

Hey dont insult Paul George like that!

[ryan in Maine]

Hey PG looked pretty spry the last time I saw him.

[redslastlaugh]

Whatever happened to Brandon Williams on the Mavs?
Maybe Sam Hauser for Brandon Williams in a S&T ?

[playa-hater]

Whatever happened to Brandon Williams on the Mavs?
Maybe Sam Hauser for Brandon Williams in a S&T ?

Yes.. but it's like no one is making moves.. And I am getting bored.

[KamikazeK]

You gotta be down in the dumps if you're betting on Jonathan Kuminga's next team

At this point I'm so burned out on our society shoving gambling into every aspect of life that I scoff at anyone betting on anything. We really jumped the shark with this crap.