Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, part 3

[celticgreenie]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

Last game TJ McConnell eyes got big when Garza was guarding him. Not sure still why Brad gave a two year guaranteed deal for Garza and why Minott had to settle for 1+1 since Minott even asked Twolves to rescind their offer.

[Celts17Pride]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

Last game TJ McConnell eyes got big when Garza was guarding him. Not sure still why Brad gave a two year guaranteed deal for Garza and why Minott had to settle for 1+1 since Minott even asked Twolves to rescind their offer.

Useful for an 82 game schedule

[celtxman]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

I'm not ready to say either won't perform in the playoffs. But it feels they're better off getting a serviceable backup PG, finding a talented SG/SF, and occasionally dropping Brown or the new player into the backcourt. In essence you really can't play Simons, Pritchard and White together much.

[shi-woo]

It's not that Simons isn't a solid player, or doing well for this team, but more so that he clearly has no role or future with us once the season ends of JT returns. We already have 2 better versions of what he is on this team in our starting guards, and if PP does go to the bench with JT back, what in the world is Simons going to offer this team? We already have streaky 3pnt shooting in Hauser too, locked up on a deal near 1/3rd of what we are paying Simons.

He just doesn't fit this team, and none of us would blink twice if you replaced him with any other rotational guard in the NBA making less than the MLE. Most of us would probably prefer that player too if they were bigger, and under contract for a couple more years. So it only makes sense that the fan base isn't attached to Simons, he's essentially Tristan Thompson all over again, just a body to bridge the gap during a down year that brings okay numbers and more name than someone like Tyler Kolek.

With the 3 draft picks in this draft, and relevance of cheap contracts, you know Brad is using all 3 picks, and 2 of those dudes will be making the roster which is already 11 deep and signed for next year. Most of us would rather that last roster spot go to either a better big, or a more all around guard. Nothing wrong with that, it's just logical.

Speaking of drafts, I know Celtic fans on this board are dying inside watching Maxime Raynaud put up 16/9 and space the floor over his last 10 for the Kings. Still not sure why Brad was allegic to drafting these polished bigs the last couple of drafts, all of them are working out and all of them were on the board when we were picking.

This team and the upcoming decisions would look so much different if we prioritized the Kalkbrenners, Fillipawski's, and Jamal Sheads of the world instead of Amari and Baylor...

[Parliament10]

This team and the upcoming decisions would look so much different if we prioritized the Kalkbrenners, Fillipawski's, and Jamal Sheads of the world instead of Amari and Baylor...

IDK about that. With the Amari pick we got 3 other 2nds.
That's not too shabby. If 1 or 2 of those guys does well, then it was a plus.

[Hal14]

It's not that Simons isn't a solid player, or doing well for this team, but more so that he clearly has no role or future with us once the season ends of JT returns. We already have 2 better versions of what he is on this team in our starting guards, and if PP does go to the bench with JT back, what in the world is Simons going to offer this team? We already have streaky 3pnt shooting in Hauser too, locked up on a deal near 1/3rd of what we are paying Simons.

Simons is on an expiring contract though.

It's possible that Simons next contract will be for less $ per year than Hauser's contract.

If we resign Simons this summer for like $5.5mil a year, that could end of being one of the best value contracts in the league.

And Simons would likely be more efficient than ever playing with Tatum. With Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard, there would be so much defensive attention on other guys that Simons would be raining open 3's all night and we'd be killing teams

Simons is just now entering his prime, is still getting better. And we definitely haven't seen the best of him in a Celtic uniform - he's clearly still adjusting to a new team, new role, new system, etc. Gotta give guys like him at least 40 games with a new team before you really start to see what they're capable of.

[Fierce1]

I still say guys like DeRozan, MPJ, and Cam Thomas are better options than Simons.

Simons is just not fitting in with Mazzulla-Ball.

Brad should not be thinking about draft picks now that the Cs are clearly in the hunt.

[Riverwalk2021]

Simmons is what he is. Talented scorer but he ended up here to get off Jrue's bad long-term contract. He doesn't fit here and when Tatum comes back, he literally becomes no more important than a corpse like Tillman. His contract is ridiculous but if we can use it + anybody outside of Brown and White + picks to get back a talented starting level big, I am all for it because it would make all the difference in the world to pair him with a core of Tatum, Brown and White. A big that can shoot, pass and defend will open up the court so much.

[Celts17Pride]

I still say guys like DeRozan, MPJ, and Cam Thomas are better options than Simons.

Simons is just not fitting in with Mazzulla-Ball.

Brad should not be thinking about draft picks now that the Cs are clearly in the hunt.

There is absolutely no consistency with Simons and Hauser. Having two guys like that is not great. Simons needs to go if Brad Stevens can find a good deal

[redslastlaugh]

This team and the upcoming decisions would look so much different if we prioritized the Kalkbrenners, Fillipawski's, and Jamal Sheads of the world instead of Amari and Baylor...

IDK about that. With the Amari pick we got 3 other 2nds.
That's not too shabby. If 1 or 2 of those guys does well, then it was a plus.

Since both Tillman and Boucher are on expiring contracts and probably won't be back next year... I think we should be using Amari's 50 NBA game eligibility as a 2--way player... Through first 30 games Amari williams has only logged 31 minutes.

We just lost to POR, and I know they have injuries, but their two 2-ways: Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko have played >900 minutes this year. Again, Amari has played 31 and Shulga has played 0

[Fierce1]

This team and the upcoming decisions would look so much different if we prioritized the Kalkbrenners, Fillipawski's, and Jamal Sheads of the world instead of Amari and Baylor...

IDK about that. With the Amari pick we got 3 other 2nds.
That's not too shabby. If 1 or 2 of those guys does well, then it was a plus.

Since both Tillman and Boucher are on expiring contracts and probably won't be back next year... I think we should be using Amari's 50 NBA game eligibility as a 2--way player... Through first 30 games Amari williams has only logged 31 minutes.

We just lost to POR, and I know they have injuries, but their two 2-ways: Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko have played >900 minutes this year. Again, Amari has played 31 and Shulga has played 0

Apparently Joe won't play you unless you graduate from Celtic University.

That's just how it is in the Mazzulla era.

Not saying you're wrong, but this current system is very strict when it comes to who gets to play or not.

[Riverwalk2021]

A cheap option like Sharpe + Thomas for Simmons/picks isn't a bad option but it's more of hedge. However, if Tatum is mostly himself, Brad can't let this opportunity go by with the East so open. Need to go out and get a two-way starting level big to balance this roster. If you keep going deep into the playoffs, sometimes luck bounces your way. That's all you can really ask for every season.

Look at Indy last season, started horribly but peaked at the right time and if not for Hali's Achilles exploding, they might be champs. Every champ needs luck and injuries to go their way.

[Fierce1]

A cheap option like Sharpe + Thomas for Simmons/picks isn't a bad option but it's more of hedge. However, if Tatum is mostly himself, Brad can't let this opportunity go by with the East so open. Need to go out and get a two-way starting level big to balance this roster. If you keep going deep into the playoffs, sometimes luck bounces your way. That's all you can really ask for every season.

Look at Indy last season, started horribly but peaked at the right time and if not for Hali's Achilles exploding, they might be champs. Every champ needs luck and injuries to go their way.

[Hal14]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

Eh, hard to buy this until we actually see it happen (Simons get picked on endlessly in the playoffs). Simons has been decent on D for us this season.

Also, these guys are all subpar defenders yet still have been playable in the playoffs:

De'Aaron Fox
Kemba Walker
Tyler Herro
Bradley Beal
Jamal Murray
Ja Morant
Luka Doncic
Trae Young
Damian Lillard
Kyrie Irving
Tyrese Maxey
James Harden
Jalen Brunson
Isaiah Thomas
Tyrese Haliburton......

If a team is endlessly hunting an opposing player that means they are taking themselves out of their normal offensive flow/rhythm/gameplan. So that is generally a good thing for us.

Also, if they try to set a screen to get Simons to defend their star player, we could just not switch the screen. Or switch it - whichever one results in Simons defending the worse offensive player.

And again, he hasn't been that bad defensively this season.

[Fencer reregistered]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

DDR is not known for being a playoff stud.

[Celts17Pride]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

DDR is not known for being a playoff stud.

I didn’t say anything about DDR. I don’t think the Celtics should go after DDR

[Fierce1]

Am I living in a myopia in thinking Simons has been just fine for the Celtics. I’ve watched all the games, and yeah he isn’t worth 27.7 million but he has been just fine coming off the bench as a spark plug and the defense has been better than I thought.
Sure trade him if we can get a big better than Garza back, but other than that, I think he is pretty useful.
In the various advanced impact metrics he is looking decent. For example he is ranked 86th in LEBRON WAR.
Some things I don’t want to do.
Trade him for a worse player like DDR.
Trade him for a guard or wing that we don’t really need.
Attach a first to him unless we are really legitimate getting a better player that also fits better. (Aka a solid big).

Simons and Garza will be picked on endlessly in the playoffs making them unplayable. Celtics if they are serious need upgrades. Brad Stevens knows this. I just don’t know if the Celtics really care this year.

Simons and Garza are players for the regular season

DDR is not known for being a playoff stud.

I don't think that's fair to DDR.

DDR has played and started in 63 playoff games and his playoff average is 21.8 ppg.

Simons has played in 15 playoff games, none of them as a starter, and has a playoff average of 4.7 ppg.

Right now it's debatable who's the better player, but one thing's for sure, Simons is not a good fit in Joe's system.

DDR has been a system guy his whole career.
He's more used to playing in a system than just playing iso ball.

Simons was at his best when given the freedom to play iso ball under Billups.
Scored a lot of points.
Now with the Celtics, Simons is not as effective.

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

[redslastlaugh]

Bobby Manning on a youtube pod today introduced a trade idea of Sam Hauser to Detroit for Paul Reed. Reed is making $5.3M this year and $5.6M next year and can play PF/C

Pistons have a TPE that can absorb Sam Hauser's contract and Celtics have a TPE that Paul Reed's contract can fit into so a 1-for-1 trade is CBA legal.

This strikes me as a fine idea.

[Dogen]

Bobby Manning on a youtube pod today introduced a trade idea of Sam Hauser to Detroit for Paul Reed. Reed is making $5.3M this year and $5.6M next year and can play PF/C

Pistons have a TPE that can absorb Sam Hauser's contract and Celtics have a TPE that Paul Reed's contract can fit into so a 1-for-1 trade is CBA legal.

This strikes me as a fine idea.

Not too shabby. I like Reed, and one can make the argument that Detroit and Boston both do well with this trade as the player they get fits a team need. Pistons get a legit 3pt threat and Celtics get some front court help with athleticism. Reed can play C and PF.

And if a straight up trade, Celtics get under the first apron.