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

Larry_Russell · Post #601 » by **Larry_Russell** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:21 pm

Zach risacher, simons, kennard, atl 1st and Bost 1st to Dallas

AD and Hauser to Atlanta

Okongwu and NAW to Boston

Pritch/NAW
White/Hugo
Brown/Walsh
Tatum/Minot
Okongwu/Queta

GoCeltics123 · Post #602 » by **GoCeltics123** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:42 pm

Larry_Russell wrote:Zach risacher, simons, atl 1st and Bost 1st to Dallas

AD and Hauser to Atlanta

Okongwu and NAW to Boston

Pritch/NAW
White/Hugo
Brown/Walsh
Tatum/Minot
Okongwu/Queta

Hawks would be fools to do that but obviously you drive Hauser to the airport for it

GoCeltics123 · Post #603 » by **GoCeltics123** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:43 pm

165bows wrote:Can someone confirm they definitely can’t reacquire Porzingis.

Eg a three team deal with Simons going out and KP coming back, like the Atlanta-AD rumor. At least then you can resign him for a modest future deal which I’m not interested in with Simons.

I believe they can, but I think that illness cooked KP sadly. That and the foot surgery, he's just not the same guy anymore

Fierce1 · Post #604 » by **Fierce1** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:46 pm

Larry_Russell wrote:Zach risacher, simons, atl 1st and Bost 1st to Dallas

AD and Hauser to Atlanta

Okongwu and NAW to Boston

Pritch/NAW
White/Hugo
Brown/Walsh
Tatum/Minot
Okongwu/Queta

That trade doesn't work.

You should run it through the trade machine first.

GoCeltics123 · Post #605 » by **GoCeltics123** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:59 pm

Celts17Pride wrote:The thing is that despite the Celtics excellent season to date, 19-12 and 3rd place in the East, the Celtics have no urgency to do anything. Celtics are still in the evaluation process and are still a longshot for the NBA Finals.

Us Celtics fans would love to see some moves but Brad Stevens has no urgency at all. In one way this is good because that means that if Stevens does a deal it will probably be a good one. The bad news is Brad Stevens might not do anything at all except for some accounting housekeeping.

Celtics are in a great spot, we all just need to be patient. Brad Stevens will be patient.

I think that there needs to be some urgency if Tatum is coming back for sure but I get it. Like you said, Brad just doesn't operate like that, he's opportunistic but he doesn't jump the gun (also, if we wave the white flag on the season and do nothing, I wish we just tanked like Indy is doing).

The big issue is a real one though, and that's beyond this season. Obviously someone like Zubac becomes available, you just gotta do it and not ask questions. Nic Claxton is honestly having a great season too and I've warmed up to the idea of him on this team

But Brad probably has a price limit in terms of picks of what he'd give up for those guys, or for any center in general

brackdan70 · Post #606 » by **brackdan70** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:01 pm

He’s not the dream, but he can rebound. What about Nukic? Expiring 19m.

Fierce1 · Post #607 » by **Fierce1** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:14 pm

brackdan70 wrote:He’s not the dream, but he can rebound. What about Nukic? Expiring 19m.

Better than Capela at this point.

Nurk is slow, but he's playing well this season.

brackdan70 · Post #608 » by **brackdan70** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:18 pm

Fierce1 wrote:
brackdan70 wrote:He’s not the dream, but he can rebound. What about Nukic? Expiring 19m.

Better than Capela at this point.

Nurk is slow, but he's playing well this season.

Yeah he seems ok. A big body who can help on the boards. Not a dud at all but probably not a long term fixture. Is he worth sending a second with Simons. He can fit in the Zinger TPE so can actually make a new TPE equal to Simons salary as well.

GoCeltics123 · Post #609 » by **GoCeltics123** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:20 pm

brackdan70 wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:
brackdan70 wrote:He’s not the dream, but he can rebound. What about Nukic? Expiring 19m.

Better than Capela at this point.

Nurk is slow, but he's playing well this season.

Yeah he seems ok. A big body who can help on the boards. Not a dud at all but probably not a long term fixture. Is he worth sending a second with Simons. He can fit in the Zinger TPE so can actually make a new TPE equal to Simons salary as well.

I'm personally out on slow centers who can't play in the playoffs. But can't argue that he's been not bad at all this year.

Those Phoenix years were rough

Fierce1 · Post #610 » by **Fierce1** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:40 pm

The Nurkic of Phoenix is different from the Nurkic of the Jazz.

When he was in Phoenix, he was always trying to score.

With the Jazz, he's gotten bigger and slower, but he's wiser and more of a system guy.
The screens that Nurkic sets is very effective.

I wouldn't mind Nurk backing up Queta.

Celts17Pride · Post #611 » by **Celts17Pride** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:44 pm

Honestly, all that I’m expecting Brad Stevens to do at the trade deadline is move Chris Boucher for a 2nd round pick and sign a young big (Amari Williams or someone else). That’s it.

I think it’s going to be tough to find the type of player the Celtics want given the aprons, the long term money and the draft capital the Celtics will have to use to get the player.

Probably be a pretty boring trade deadline. I also think it’s going to be impossible for the Celtics to move Simons given the conditions I listed above.

BillessuR6 · Post #612 » by **BillessuR6** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 2:58 pm

Problem with Nurk trade is that the Jazz do not have any centers after Kessler went down.

For salary cap purposes Simons for Nurk certainly makes sense. Maybe we add Garza, so Utah gets a center back.

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Fierce1 · Post #613 » by **Fierce1** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 3:22 pm

BillessuR6 wrote:Problem with Nurk trade is that the Jazz do not have any centers after Kessler went down.

For salary cap purposes Simons for Nurk certainly makes sense. Maybe we add Garza, so Utah gets a center back.

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The Jazz actually prefer having no Center so that they'll be closer to the #1 pick in 2026.

Hal14 · Post #614 » by **Hal14** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 3:25 pm

BillessuR6 wrote:Problem with Nurk trade is that the Jazz do not have any centers after Kessler went down.

For salary cap purposes Simons for Nurk certainly makes sense. Maybe we add Garza, so Utah gets a center back.

Sent from my SM-A536B using RealGM mobile app

They do still have Filipowski though. And Oscar Tshiebwe and Kevin Love. Niang, Markannen, Hendricks and Kyle Anderson can all maybe play some small ball 5.

Also, Utah isn't really trying to win. They're 12-19. So lacking depth at a position isn't that big of a deal.. they also could grab some random big off the FA market..or sign one who's currently playing overseas..like Philly signing Lonnie Walker last season. Lots of options.

With that being said, I don't see us making a move for Nurkic. Think we'll mostly stand pat, as CelticsPride 17 is saying..

I am interested to see how Amari could do if he is given more playing time during the 2nd half of the season..could end up being an interesting battle for backup big mins between him and Garza. Plus the evolving storyline of seeing how Minott/Hugo/Walsh can do when they get small ball 5 mins.. and if we keep going small at the 5, there's the possibility that Tatum plays some at the 5 if he plays this season..

zoyathedestroya · Post #615 » by **zoyathedestroya** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 3:41 pm

Buy low on Jokic.

Fierce1 · Post #616 » by **Fierce1** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 3:43 pm

Stand pat?

In a season where Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level?

I'm going 3 for 3 in my predictions this season.

1. I said Simons will end up playing for the Celtics instead of getting traded before the season started.

2. Jayson Tatum will return and it's looking like it's going to happen.

3. Brad will make a move on or before trade deadline to upgrade the roster.

I already got #1.

Let's see if #2 and #3 will go my way.

jmr07019 · Post #617 » by **jmr07019** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 4:17 pm

brackdan70 wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:
brackdan70 wrote:He’s not the dream, but he can rebound. What about Nukic? Expiring 19m.

Better than Capela at this point.

Nurk is slow, but he's playing well this season.

Yeah he seems ok. A big body who can help on the boards. Not a dud at all but probably not a long term fixture. Is he worth sending a second with Simons. He can fit in the Zinger TPE so can actually make a new TPE equal to Simons salary as well.

Extending the TPE is appealing but I'd rather spend our picks on someone who will be here for more than half a year. Pels 2nd is looking nice... currently 33.... and the Bucks currently sits at 40 and they could ship Giannis out so that one could move up as well. I wouldn't want to send either of those picks out for a Nurkic rental. If the Celtics had their own 2nd to trade I would be happy to send that out.

CelticFaninLBC · Post #618 » by **CelticFaninLBC** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 4:35 pm

I don't foresee a big move but can see them moving Hauser for tax savings and picking up 1 or 2 second round picks.

Hauser & Tillman for Paul Reed and 1 or 2 of Detroit's 2027 second round picks seems plausible. Reed seems better than Garza and Minott and his 2027 deal is nom-guaranteed. Also Boston doesn't have any 2027 second rounders currently.

Post #619 » by **165bows** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 5:00 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:
165bows wrote:Can someone confirm they definitely can’t reacquire Porzingis.

Eg a three team deal with Simons going out and KP coming back, like the Atlanta-AD rumor. At least then you can resign him for a modest future deal which I’m not interested in with Simons.

I believe they can, but I think that illness cooked KP sadly. That and the foot surgery, he's just not the same guy anymore

I'll take his upside over Simons all day, especially considering they could resign him cheaper after this year.

The injury thing is a huge issue but 28/8/4 per 36 in 13 games on .631 TS% at age 30 he could still have a bright spot or two left, and if the cost is relatively nothing I'm in on it.

Not sure they can re-acquire though.

Post #620 » by **165bows** » Tue Dec 30, 2025 5:07 pm

Dogen wrote:
Cricket23 wrote:AD to Atlanta is a hot rumor. If Okongwu ever became attainable, that is the guy I'd want.

It looks like ATL may want to move Risacher though.
https://basketnews.com/news-237743-nba-expert-drops-brutal-reality-check-on-zaccharie-risacher-amid-hawks-trade-rumors.html

Not that it means that Okongwu won't also be available, but he might be a guy they want to keep as AD insurance, and make moves elsewhere.

Risacher + Kennard + 2029 ATL 2nd for Simons + Boucher + 2026 BOS 1st. If ATL wants to move on from Risacher while Johnson develops and the Simons expiring helps them this summer, it could be an interesting add for Celtics to get another young wing. Maybe that's not enough, but a 3 team deal could be made. Add that to a second trade of Hauser to DET for Paul Reed.

Queta/Tatum/Brown/White/Pritchard
Reed/Walsh/Risacher/Kennard/González
Garza/Scheierman/Minott/Tillman

It depends on what Zaccharie Risacher is capable of becoming. Wasn't worthy of the #1 pick, but is he a bust? Or just 20 with potential? Could be a nice add at low cost in his 3rd/4th year if in Boston, and he could really blossom in the system as part of the younger group, complimenting Walsh & Hugo.

Interesting idea and I'm usually game for getting a young guy with upside.

That Atlanta front office has been on fire for a year or so though so I'd be slightly hesitant to bank on them being the team that slips up right now.