Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET)

[bfchs123]

Think he is too redundant with PP and I'd much rather have PP at $7M than Trae at $45M and use the money elsewhere

OKC starting to show some cracks, I think this league is wide open so Brad needs to make a move. With Simon's play I'm starting to be less sure what that is. Certainly something with Simons or Hauser given contracts is the obvious one. I think big (whether PF or C) is still the play but especially with JT coming back it's hard to see where a 30 min impact player fits in

JB needs 35, White needs, 35, PP needs 30, Queta at 25 = that's 125 min (out of 240). Assume JT gets 30 once ramped back, Walsh/Hugo/Baylor/Minott split 40 and you're left with 45. Garza should play like 15 and then some combo of Hauser/Simons/new guy? would get the remaining 30. That's 12-13 guys and gets even more crunched in the playoffs

[Celtics_Champs]

I really liked Trae at the start of his career and would have loved to see him in green. It just doesn’t make sense now. I like the Simons for a big talk better.

As for Atlanta, it’s the smart choice, I’d get pieces and build around Jalen Johnson.

[Fierce1]

Simons 27 points in 27 minutes.

That's special.

The safe play is to trade Tillman and Boucher to the Nets then use part of the 22m KP TPE to acquire Day Sharpe.
Cs pay a little more tax with that trade, but it gives the Cs the much needed depth at Center.

Or the Cs can use Hauser as trade bait to get a guy like Rob Williams.

But right now the chemistry and cohesion of the Celtics is great.

So why mess that up?

[Hal14]

Player rotation, it's also something to think about when the playoffs start.

Right now Joe is using 10-11 players in the regular season.
But in the playoffs, that will shrink to 8-9 players.

It's either Sam or Simons, but not both.

So trading one of Sam or Simons for a Center should be the ideal.

I personally don’t think Brad Stevens is trading either of Simons or Hauser.

I personally don't think ownership is willing to pay $39 million of luxury taxes. One of the two will.get dealt for tax savings.

I'd agree if we were a lottery team. Not if we're a top 2 seed..

[Hal14]

Didn't see this coming. We're on his list FWIW

Read on Twitter

?s=20

We're on the list according to a guy with Jake from State Farm for a profile pic

[brackdan70]

Player rotation, it's also something to think about when the playoffs start.

Right now Joe is using 10-11 players in the regular season.
But in the playoffs, that will shrink to 8-9 players.

It's either Sam or Simons, but not both.

So trading one of Sam or Simons for a Center should be the ideal.

I personally don’t think Brad Stevens is trading either of Simons or Hauser.

I personally don't think ownership is willing to pay $39 million of luxury taxes. One of the two will.get dealt for tax savings.

They have clearly said they are fine with the tax this year. The cost cutting is done.
If they make a trade it will be to get better. Saving money could be a side effect.

[snowman]

It's not often that a team can go 11 deep (without Tatum) and 12 deep when he comes back. So, there are only two players on the Celts that I would try and move for something.

Tillman (ending contract at 2.5 mil) and Boucher (ending contract right at 2.3 mil) are the only ones I would be looking to move. I know neither of these guys make much or would bring back much in a trade. However, I would think if a 2nd was added (worse of the two incoming) to either one of these guys, they may be moved for a young big that is not getting any playing time. Huge maybe I know but worth looking into.

I would not trade Simons unless another team just goes way overboard on an offer. I would keep him through the end of the season and try to resign him to a team friendly contract. If unable to do that, then look into a sign and trade that would benefit us or let him walk and take some cap savings.

Same thing with all the other players. Teams would have to go way overboard with an offer to get one of the top 12 in my opinion.

[jfs1000d]

There is a reason why guys like Nurkic and Vucevic are available, they suck.

Keeping Simons is a much better option.

Hah.

Simons is so good, but we keep on getting caught up in the Portland narrative of inefficient player who doesn’t play D. If he is your best player, it’s a problem. As your fourth best? Dear god.

[chrisab123]

Simons 27 points in 27 minutes.

That's special.

The safe play is to trade Tillman and Boucher to the Nets then use part of the 22m KP TPE to acquire Day Sharpe.
Cs pay a little more tax with that trade, but it gives the Cs the much needed depth at Center.

Or the Cs can use Hauser as trade bait to get a guy like Rob Williams.

But right now the chemistry and cohesion of the Celtics is great.

So why mess that up?

The problem with the Timelord is obvious. He’s never healthy. You can’t trade for him and expect that he’s making it through the post season.

[Celts17Pride]

There is a reason why guys like Nurkic and Vucevic are available, they suck.

Keeping Simons is a much better option.

Hah.

Simons is so good, but we keep on getting caught up in the Portland narrative of inefficient player who doesn’t play D. If he is your best player, it’s a problem. As your fourth best? Dear god.

Didn’t say Simons is so good, he is just light years better than Vucevic or Nurkic

[djFan71]

Simons 27 points in 27 minutes.

That's special.

The safe play is to trade Tillman and Boucher to the Nets then use part of the 22m KP TPE to acquire Day Sharpe.
Cs pay a little more tax with that trade, but it gives the Cs the much needed depth at Center.

Or the Cs can use Hauser as trade bait to get a guy like Rob Williams.

But right now the chemistry and cohesion of the Celtics is great.

So why mess that up?

He's coming along nicely, but Tatum is gonna take a lot of his shots and mess things up anyways. Simons maybe makes a few bailout, create his own shots a game - at best? The rest is basically shorter Sam with a little more ball handling. But we don't really use the ball-handling much, and Sam's a better defender. Anf has made some good strides, but with JT back, there's just not much need for him. Hauser & Sharpe with Tatum and getting the books in order is the best path, imo.

If they don't think JT is coming back at all, maybe you hold on to him and see how things go in the playoffs.

EDIT: That said, I don't hate your idea either. If they wanna keep everyone and pick up a backup big cheap, I'd be on board.

[djFan71]

It's ALMOST getting to the point where our 1st and the NOP second aren't all that different. 6-10 spots possibly. Not nothing, but you could do something like use the first (top 20 protected even):

BKN: Simons, Boucher, top 20 protected 2026 first
BOS: Sharpe, Williams, 2026 ATL 2nd, 2027 2nd, 2028 2nd, 2029 2nd

BRK consolidates up for a first - they have a bazillion seconds. We fill some gaps on picks. It's similar to the 32 trade this year - but a first and tax ducking. Tatum comes back and makes up for the lost scoring from Simons, and we have 2 bigs that can play D. All for 6-10 spots in the draft.

I'm not sure I'd do it, but probably. If you can get a rotation player for pick 25+, you've already won for the most part.

It’s kind of random and boring but maybe we are just Sharpe or bust at this point. Give them the first and get some seconds back, like you say, plus Tillman/Boucher and whatever.

And just keep Simons. I really don’t see them taking on Z. Williams at all (even though my man Dean D loved that guy).

Gafford I decided I’m out on and I don’t see happening. And I just don’t see the old retread dept happening I think they are going young not Plumlee if you know what I mean.

It’s kind of boring with this long to go but there’s just not many options out there outside that 3rd stringer from NO I like.

Williams is just tax-ducking expiring filler for Simons.

I could go for a Jamal Shead-type guard too, tbh. Black from ORL was my dream, but he's blowing up now, so no go there. But, some cheap ball-hound Brad can throw another dart at. Springer didn't work, but the archetype would be nice.

[brackdan70]

Didn't see this coming. We're on his list FWIW

Read on Twitter

?s=20

We're on the list according to a guy with Jake from State Farm for a profile pic

Seems legit

Hopefully though he is not on our list.

[brackdan70]

Hell no to Trae. We’d have to trade 3 players better than him to make the salary ballast work.

[hugepatsfan]

I still expect that we'll duck the tax, even with the team playing well. It's just smart business and also smart basketball. This team is going to get cray expensive again in a couple years if they keep everyone which would necessitate a repeat of this year's "financially motivated" offseason. Tatum/brown/White only have so many years left. Just not good basketball team building to create a situation where you need to do that.

The good news though is that the contracts we have that are candidates to be moved (Simons, Hauser) are relatively expendable pieces and we're good enough that there should be a willingness to attach picks to make sure that in the process of shedding salary we also address some roster needs.

Brad has proven to be a very smart GM both in acquiring players to help win and also in managing the books through tough times (admittedly that he created with extensions but that was all apart of having a great roster). He's showed creativity in ducking the tax where it made sense (21-22 deadline where he acquired White/Theis and shed salary in the process). I fully expect he'll continue to do well on both fronts on the deadline, which is going to set this team up well for this year, next year and beyond.

[Fierce1]

Hell no to Trae. We’d have to trade 3 players better than him to make the salary ballast work.

For sure.

It would have to be Simons and White for Trae.

Not happening!

[hugepatsfan]

I like Sharpe a lot and would love to see him in Boston but I don't think it'll happen. I think the asking price may go too high for their liking since really the Nets should keep him, and if they didn't he would have no shortage of suitors.

Just trying to think of something a little different, and I thought what if Boston kept Simons and dealt Pritchard? Just moving forward to build a championship contender, I see them as comparable players, better suited as 6th men, and no need to have both of them. I know Pritchard is on a great deal, but I believe he's extension eligible this coming offseason. He will be in for a substantial raise. Realistically, what could they resign Simons for? 4/50 or something like that? A big if, but if that's the case, keeping Simons over Pritch might be more affordable long term, and he's about a year and a half younger. I love Pritchard and think he's probably better in just about every area except for generating his own offense against the toughest of defenders. That's a big deal come playoff time. Boston is not getting anyone of value now for Simons unless they themselves add value, while Pritchard likely has good value. So what's better for the on court product moving forward; Pritchard alone, or Simons plus value for Pritchard? It could be the latter especially with that KP TPE sitting there.

It's not an absurd idea to keep Simons and trade Pritchard. I just think it gets tough to work out.

Pritchard's salary is so low that it's tough to get as good a player as him. Team don't typically trade guys who are that cheap if they're really good, even if rebuilding. Tough to find player for player swap value with Pritchard.

You could of course trade him for a draft pick and then use the pick to acquire someone with the TPE. But then you're adding ton of salary that pushes you into the 2nd apron which is a no-go. So they have to send out salary to offset it, presumably Simons. It just gets tough to avoid for this deadline.

If we did trade Simons, I wouldn't be opposed to using the MLE (or part of it if his market is that low) on Simons this offseason and then trading Pritchard though. Or if he's not traded then just re-sign him for that amount using bird rights and then trade Pritchard.

[Fierce1]

PP should be off limits.

One of the reasons why the Celtics have no problems against the trap or press is PP.

PP's excellent dribbling skills gives the Cs a very reliable ball handler.

[Triple7]

Player rotation, it's also something to think about when the playoffs start.

Right now Joe is using 10-11 players in the regular season.
But in the playoffs, that will shrink to 8-9 players.

It's either Sam or Simons, but not both.

So trading one of Sam or Simons for a Center should be the ideal.

Sam has no value.

[Fierce1]

Player rotation, it's also something to think about when the playoffs start.

Right now Joe is using 10-11 players in the regular season.
But in the playoffs, that will shrink to 8-9 players.

It's either Sam or Simons, but not both.

So trading one of Sam or Simons for a Center should be the ideal.

Sam has no value.

There are teams out there who need shooters.

But even if the Cs end up keeping Hauser, I think nobody will complain as Sam is clearly a specialist.

Joe can sit him for most of the game and just put him in when the Cs need a 3pt shot.