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

[Celts17Pride]

Chris Boucher and a 2nd round pick to Milwaukee for Jericho Sims?
Chris Boucher and a 2nd round pick to Portland for Duop Reath?
Chris Boucher and a 2nd round pick to Golden State for Trayce Jackson-Davis?

I think all of these deals are waste of a 2nd round pick. Neither are a material upgrade over Garza, if an upgrade at all. Just not a good use of the 2nd round pick.

It's depth in case Queta or Garza gets hurt. Doesn't have to be an upgrade this year.

[hugepatsfan]

I don't hate the idea of keeping Simons over Hauser if we have to trade one for a center...

Pritchard / Simons
White / Hugo
Brown / Walsh / Scheierman
Tatum / Minott
??? / Queta

Tatum and Brown are obviously fantastic, but I think it's fair to say the biggest weakness in either of their games is handling heavy ball pressure. How do you help with that? 1) Add shooting so teams can't pressure as much - Simons and Hauser check that box. 2) Add other guys who can handle the ball to help alleviate the pressure on them - Simons does this, Hauser doesn't. Obviously there's size/defense trade off, but tough to build a perfect roster so there will be some trade offs. There's lots of value in having more capable ball handlers/creators around Tatum/Brown.

There would be some financial trade off down the line, but I also certainly wouldn't mind keeping both too and just using the TPE for a big. That does mean we're looking at lower salary guys of course because there are some limits to what we can take on this year even if the tax isn't an issue.

I do think keeping all of Simons/Hauser/Hugo/Walsh/Minott is kind of overkill though. Realistically I think the most rotation guy you can have across PG/SG/SF/PF is 8 and those 5 plus Tatum/Brown/White/Pritchard puts you at 9, and it's not even including Scheierman. More depth is always good but at a certain point you have to ask yourself if you're getting good value. Is a guy like Hugo or Minott sitting as the 9th perimeter player on the bench maximizing their value to you or are you better off using that value in a trade and letting Scheierman be the guy who steps in if there's an injury? Or if you want to keep those guys, is paying Hauser' salary and the tax on it the best allocation of your financial resources? I just kind of find it unlikely that keeping both Simons/Hauser, along with all the other cheap depth guys we have, will be the best allocation of resources.

[hugepatsfan]

Chris Boucher and a 2nd round pick to Milwaukee for Jericho Sims?
Chris Boucher and a 2nd round pick to Portland for Duop Reath?
Chris Boucher and a 2nd round pick to Golden State for Trayce Jackson-Davis?

I think all of these deals are waste of a 2nd round pick. Neither are a material upgrade over Garza, if an upgrade at all. Just not a good use of the 2nd round pick.

It's depth in case Queta or Garza gets hurt. Doesn't have to be an upgrade this year.

Fair, but we don't have unlimited 2nds. I'd rather just sign a buyout guy if we need another depth piece. If any of those guys are needed to step up for us, we're in a tough spot anyway. I just don't think we should be giving up picks for that caliber of player. This isn't like a couple years ago where we had a LOADED roster and we got Tillman to check one last box for us. I still think this team has enough PRIMARY rotation needs and potential financial roadblocks where keeping the 2nds makes more sense than upgrading 3rd string positions.

[Hal14]

I do think keeping all of Simons/Hauser/Hugo/Walsh/Minott is kind of overkill though. Realistically I think the most rotation guy you can have across PG/SG/SF/PF is 8 and those 5 plus Tatum/Brown/White/Pritchard puts you at 9,

1) Minott is out of the rotation - even with Tatum out of the lineup so I'm not sure I follow the logic here

2) Walsh, Minott and Hugo have all played (and for the most part done well) as a small ball 5..if they can play small ball 5 then Tatum can as well.

I'd rather keep Simons and Hauser and maybe just sign a buyout guy if another big is needed.

Queta and Garza are playing well. We've had some success with Hugo/Minott/Walsh as a small ball 5 and would likely have success with Tatum as a small ball 5 as well.

Plus Amari waiting in the wings..and we'll also perhaps be able to draft another big in the 1st round this year..not seeing it as a huge need..especially if we're looking at adding a non-shooting big but having to trade an elite shooter (like Simons/Hauser) for him - no thanks..

[redslastlaugh]

Fair, but we don't have unlimited 2nds. I'd rather just sign a buyout guy if we need another depth piece. If any of those guys are needed to step up for us, we're in a tough spot anyway. I just don't think we should be giving up picks for that caliber of player. This isn't like a couple years ago where we had a LOADED roster and we got Tillman to check one last box for us. I still think this team has enough PRIMARY rotation needs and potential financial roadblocks where keeping the 2nds makes more sense than upgrading 3rd string positions.

We don't have many seconds at all at this point. We have two this year (NOP & MIL) and we have ORL in 2027 and our own in 2031 and 2032 (I believe), and that is pretty much it.

Since Brad took over, we traded one to dump salary (Bol Bol) in Ime's year. We traded two at the '23 deadline for Muscala. We traded two for Tillman and one for Jaden Springer at the 2024 deadline. We traded two more at the 2025 deadline to dump Springer. We traded two after the draft to dump Niang.

I like Karlo Matkovic and wouldn't mind spending a 2nd on him, but I do think we can better make use of the 2nds we do have if we keep that powder dry

[Curmudgeon]

CJ McCollum from Washington to Atlanta, Anfernee Simons from Boston to Atlanta, Trae Young to Washington, Luke Kennard and Mouhamed Gueye from Atlanta to Boston, 2028 1st round pick from Boston to Atlanta.

The Hawks unload Young, Kennard and Gueye in exchange for two expiring contracts and a pick. Time to rebuild. Wizards get Trae without giving anything except McCollum away. Boston gets a bench scoring replacement for Simons, a 23 year-old center and major cap relief in 2026 in exchange for Simons and a pick that will never be top 20 (it's the one subject to the Spurs' swap rights).

Boston would obviously prefer Okongwu to Kennard and Gueye, but I would expect Atlanta to balk at that.

[Larry_Russell]

CJ McCollum from Washington to Atlanta, Anfernee Simons from Boston to Atlanta, Trae Young to Washington, Luke Kennard and Mouhamed Gueye from Atlanta to Boston, 2028 1st round pick from Boston to Atlanta.

The Hawks unload Young, Kennard and Gueye in exchange for two expiring contracts and a pick. Time to rebuild. Wizards get Trae without giving anything except McCollum away. Boston gets a bench scoring replacement for Simons, a 23 year-old center and major cap relief in 2026 in exchange for Simons and a pick that will never be top 20 (it's the one subject to the Spurs' swap rights).

Boston would obviously prefer Okongwu to Kennard and Gueye, but I would expect Atlanta to balk at that.

Feels like picks should come from Washington, or else we should be getting more than Gueye and Kennard.

[neno]

Simons should sign the same deal as hauser so we could keep him over hauser.

[Larry_Russell]

CJ McCollum from Washington to Atlanta, Anfernee Simons from Boston to Atlanta, Trae Young to Washington, Luke Kennard and Mouhamed Gueye from Atlanta to Boston, 2028 1st round pick from Boston to Atlanta.

The Hawks unload Young, Kennard and Gueye in exchange for two expiring contracts and a pick. Time to rebuild. Wizards get Trae without giving anything except McCollum away. Boston gets a bench scoring replacement for Simons, a 23 year-old center and major cap relief in 2026 in exchange for Simons and a pick that will never be top 20 (it's the one subject to the Spurs' swap rights).

Boston would obviously prefer Okongwu to Kennard and Gueye, but I would expect Atlanta to balk at that.

What about NAW?

Maybe McCollum, Johnson, 2026 first from Washington, 2026 First from Boston, Xavier Tillman and Klay Thompson to Atlanta

Simons and boucher to Dallas

Trae Young to Washington

NAW and Gafford to Boston?

Pritch/NAW
White/Hugo
Brown/Hauser
Walsh/Minott
Gafford/Queta

[Curmudgeon]

CJ McCollum from Washington to Atlanta, Anfernee Simons from Boston to Atlanta, Trae Young to Washington, Luke Kennard and Mouhamed Gueye from Atlanta to Boston, 2028 1st round pick from Boston to Atlanta.

The Hawks unload Young, Kennard and Gueye in exchange for two expiring contracts and a pick. Time to rebuild. Wizards get Trae without giving anything except McCollum away. Boston gets a bench scoring replacement for Simons, a 23 year-old center and major cap relief in 2026 in exchange for Simons and a pick that will never be top 20 (it's the one subject to the Spurs' swap rights).

Boston would obviously prefer Okongwu to Kennard and Gueye, but I would expect Atlanta to balk at that.

Feels like picks should come from Washington, or else we should be getting more than Gueye and Kennard.

That's a fair comment. Maybe Washington also throws in a pick, and/or Boston sends a 2030 or 2031 pick instead of 2028.

[fallguy]

Two bits:

1 - Simons is superficially attractive right now because nobody is really picking on his defense and he's on fire. But he may (will?) get abused off the court in the playoffs. If we keep him through the end of the year then fine. But with JT/PP/DW/JB we have four ball handlers / shooters already with Queta/Walsh extensions on the horizon. Still pretty convinced this is a short term relationship.
2 - How do we still have people here who can't spell Simons and Minott?

[GoCeltics123]

Read on Twitter

“I wanted literally anywhere other than DC. But only DC wants me. So now I want to go there!”

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

“I wanted literally anywhere other than DC. But only DC wants me. So now I want to go there!”

Exactly!

[CelticFaninLBC]

CJ McCollum from Washington to Atlanta, Anfernee Simons from Boston to Atlanta, Trae Young to Washington, Luke Kennard and Mouhamed Gueye from Atlanta to Boston, 2028 1st round pick from Boston to Atlanta.

The Hawks unload Young, Kennard and Gueye in exchange for two expiring contracts and a pick. Time to rebuild. Wizards get Trae without giving anything except McCollum away. Boston gets a bench scoring replacement for Simons, a 23 year-old center and major cap relief in 2026 in exchange for Simons and a pick that will never be top 20 (it's the one subject to the Spurs' swap rights).

Boston would obviously prefer Okongwu to Kennard and Gueye, but I would expect Atlanta to balk at that.

What about NAW?

Maybe McCollum, Johnson, 2026 first from Washington, 2026 First from Boston, Xavier Tillman and Klay Thompson to Atlanta

Simons and boucher to Dallas

Trae Young to Washington

NAW and Gafford to Boston?

Pritch/NAW
White/Hugo
Brown/Hauser
Walsh/Minott
Gafford/Queta

Surprised this deal doesn't include Flagg to Boston.

[Justin33]

Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly

[Celts17Pride]

Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly

Would probably be Minott

[SuperDeluxe]

Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly

That looks like a lot for Zubac. Is that what Scal is hearing from sources? Or those are just voices in his head?

[Justin33]

Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly

That looks like a lot for Zubac. Is that what Scal is hearing from sources? Or those are just voices in his head?

He said it was a" real thing" like it was something being discussed

[djFan71]

Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly

Would probably be Minott

Minott or we Riott!

[Celts17Pride]

Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly

Would probably be Minott

Minott or we Riott!

I like Minott, he is only 23 years old. You have to give up something to get something. We don’t even know if it’s Minott