Holy Offseason I Can’t Believe it’s July FA/Trade/Waiver Thread

[Marvel]

If we have no problems with losing next season we may as well start Amari or Queta as our C. I could get up for that.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

If Vooch is going to be our starting C i would puke all over myself. Our defense is going to be so bad.

I'm not arguing that Vucevic is a good defensive player or even that the Celtics should try to get him to Boston but I would caution against saying that playing Vucevic automatically means the defense is terrible. He was on plenty of good to very good defenses in Orlando and more recently the 2023 Bulls were a top 5 defense. That was with DeRozan and Lavine starting next to him so it's not like the rest of the lineup gave him a ton of protection.

He has legit size, he tries and he knows the schemes so that's usually enough in the regular season. I'm not sure that holds up in the playoffs but is that relevant to the 2026 Celtics ?

Pass.

Thank you for taking the time to type out a well thought out response.

[Marvel]

I'm not arguing that Vucevic is a good defensive player or even that the Celtics should try to get him to Boston but I would caution against saying that playing Vucevic automatically means the defense is terrible. He was on plenty of good to very good defenses in Orlando and more recently the 2023 Bulls were a top 5 defense. That was with DeRozan and Lavine starting next to him so it's not like the rest of the lineup gave him a ton of protection.

He has legit size, he tries and he knows the schemes so that's usually enough in the regular season. I'm not sure that holds up in the playoffs but is that relevant to the 2026 Celtics ?

Pass.

Thank you for taking the time to type out a well thought out response.

I would still pass on him. I would rather play the guys we have than watch this guy. The one season the Bulls were good on defense had Caruso and Pat Bev. Vooch is not an anchor especially at C as a rim protector. The Bulls have been bad on defense for the last 2 seasons, he's older and not worth the investment. Pass.

[winsomme2]

Pass.

Thank you for taking the time to type out a well thought out response.

I would still pass on him. I would rather play the guys we have than watch this guy. The one season the Bulls were good on defense had Caruso and Pat Bev. Vooch is not an anchor especially at C as a rim protector. The Bulls have been bad on defense for the last 2 seasons, he's older and not worth the investment. Pass.

From an investment standpoint, trading for Vooch actually helps our money situation by getting us below the second apron and is still an expiring contract so it doesn’t affect next season as well.

As far as money goes, it’s a pretty good deal IMO.

[Parliament10]

I added Waiver to the Thread title.
Didn't think that we needed to start a whole new Thread, for Waivers.

[Parliament10]

Speaking of Waivers, though.
---------------------------------------
Damian Lillard
Jock Landale
Bradley Beal (in discussions)

Wouldn't it be something if Brad Stevens could find a way to pull off this Trifecta?

[cloverleaf]

If we have no problems with losing next season we may as well start Amari or Queta as our C. I could get up for that.

Pretty much this. I'd start Queta and have Garza and Amari play too (with Amari as he gets acclimated).

[Fierce1]

If we have no problems with losing next season we may as well start Amari or Queta as our C. I could get up for that.

Pretty much this. I'd start Queta and have Garza and Amari play too (with Amari as he gets acclimated).

When a team has JB, DWhite, and PP, losing is not a given.

[165bows]

Miami has some salary space and a bunch of front court guys wonder if they want in on the Simons sweepstakes.

Unless they offer Ware (which they won't) am not interested in what they could offer us for Simons tbh.

Would prefer us to start the season Simons and see how he fits in with Jaylen and the team first

They are the only ones who would be motivated

[cloverleaf]

If we have no problems with losing next season we may as well start Amari or Queta as our C. I could get up for that.

Pretty much this. I'd start Queta and have Garza and Amari play too (with Amari as he gets acclimated).

When a team has JB, DWhite, and PP, losing is not a given.

Who needs to win one playoffs series next year? Better to develop the guys and prepare for having Tatum back.

[Fierce1]

Pretty much this. I'd start Queta and have Garza and Amari play too (with Amari as he gets acclimated).

When a team has JB, DWhite, and PP, losing is not a given.

Who needs to win one playoffs series next year? Better to develop the guys and prepare for having Tatum back.

I just don't get why some keep saying Tatum will not be back in 2026.

If the Cs are a playoff team, Tatum will be back in March.

Even mainstream media is not ruling out a Tatum return in 2026.

Only way Tatum does not return is if the Cs are bad by trade deadline.

[phincsfan]

Brad gonna go off on the 4th while everyone is away for the weekend. I sense it.

I guess he chose hot dogs and hamburgers over bang bang shrimp

[Fierce1]

Brad gonna go off on the 4th while everyone is away for the weekend. I sense it.

I guess he chose hot dogs and hamburgers over bang bang shrimp

De ja vu.

Same thing happened when it was a sure thing the Nets would trade one of their 5 1st rnd picks.

[winsomme2]

If we have no problems with losing next season we may as well start Amari or Queta as our C. I could get up for that.

I don't think it's clear at this point what exactly the goal is for this season other than getting under the second apron.

Right now, the roster is kinda a mess but not bad enough to be lottery bound.

I'm a little worried that Brad is getting mixed messages from ownership. Like "save us money but don't make us look bad." Which would honestly make for a a lousy season and possibly hurt next season too.

I'm hoping this is not the case and it will become a little clearer in the coming weeks. Brad said that he's about winning championships and I'm going to choose to believe him.

[playa-hater]

I don't know what priorities are being discussed between Brad and the Owners, but for me it would be strictly play every young guy. See who is worth keeping going forward and "soft tank" into the lottery. Who cares If we make the playoffs only to lose early in.

I am sold on next season being a "bridge year".

[chrisab123]

When a team has JB, DWhite, and PP, losing is not a given.

Who needs to win one playoffs series next year? Better to develop the guys and prepare for having Tatum back.

I just don't get why some keep saying Tatum will not be back in 2026.

If the Cs are a playoff team, Tatum will be back in March.

Even mainstream media is not ruling out a Tatum return in 2026.

Only way Tatum does not return is if the Cs are bad by trade deadline.

Everyone close to the team and player says it’s a possibility. Random posters on here say “trust me bro, he’s not coming back we need to do a (insert here) tank.”

[winsomme2]

I don't know what priorities are being discussed between Brad and the Owners, but for me it would be strictly play every young guy. See who is worth keeping going forward and "soft tank" into the lottery. Who cares If we make the playoffs only to lose early in.

I am sold on next season being a "bridge year".

Whether they make the playoffs or not is kinda secondary though.

What really matters to me is "what is the plan?"

If they do some kind Red Sox hodge-podge (where they say they are being competitive but clearly not in terms of roster decisions) while Tatum pushes hard to return with public updates of how well his rehab is going, it's going to be awful to watch and confusing as hell and possibly cause problems for next year as well.

Brad needs to do what Red Sox have been so bad at and just be clear.

[chrisab123]

I don't know what priorities are being discussed between Brad and the Owners, but for me it would be strictly play every young guy. See who is worth keeping going forward and "soft tank" into the lottery. Who cares If we make the playoffs only to lose early in.

I am sold on next season being a "bridge year".

Whether they make the playoffs or not is kinda secondary though.

What really matters to me is "what is the plan?"

If they do some kind Red Sox hodge-podge (where they say they are being competitive but clearly not in terms of roster decisions) while Tatum pushes hard to return with public updates of how well his rehab is going, it's going to be awful to watch and confusing as hell and possibly cause problems for next year as well.

Brad needs to do what Red Sox have been so bad at and just be clear.

So to be clear the roster with Tatum is a contending roster. This is a lot different than the Red Sox who traded Mookie for peanuts because they didn’t want to pay him. It’s apples and oranges. Plus in the NBA, stars win titles. Baseball is a lot like Hockey where if you get hot at the right time you can win even if you have no stars. The Sox just wouldn’t trade people at the deadline but they’ve blown it up and they have zero marketable stars currently.

[winsomme2]

I don't know what priorities are being discussed between Brad and the Owners, but for me it would be strictly play every young guy. See who is worth keeping going forward and "soft tank" into the lottery. Who cares If we make the playoffs only to lose early in.

I am sold on next season being a "bridge year".

Whether they make the playoffs or not is kinda secondary though.

What really matters to me is "what is the plan?"

If they do some kind Red Sox hodge-podge (where they say they are being competitive but clearly not in terms of roster decisions) while Tatum pushes hard to return with public updates of how well his rehab is going, it's going to be awful to watch and confusing as hell and possibly cause problems for next year as well.

Brad needs to do what Red Sox have been so bad at and just be clear.

So to be clear the roster with Tatum is a contending roster. This is a lot different than the Red Sox who traded Mookie for peanuts because they didn’t want to pay him. It’s apples and oranges. Plus in the NBA, stars win titles. Baseball is a lot like Hockey where if you get hot at the right time you can win even if you have no stars. The Sox just wouldn’t trade people at the deadline but they’ve blown it up and they have zero marketable stars currently.

My comparison to baseball and the Red Sox isn’t about how to win, it’s about the team and the front office being on the same page. When you have a front office sending mixed messages that’s bad in any sport.

So if Brad is angling for the lottery and ownership wants us below the first apron while Tatum pushes hard to come back this year. That would be unnecessarily dysfunctional.

And right now that plan is not at all clear. I mean we have no starting big man, we are over the second apron, Brad is telling us the main thing is to take it slow with Tatum while Tatum is posting videos about how well his rehab is going…

It’s just kinda jumbled at the moment.

[brackdan70]

If we have no problems with losing next season we may as well start Amari or Queta as our C. I could get up for that.

Yeah me too. Worth giving them some opportunity to develop. We know Queta has NBA skill and has proven his effectiveness. Yeah he has some flaws but give him 25-30 minutes and see what happens.
Williams appears to have NBA skill as will, give him some run.