Free Agent, Trade & Extensions Thread, 2024-25

[Curmudgeon]

So IDK, I think I'm inclined to gamble on someone else that maybe has the upside to hack it in the playoffs if it comes to that.

Who? I don't see much out there. In fact I don't see anyone who is better than Queta.

[Jammer]

My dream depth charge this season, which allows using Pritch or Springer to find Horford's ultimate replacement.

PG
Derrick White
Pritch
Kris Dunn

SG
Jrue Holiday
Jaden Springer
Jordan Walsh

SF
Jaylen Brown
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman

PF
Jayson Tatum
Gordon Hayward or Cedi Osman

C
Al Horford
TBD (based on what Pritch or Springer + Picks can bring back)
Neemias Queta
Kristaps Porzingis (out until January ?)

Not a fan of Tillman or think he'll be priced out of their range?

Just want someone better. More size basically. I'm thinking about dealing with Embiid, Jokic, Gobert, and who knows what trades and/or signings may make a new big a force to deal with (i.e. Valancunas, etc.).

[keevsnick1]

I really hope Brad was serious when he said they want Sam long term.

I think Sam can be a future starter for the Cs.

Time comes when Jrue gets old.

Cs are a 2nd apron team, so it would be hard to get a starting caliber player for a while.

I imagine that Sam will be extended. That doesn't for sure mean he'll be here long term. There are a lot of options moving forward if you extend him:

1) He gets extended but traded next summer for picks with Scheierman taking his role. This saves ownership a ton of money in tax. '
2) He gets extended but is traded next summer for a big man using his contract as matching salary. Would make some sense if Horford retires.
3) He gets extended and takes over a starting spot if perimeter starters needs to be moved for tax reasons.

The one scenario i think is less likely is he gets extended just to stay in the rotation. That's likely just to be too expensive for ownership unless salary comes off the books elsewhere.

Yeah, you're probably right.

But his extension won't kick in until the 25-26 season. There's 2 variables here:

a) we don't know how much Al will be making during the 25-26 season..he's not signed past this (24-25) season..if al retires next summer, that saves some $..if he plays in 25-26 but on a really cheap deal, that also saves some $

b) we don't know how much Hauser's extension will be for. Maybe it's only a little more than Pritchard's extension..Pritchard is making $7.2 mil in 25-26. If Hauser on his extension is making $8.2 mil in 25-26 (or maybe just $9.2 mil) rather than being in the $14-$17 mil a year range, well that makes it easier to afford him as a bench player..

It almost doesn't matter how much Al makes, everybody else is going to be so expensive that even if Al makes the minimum Hauser would still cost 100 million dollars in taxes+salary. And ya, we don't know how much Hauser will make but my guess is something around the MLE. I'd be very surprised if he took Pritchard money.

[bisme37]

Sunday, June 30: NBA teams may begin negotiating with upcoming free agents (6 ET)

Saturday, July 6: NBA teams may begin signing free agents to contracts (12:01 ET)

Free Agency Explained: Learn about the entire free agent process, including key terminology, free agent types and contract options
https://www.nba.com/news/free-agency-explained?lid=kmwwtae2emmu

15 Key Free Agents: Who are the most notable names in this year’s free agent class?
https://www.nba.com/news/15-key-free-agents-2024-nba-offseason?lid=yrzrmuaa3qrz

Free Agent Tracker: Follow every signed and unsigned free agent
https://www.nba.com/players/free-agent-tracker/2024?lid=1uixb5qjx9v4

[hugepatsfan]

So IDK, I think I'm inclined to gamble on someone else that maybe has the upside to hack it in the playoffs if it comes to that.

Who? I don't see much out there. In fact I don't see anyone who is better than Queta.

Well that's why I said "gamble" haha

But The Athletic listed the following players as "vet min" caliber (Kornet included in this as well)

Goga Bitadze
Dario Saric
Mo Bamba
Jaxon Hayes
Thomas Bryant
James Wiseman

IDK. All of them are arguably worse than Kornet right now. But other than Saric, all maybe have a leap forward in them. In theory, any of those guys COULD maybe take a developmental mini-leap and be ok for a 10-15 minute playoff rotation role one day? They could all flop too, but at least there's the glimmer of upside that I don't see with Kornet.

If we can get Tillman back, I might favor going for a gamble on the other big man spot.

[Hal14]

Phoenix is a lot deeper over the 2nd Apron than the Celtics, but have leaked they are interested in Kris Dunn, who they could only get for a vet minimum contract.

If the Celtics could get the Massachusetts native to sign for Minimum (Brown, Tatum and Horford know him), that would free them to use Pritch at some point in a deal for a VET BIG.

And it's not a Pritch vs. Dunn thing.

It's a Pritch vs. Dunn + VET BIG thing. Huge difference.

Maybe.

But do we really need to add another big that badly, that it's worth it to throw off the chemistry/equilibrium/harmony of this team by trading Pritchard?

We *know* Pritchard fits well with this team - on the court and off..we don't know how Dunn would fit. Again, do we really need another big that badly to risk it?

We have KP, Al, Tillman, Kornet, Queta..that's 5 bigs..and Watson is more of a 4 but can play small ball 5 (yes I know we're probably not banking on him contributing in year 1 but still, that's 6 bigs and 5 of them you *know* can help you win games..4 of them helped you win playoff games.

Any big we get for Pritchard can't make more than $6.6 mil. So that player probably won't be that good. They probably won't really be enough of an upgrade over our other bigs for it to be worth it..

[Jammer]

Phoenix is a lot deeper over the 2nd Apron than the Celtics, but have leaked they are interested in Kris Dunn, who they could only get for a vet minimum contract.

If the Celtics could get the Massachusetts native to sign for Minimum (Brown, Tatum and Horford know him), that would free them to use Pritch at some point in a deal for a VET BIG.

And it's not a Pritch vs. Dunn thing.

It's a Pritch vs. Dunn + VET BIG thing. Huge difference.

Maybe.

But do we really need to add another big that badly, that it's worth it to throw off the chemistry/equilibrium/harmony of this team by trading Pritchard?

We *know* Pritchard fits well with this team - on the court and off..we don't know how Dunn would fit. Again, do we really need another big that badly to risk it?

We have KP, Al, Tillman, Kornet, Queta..that's 5 bigs..and Watson is more of a 4 but can play small ball 5 (yes I know we're probably not banking on him contributing in year 1 but still, that's 6 bigs and 5 of them you *know* can help you win games..4 of them helped you win playoff games.

Any big we get for Pritchard can't make more than $6.6 mil. So that player probably won't be that good. They probably won't really be enough of an upgrade over our other bigs for it to be worth it..

I don't know the answer, but I keep wondering could Walker Kessler of Utah (finished his 2nd year of a rookie deal, former #22 pick) be Horford's replacement? Might be tricky putting a deal together as don't know if Utah would be interested in Pritch or Springer, but their salaries would line up. Is Kessler worth 2 future LATE 1rsts? Probably.

[Hal14]

On the one hand, Porzingis' injury makes me more inclined to keep Kornet because he's reliable and we know we're going to need minutes there. On the other hand, have to accept the realization that Porzingis is and always be a wildcard health wise and you have to prepare for him missing not just regular season games, but playoff games.

We know what Kornet is and isn't at this point. He's proven that he IS someone you can use to soak up minutes at the 5 spot in the regular season. He IS NOT someone you want playing minutes in the playoffs. So IDK, I think I'm inclined to gamble on someone else that maybe has the upside to hack it in the playoffs if it comes to that.

What is this based on? I thought Kornet proved that he is playable in the playoffs. He was effective in the Miami series and he was effective in the Cleveland series.

Had some issues in the Pacers series because the Pacers are the perfect storm of being a bad matchup for him (they play VERY fast and have a 5 who steps out and shoots lots of 3's and no one else Kornet could really cover since they play 5 out w/ all 5 guys who can shoot from 3)

Then vs Dallas, he didn't play so we don't know if he would have been effective or not. But Mazzulla said he went with Tillman because Tillman's familiarity with defending the Mavs from going against them so much in Memphis. But that probably would have been a matchup Kornet could handle since Dallas plays slower and their 5's don't shoot 3's.

Indy is basically the only team in the league where Kornet is not a good matchup. And we have Tillman who can be plugged in for that matchup.

Not really seeing the need to add another big - just resign Tillman and Kornet. And pick up Queta's option for additional depth/size. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This roster works really well on the court and has great vibes off of it - I'd rather not mess with that unless it's *really* necessary..

Lastly, I'm also not sure I buy the notion that someone can be good enough to play in the reg season but not the playoffs. Like, if they can play, then they can play.. like, Kornet played 18 mins and was a +6 in the game during the reg season where we beat Minnesota. But you're telling me that he's unplayable if we faced that same Minnesota team in the playoffs? I don't think I buy that..

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

The trade for a Big is either going to be by:

1) Moving up in a Future Draft.

2) After next season, Horford decides to retire and they trade him and Picks for a younger Big, he then retires.

3) Signing Hauser to a quality contract and then trading him down the line for a Big or Draft Pick (The Gerald Henderson
Option) and selecting a Center - perhaps because of restrictions, they have to wait a year and a higher Draft
placement before the Pick conveys.

4) Trading Holiday and Picks, two or three years in the future for a Big, after they draft a quality replacement Point,
in next year's Draft.

[keevsnick1]

The trade for a Big is either going to be by:

1) Moving up in a Future Draft.

2) After next season, Horford decides to retire and they trade him and Picks for a younger Big, he then retires.

3) Signing Hauser to a quality contract and then trading him down the line for a Big or Draft Pick (The Gerald Henderson
Option) and selecting a Center - perhaps because of restrictions, they have to wait a year and a higher Draft
placement before the Pick conveys.

4) Trading Holiday and Picks, two or three years in the future for a Big, after they draft a quality replacement Point,
in next year's Draft.

I don't think #2 would really fly with the league. They'd view that as cap circumvention i think. If Horford is going to retire, he's just going to retire.

One option I could see. Sign Hauser to a contract and flip him next summer for Wendell Carter junior. WCJ will only be making 10.85 million in the last year of his deal, so you just need to sign Hauser to something starting slightly more than that in year 1. Magic need shooting desperately, and likely still will next summer. WCJ will still only be 26 entering the last year of his deal so he fits the Brown/Tatum timeline well.

WCJ has shot 35% from three the last three years, and is pretty decent defensively. Seems like a guy who would fit really well here.

[Hal14]

Phoenix is a lot deeper over the 2nd Apron than the Celtics, but have leaked they are interested in Kris Dunn, who they could only get for a vet minimum contract.

If the Celtics could get the Massachusetts native to sign for Minimum (Brown, Tatum and Horford know him), that would free them to use Pritch at some point in a deal for a VET BIG.

And it's not a Pritch vs. Dunn thing.

It's a Pritch vs. Dunn + VET BIG thing. Huge difference.

Maybe.

But do we really need to add another big that badly, that it's worth it to throw off the chemistry/equilibrium/harmony of this team by trading Pritchard?

We *know* Pritchard fits well with this team - on the court and off..we don't know how Dunn would fit. Again, do we really need another big that badly to risk it?

We have KP, Al, Tillman, Kornet, Queta..that's 5 bigs..and Watson is more of a 4 but can play small ball 5 (yes I know we're probably not banking on him contributing in year 1 but still, that's 6 bigs and 5 of them you *know* can help you win games..4 of them helped you win playoff games.

Any big we get for Pritchard can't make more than $6.6 mil. So that player probably won't be that good. They probably won't really be enough of an upgrade over our other bigs for it to be worth it..

I don't know the answer, but I keep wondering could Walker Kessler of Utah (finished his 2nd year of a rookie deal, former #22 pick) be Horford's replacement. Might be tricky putting a deal together as don't know if Utah would be interested in Pritch or Springer, but their salaries would line up. Is Kessler worth 2 future LATE 1rsts? Probably.

Hmm, Kessler is interesting. But if we aren't able to afford whatever he is gonna make on his next contract, is it worth it?

He's also a non-shooter. And looking at his stats from last season, the TRB% and blocks % are both very good. But the turnover % is actually higher than his usage %. And his turnover % is way higher than his assist %, which is crazy low.

So idk, the combination of being a big who's a non-shooter who has high turnovers and low assists might not be a good fit..especially if you're talking about trading that type of draft compensation.

[keevsnick1]

Maybe.

But do we really need to add another big that badly, that it's worth it to throw off the chemistry/equilibrium/harmony of this team by trading Pritchard?

We *know* Pritchard fits well with this team - on the court and off..we don't know how Dunn would fit. Again, do we really need another big that badly to risk it?

We have KP, Al, Tillman, Kornet, Queta..that's 5 bigs..and Watson is more of a 4 but can play small ball 5 (yes I know we're probably not banking on him contributing in year 1 but still, that's 6 bigs and 5 of them you *know* can help you win games..4 of them helped you win playoff games.

Any big we get for Pritchard can't make more than $6.6 mil. So that player probably won't be that good. They probably won't really be enough of an upgrade over our other bigs for it to be worth it..

I don't know the answer, but I keep wondering could Walker Kessler of Utah (finished his 2nd year of a rookie deal, former #22 pick) be Horford's replacement. Might be tricky putting a deal together as don't know if Utah would be interested in Pritch or Springer, but their salaries would line up. Is Kessler worth 2 future LATE 1rsts? Probably.

Hmm, Kessler is interesting. But if we aren't able to afford whatever he is gonna make on his next contract, is it worth it?

He's also a non-shooter. And looking at his stats from last season, the TRB% and blocks % are both very good. But the turnover % is actually higher than his usage %. And his turnover % is way higher than his assist %, which is crazy low.

So idk, the combination of being a big who's a non-shooter who has high turnovers and low assists might not be a good fit..especially if you're talking about trading that type of draft compensation.

Kessler is interesting if its a buy low situation, and he has the benefit of A) Making so little money that he could be acquired using Jaden Spring as the matching salary and B) Has another year left at about 4.9 million.

But I'd agree that he doesn't really play the style of basketball;l I think the Celtics would prefer in that he's not really a ball mover or floor stretcher. So I think he's unlikely unless the cost was low.

[Celts17Pride]

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Why wouldn't he?

[ConstableGeneva]

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[ConstableGeneva]

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[djFan71]

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Is Seth cooked? He was in my Pritchard replacement queue if we traded him.

[ConstableGeneva]

Yes! We got a major trade!

[Darthlukey]

Dejounte to pels, absolutely no idea on details. According to woj on X

[Celts17Pride]

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[GoCeltics123]

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Pels are going to be dead last in threes if they don't trade Ingram