Free Agent, Trade & Extensions Thread, 2024-25

[hugepatsfan]

Larger point is you just never know when something unexpected might become possible, regardless of the specific name - hance the pattern of keeping that last roster spot open to be able to strike if an opportunity arises.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/spurs/2015/10/13/david-west-spurs/73865012/

Think back to the reaction back in 2014 when David West signed with the Spurs for the minimum to ring chase after opting out of $12M. People freaked out. People were MAD ONLINE about this when it happened. About how it ruined parity, how all the good players always signed with the same few teams, etc.

You just never know who might say F it and sign with a powerhouse team like us for the minimum over a MLE or room exception deal with a middling team. I'm certainly not confident or predicting that Harris does that, but I do see some potential for his market to fall through.

DET could opt for salary dumps (I think SAC ends up moving Barnes/Huerter for Ingram and NOP could prefer to move those guys for savings). I could see DeRozen in Utah. I could see OKC using their cap on Hartenstein. I think SA will opt to play kids and stay as an "over the cap team" rather than use cap space. If all that happens, Harris is looking at exception offers and you never know.

Ha I had DeRozan as a buy-low guy for like two years, he's actually someone I could see (not necessarily here but overall) taking less to play somewhere good. He's made good money and only has a year or two left for sure.

Funny though, West not taking less to come to Boston in ~2011 had me so grumpy lol.

Edit: damn knew he played a lot but didn't realize he led the NBA in RS minute totals last year at 34 that's crazy.

DeRozen taking less would be the same idea. I don't like the fit as much. I actually think for all the crap Harris got for being overpaid, he's a good player. Not a defensive sieve, can even be an asset at times there. Shoots respectably well, especially for a PF. Can create and keep the ball moving. I actually think his game is PERFECT for us.

And it's a shame West didn't come here. I believe we got Bass instead? That was the year we were up 3-2 on MIA and ran out of gas. Led going into the 4th of game 7 I believe. Bradley got hurt in the 2nd round that year after emerging and Jeff Green had the heart condition so could never play. If Green was the good 6th man he came back as the following year and Bradley were healthy, i think we might have had enough juice to get by MIA and play that young OKC team. Such a shame.

[Gant]

Free agency thoughts to this moment:

The East improved. Boston's the team to beat. Orlando, Philly and New York have made significant acquisitions. Cleveland's good when healthy. Indiana's formidable in their own quirky way. Miami and Milwaukee are the two traditionally strong teams that have been stagnant so far while relying on older players.
Those sure look like the top 8 in the conference for next year. Atlanta's wavering, and all other teams are ogling the 2025 draft already.

Normally you'd expect the Celtics to leave the 15th spot open, which is still possible. But Porzingis is out for a long time. Al Horford is 38, coming off a short off season, and doesn't play back to backs. Brissett may be gone which takes away a small ball option in the mini-middle. With Tillman's status unclear, that leaves only Kornet and Queta in some games. Any foul trouble or a minor ankle twist would put Pritchard at back-up center. So they need another big guy- Tillman or someone.
Maybe Brissett or another small ball substitute will be added allowing that last spot to remain temporarily unfilled, but that doesn't feel right.

I'm so happy about the Queta re-up. I have a perhaps irrational sense that he will become a "how did they get this guy?" figure.

[BigTrade92]

So assuming Anton Watson gets a main roster spot and not a two-way deal….

Then essentially the only Free Agency questions left for us is:

Does Tillman re-sign to return? If not, do we find a replacement? Or does the last roster spot remain open?

[hugepatsfan]

So assuming Anton Watson gets a main roster spot and not a two-way deal….

Then essentially the only Free Agency questions left for us is:

Does Tillman re-sign to return? If not, do we find a replacement? Or does the last roster spot remain open?

Hard for me to see them not re-signing or replacing Tillman. We KNOW that Porzingis is out to start the year and we KNOW that Horford won't play both legs of back to backs. So that's a significant amount of time that we already know we'll go into a game with only Queta and Kornet at center.

Further, we don't really have anyone on the roster right now who's really suited to play PF. Other than Horford, who can't play PF unless we lock the C minutes down. Even if Watson gets an NBA deal, you can't pencil him for minutes. So adding another big could indirectly address that spot as well since in theory it makes it more plausible to play Horford there.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

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The Celtics currently have two open roster spots on the 15-man roster after signingLuke Kornet and Neemias Queta Sunday night, although there may be some flexibility there if Queta’s deal with a partial guarantee. Boston only has veteran minimum deals left to offer free agents but suddenly the 76ers and Knicks have built true contenders and likely more opportunity off the bench than Boston can offer. That won’t increase the odds of a useful player to potentially fall through the cracks and sign with Boston for a chance at a ring.

Talentwise, the Celtics still have the edge with talent and continuity among the top six players for the 76ers and Knicks but the Sixers now look like a top threat to the Celtics now alongside the Knicks in the East. The presence of two-shot creators around Embiid gives the Sixers a dynamic they’ve lacked for years in crunch time. A lot for them is dependent on the health of Embiid and a 34-year-old George who has had more than his fair share of health issues over the last few years. If the Sixers are at full strength with this group though, they have the potential to be a problem for Boston.

[ConstableGeneva]

The Sixers should trade all their firsts for Al Horford, so their path to the Finals becomes clearer.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[ConstableGeneva]

Bring home Mo Wagner!

[ConstableGeneva]

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[165bows]

Bring home Mo Wagner!

He's kind of a beast I'd be happy about that.

[hugepatsfan]

Sadiiq Bey for a vet min deal with a 2nd year player option could be a good value play. A little tough since Porzingis is already out, but might be worth it longer term.

He tore his ACL at the end of last year. He's most likely missing a good chunk of the year, so he can't expect more than the minimum this year most likely.

Next year, he'd have the option to come back for the minimum or opt out. If there's a decent deal out there for him next year, he takes it. If not, he can come back on another 1 year deal which would give us non bird rights at the end of it and open up an avenue for him to get paid after it, potentially.

[hugepatsfan]

Bring home Mo Wagner!

Would be awesome move. ORL doesn't have a backup center though and with PG elsewhere, they seem unlikely to renounce his rights to use cap space. Tough to think he'd end up here, but you never know!

[hugepatsfan]

De'Anthony Melton is a good player when healthy. If his market bottoms out to the minimum (he wasn't listed in Smitty's top 5 PGs or SGs) then could be worth a look.

[ConstableGeneva]

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Might be the type of money I'd be ok with for Tillman. Wiggins is OKC's 8th/9th man.

[165bows]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/spurs/2015/10/13/david-west-spurs/73865012/

Think back to the reaction back in 2014 when David West signed with the Spurs for the minimum to ring chase after opting out of $12M. People freaked out. People were MAD ONLINE about this when it happened. About how it ruined parity, how all the good players always signed with the same few teams, etc.

You just never know who might say F it and sign with a powerhouse team like us for the minimum over a MLE or room exception deal with a middling team. I'm certainly not confident or predicting that Harris does that, but I do see some potential for his market to fall through.

DET could opt for salary dumps (I think SAC ends up moving Barnes/Huerter for Ingram and NOP could prefer to move those guys for savings). I could see DeRozen in Utah. I could see OKC using their cap on Hartenstein. I think SA will opt to play kids and stay as an "over the cap team" rather than use cap space. If all that happens, Harris is looking at exception offers and you never know.

Ha I had DeRozan as a buy-low guy for like two years, he's actually someone I could see (not necessarily here but overall) taking less to play somewhere good. He's made good money and only has a year or two left for sure.

Funny though, West not taking less to come to Boston in ~2011 had me so grumpy lol.

Edit: damn knew he played a lot but didn't realize he led the NBA in RS minute totals last year at 34 that's crazy.

DeRozen taking less would be the same idea. I don't like the fit as much. I actually think for all the crap Harris got for being overpaid, he's a good player. Not a defensive sieve, can even be an asset at times there. Shoots respectably well, especially for a PF. Can create and keep the ball moving. I actually think his game is PERFECT for us.

And it's a shame West didn't come here. I believe we got Bass instead? That was the year we were up 3-2 on MIA and ran out of gas. Led going into the 4th of game 7 I believe. Bradley got hurt in the 2nd round that year after emerging and Jeff Green had the heart condition so could never play. If Green was the good 6th man he came back as the following year and Bradley were healthy, i think we might have had enough juice to get by MIA and play that young OKC team. Such a shame.

Yeah Harris or a player like him is an interesting idea. Still like DeRozan next year (not necessarily here as that's a pretty wild long shot) to bounce up a bit if he has a role where he doesn't have to carry a whole team for an entire regular season. He did have an interview this past year where he was saying he wasn't looking to be Lebron and play a ton more years so maybe he does go for it now somewhere though.

[Fierce1]

De'Anthony Melton is a good player when healthy. If his market bottoms out to the minimum (he wasn't listed in Smitty's top 5 PGs or SGs) then could be worth a look.

Cs better off just adding Anton Watson instead of signing vets that will most likely just sit on the bench most of the time.

[ConstableGeneva]

De'Anthony Melton is a good player when healthy. If his market bottoms out to the minimum (he wasn't listed in Smitty's top 5 PGs or SGs) then could be worth a look.

Always liked Melton even in his time with the Grizz. Just not a position of need for us unless we're also gonna load manage Jrue.

[Celts17Pride]

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[Celts17Pride]

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Might be the type of money I'd be ok with for Tillman. Wiggins is OKC's 8th/9th man.

Celtics won't give Tillman more than $3 million. Probably why he isn't signed yet. Celtics still have to pay Hauser, DWhite and Tatum.

[ConstableGeneva]

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Hauser comp money-wise?