Free Agent, Trade & Extensions Thread, 2024-25 (i.e. How do we make the Champs even better?)

[ConstableGeneva]

If Celtics sign Hauser to a $50M extension, they would've signed $1 billion worth of extensions between our starting five, PP, and Sam.

[titlebound1]

In my opinion, it's almost a certainty that this team is getting blown up soon. No set of owners can afford these luxury tax bills.

Next year they'll run it back and have their best chance to win again.

2025-26 - some fat will be trimmed from the edges. Certain role players will be gone. How much depends on the 2024-25 season results.

2026-27 - blow-up. Expect massive changes in personnel. Everyone is fair game. Even Tatum/Brown might go depending on prior year's results. It will just depend on what other teams are willing to give up.

Enjoy it now, folks. I'm typically NOT a doom and gloom guy. It's just that the writing is on the wall, and it's written in all caps.

If they keep making finals runs, then I don't think blowing up the team would ever be justified. Whoever is buying the team will know what they're getting into. There would be very serious public blowback If someone comes in and immediately starts trimming salary a year or two in.

If I had to guess, they probably already have a big time buyer lined up. And if that's the case, then I'm confident that they're on board with all the spending we've seen. This isn't some small market entry level team. It's going the be the largest sale / acquisition in the history of the league.

[JTMVP]

In my opinion, it's almost a certainty that this team is getting blown up soon. No set of owners can afford these luxury tax bills.

Next year they'll run it back and have their best chance to win again.

2025-26 - some fat will be trimmed from the edges. Certain role players will be gone. How much depends on the 2024-25 season results.

2026-27 - blow-up. Expect massive changes in personnel. Everyone is fair game. Even Tatum/Brown might go depending on prior year's results. It will just depend on what other teams are willing to give up.

Enjoy it now, folks. I'm typically NOT a doom and gloom guy. It's just that the writing is on the wall, and it's written in all caps.

Is that you, Wyc?

I wish. The fat trimming in two years may be Horford (contact expires next year - he'll retire), KP (will be on the last year of his contract, so it's an expiring that is a good trade asset), and Jrue who will be on the third year ($34.8M) of his four year contract (player option). Depending on whether his play deteriorates, his value at that price tag might interest teams (35 million for a good role player will not be a lot by 2025-26). I'm guessing that the core JT/JB/White will be kept together at least up to the 2026-27 season, and then who knows.

[JTMVP]

In my opinion, it's almost a certainty that this team is getting blown up soon. No set of owners can afford these luxury tax bills.

Next year they'll run it back and have their best chance to win again.

2025-26 - some fat will be trimmed from the edges. Certain role players will be gone. How much depends on the 2024-25 season results.

2026-27 - blow-up. Expect massive changes in personnel. Everyone is fair game. Even Tatum/Brown might go depending on prior year's results. It will just depend on what other teams are willing to give up.

Enjoy it now, folks. I'm typically NOT a doom and gloom guy. It's just that the writing is on the wall, and it's written in all caps.

If they keep making finals runs, then I don't think blowing up the team would ever be justified. Whoever is buying the team will know what they're getting into. There would be very serious public blowback If someone comes in and immediately starts trimming salary a year or two in.

If I had to guess, they probably already have a big time buyer lined up. And if that's the case, then I'm confident that they're on board with all the spending we've seen. This isn't some small market entry level team. It's going the be the largest sale / acquisition in the history of the league.

Ok. We'll see. I respect your opinion, but I think no matter how big or small the new owner is, they will want to make the team profitable to offset the huge price tag. That means some cuts in 2025-26 and major cuts in 2026-27.

[redslastlaugh]

If after next season, we move Jrue and KP into cap space and take back a starting level big, we’ll be back under the tax with still prime JT, prime JB, DWhite, and a good amount of picks. So it’s not like the sky will be falling, but yea there is no possibility of any owner paying HUNDREDs of millions in luxury taxes in 25-26. But the sky is not falling, we just need to hit on a draft pick.

[Gant]

Tatum signs the largest contract in history.
Derrick White re-signs, which locks in the top 8 for next season.
Wyc Grousbeck puts the franchise up for sale.

None of this answers the important question of who the fourth string center will be.

[titlebound1]

In my opinion, it's almost a certainty that this team is getting blown up soon. No set of owners can afford these luxury tax bills.

Next year they'll run it back and have their best chance to win again.

2025-26 - some fat will be trimmed from the edges. Certain role players will be gone. How much depends on the 2024-25 season results.

2026-27 - blow-up. Expect massive changes in personnel. Everyone is fair game. Even Tatum/Brown might go depending on prior year's results. It will just depend on what other teams are willing to give up.

Enjoy it now, folks. I'm typically NOT a doom and gloom guy. It's just that the writing is on the wall, and it's written in all caps.

If they keep making finals runs, then I don't think blowing up the team would ever be justified. Whoever is buying the team will know what they're getting into. There would be very serious public blowback If someone comes in and immediately starts trimming salary a year or two in.

If I had to guess, they probably already have a big time buyer lined up. And if that's the case, then I'm confident that they're on board with all the spending we've seen. This isn't some small market entry level team. It's going the be the largest sale / acquisition in the history of the league.

Ok. We'll see. I respect your opinion, but I think no matter how big or small the new owner is, they will want to make the team profitable to offset the huge price tag. That means some cuts in 2025-26 and major cuts in 2026-27.

Yeah I mean we're obviously all guessing. But I really doubt that whoever buys the team would have to turn into public enemy number one just a year or two into the acquisition.

Brown and Tatum are for sure locked in for the next 5 years unless something crazy happens. And with those two in place, I fully trust Brad to always have a contender on the floor even if the money dries up a bit.

[31to6]

Feels like kind of a historic day for the franchise

[JTMVP]

Feels like kind of a historic day for the franchise

Oh in so many ways!

[Dogen]

Tatum signs the largest contract in history.
Derrick White re-signs, which locks in the top 8 for next season.
Wyc Grousbeck puts the franchise up for sale.

None of this answers the important question of who the fourth string center will be.

I'm a simple man with simple tastes. Just want to know if Tristan Enaruna starts in summer league or comes off the bench.

[JTMVP]

If they keep making finals runs, then I don't think blowing up the team would ever be justified. Whoever is buying the team will know what they're getting into. There would be very serious public blowback If someone comes in and immediately starts trimming salary a year or two in.

If I had to guess, they probably already have a big time buyer lined up. And if that's the case, then I'm confident that they're on board with all the spending we've seen. This isn't some small market entry level team. It's going the be the largest sale / acquisition in the history of the league.

Ok. We'll see. I respect your opinion, but I think no matter how big or small the new owner is, they will want to make the team profitable to offset the huge price tag. That means some cuts in 2025-26 and major cuts in 2026-27.

Yeah I mean we're obviously all guessing. But I really doubt that whoever buys the team would have to turn into public enemy number one just a year or two into the acquisition.

Brown and Tatum are for sure locked in for the next 5 years unless something crazy happens. And with those two in place, I fully trust Brad to always have a contender on the floor even if the money dries up a bit.

I'm not saying that Tatum and Brown are definitely gone in 2026-27. I'm just saying that it wouldn't be shocking if one of them goes. Like you said, it will depend on previous years' results. I certainly don't feel that both are "locked in" for the next five years. It's too up in the air at this point.

New owners don't come in and trade away the whole team. They cut at the margins, which is more acceptable to fans. But once those margins are cut, the product suffers. Then they have the justification (poorer team performance) to get rid of major pieces. That's how it works.

[hugepatsfan]

Refreshing my C depth charts around the NBA after Goga re-signed with ORL:

ATL - Okongwo/Capela
BRK - Claxton/Sharpe (Clowney can also play here)
CHA - Mark Williams/Nik Richards
CHI - Vucevic/Jalen Smith
CLE - Allen and then technically no backup but Mobley plays here too besides starting at PF
DAL - Gafford/Lively/Powell (Kleber plays here too)
DEN - Jokic/Nnaji/DeAndre Jordan/1st rounder Holmes
DET - Jalen Duren/Beef Stew (would hope for their sake Beef Stew at PF is done)
GSW - Looney/Trayce Jackson-Davis (Draymond plays here too)
HOU - Sengun/Adams/Landale
IND - Turner/Isaiah Jackson (Toppin plays here too)
LAC - Zubac then no backup
LAL - Ant/Wood/Hayes
MEM - Edey only pure 5 but JJJ and Aldima play here as well
MIA - Bam/1st rounder Ware/Love/Orlando Robinson
MIL - Lopez/Portis
MIN - Gobert/Reid (KAT plays here too)
NOP - only the rookie Missi
NYK - Mitch Robinson/Jericho Sims (Randle plays here too)
OKC - Chet/Hartenstein/Jaylin Williams (not the good Williams lol)
ORL - WCJ/Goga (Isaac plays here some and they have rights on Wagner)
PHI - Embiid/Drummond/B-Ball Paul
PHX - Nurkic/Plumlee (Bol plays here too)
POR - Ayton/Clingan/Timelord/Duop Reath
SAC - Sabonis/Len (Lyles plays here too)
SAS - Collins/Bassey (Wemby plays here too)
TOR - Poeltl/Olynyk (Boucher plays here too)
UTA - Kessler/Eubanks (Collins plays here too)
WAS - JVal/Holmes/Bagley (Sarr could play here too)

Top remaining centers on the free agent market:

Mo Wagner
Precious Achiuwa
Xavier Tillman
Tristan Vukcevic
Dario Saric
Daniel Theis
Mo Bamba
James Wiseman
Thomas Bryant

I listed them in my rough order of preference.

[Dogen]

Ok. We'll see. I respect your opinion, but I think no matter how big or small the new owner is, they will want to make the team profitable to offset the huge price tag. That means some cuts in 2025-26 and major cuts in 2026-27.

Yeah I mean we're obviously all guessing. But I really doubt that whoever buys the team would have to turn into public enemy number one just a year or two into the acquisition.

Brown and Tatum are for sure locked in for the next 5 years unless something crazy happens. And with those two in place, I fully trust Brad to always have a contender on the floor even if the money dries up a bit.

I'm not saying that Tatum and Brown are definitely gone in 2026-27. I'm just saying that it wouldn't be shocking if one of them goes. Like you said, it will depend on previous years' results. I certainly don't feel that both are "locked in" for the next five years. It's too up in the air at this point.

New owners don't come in and trade away the whole team. They cut at the margins, which is more acceptable to fans. But once those margins are cut, the product suffers. Then they have the justification (poorer team performance) to get rid of major pieces. That's how it works.

It's so rare to repeat or build a dynasty. And with the way players move around, the short contracts, new rules -- looks like it's getting harder. But the same rules and league culture can apply to every team. As Brad said the other day, the Celtics are trying to work things so that the team stays relevant year after year. Maybe there is a dip for a year or so, but not falling into lotto purgatory like a lot of teams.

To me, if the Celtics win one more championship within the Jays 2025-27 window, that is simply amazing. May not be next year, but the window is open. Brad must be thinking ahead to when Al, then Jrue retire. If one of the Jays wants to move on, that's ok, but I do think the next 3 years can bring at least one more ring if they stay focused.

[JTMVP]

Yeah I mean we're obviously all guessing. But I really doubt that whoever buys the team would have to turn into public enemy number one just a year or two into the acquisition.

Brown and Tatum are for sure locked in for the next 5 years unless something crazy happens. And with those two in place, I fully trust Brad to always have a contender on the floor even if the money dries up a bit.

I'm not saying that Tatum and Brown are definitely gone in 2026-27. I'm just saying that it wouldn't be shocking if one of them goes. Like you said, it will depend on previous years' results. I certainly don't feel that both are "locked in" for the next five years. It's too up in the air at this point.

New owners don't come in and trade away the whole team. They cut at the margins, which is more acceptable to fans. But once those margins are cut, the product suffers. Then they have the justification (poorer team performance) to get rid of major pieces. That's how it works.

It's so rare to repeat or build a dynasty. And with the way players move around, the short contracts, new rules -- looks like it's getting harder. But the same rules and league culture can apply to every team. As Brad said the other day, the Celtics are trying to work things so that the team stays relevant year after year. Maybe there is a dip for a year or so, but not falling into lotto purgatory like a lot of teams.

To me, if the Celtics win one more championship within the Jays 2025-27 window, that is simply amazing. May not be next year, but the window is open. Brad must be thinking ahead to when Al, then Jrue retire. If one of the Jays wants to move on, that's ok, but I do think the next 3 years can bring at least one more ring if they stay focused.

Agreed.

[redslastlaugh]

I don’t know why Washington waived Tristan Vukcevic rather than just keep at $2.4 million this season, don’t get that one. If Brad can get him for the minimum with a couple of team option years, I’d be for taking a flier on him.

[JTMVP]

One more thing. ALL of these contacts/extensions that the Celtics are handing out will be tradeable. All of them (unless there's an injury). So even though the sum of the parts is not tenable in the long term, the Celtics will have avenues to pursue if they want to dump certain players. I just think that in the future landscape of the NBA with its ever increasing salary cap, the crazy money spent right now will be a bargain for any team in the future (from the JT/JB contracts all the way down to Jrue/White).

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

If Celtics sign Hauser to a $50M extension, they would've signed $1 billion worth of extensions between our starting five, PP, and Sam.

[Fierce1]

Celtic owners cashing in, that's why they're giving all these players big contracts.

The next owner/s will end up being the one inheriting the financial problem from all the tax penalties.

Pretty slick by Wyc and the LLC.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

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