Free Agent, (Trade), Buyout, Extension & Conversion Thread, 2025

[Fierce1]

I agree, don't help Orlando.

[165bows]

KP/Hauser to Orlando for one of their big men (M. Wagner or Carter Jr) and some of their draft capital. Hate dumping value and proven guys here but if they have to save $ then I guess something has to go.

Also don’t really love the guys in this draft. If they got 16 I might just try to get Murray Boyles and play him as a small ball 5 but I don’t love any of them that much compared to the guys the team already has.

I'd rather not help out a team like Orlando.

Seems like Brad typically tries to make deals with teams who are bad and/or teams in the west (Spurs, OKC was bad when we did the Horford deal, Portland, sent smart to memphis when they were bad, indy was bad when we sent them nesmith, washington..)

Yeah that’s a good point. Can’t deny the fit though.

[Fierce1]

If and only if ownership really insists on making changes, for financial reasons, I think JB and Jrue out and coming in is Giannis.

Milwaukee will want a star player in return for Giannis.

I love Jrue, but his age and contract is just not a good fit for the Cs anymore.

If we're not getting Giannis then KP and Jrue should go.

Only removing Jrue will not solve the problem.

It has to be 2 big contracts that the Cs need to shed.

[phincsfan]

If and only if ownership really insists on making changes, for financial reasons, I think JB and Jrue out and coming in is Giannis.

Milwaukee will want a star player in return for Giannis.

I love Jrue, but his age and contract is just not a good fit for the Cs anymore.

If we're not getting Giannis then KP and Jrue should go.

Only removing Jrue will not solve the problem.

It has to be 2 big contracts that the Cs need to shed.

I doubt JT will want to play with Giannis because there goes any chance of JT getting an MVP with that pairing. With JB he still knows he’s the #1 for the season.

Neither JT nor Giannis will concede to the other one because they both have a ring. JT especially because he’ll be playing for another huge payday during that time.

Was that ever done before? Putting two superstar NBA champions in their prime together? I can’t remember any over the last 25 years.

[Fierce1]

If and only if ownership really insists on making changes, for financial reasons, I think JB and Jrue out and coming in is Giannis.

Milwaukee will want a star player in return for Giannis.

I love Jrue, but his age and contract is just not a good fit for the Cs anymore.

If we're not getting Giannis then KP and Jrue should go.

Only removing Jrue will not solve the problem.

It has to be 2 big contracts that the Cs need to shed.

I doubt JT will want to play with Giannis because there goes any chance of JT getting an MVP with that pairing. With JB he still knows he’s the #1 for the season.

Neither JT nor Giannis will concede to the other one because they both have a ring. JT especially because he’ll be playing for another huge payday during that time.

Was that ever done before? Putting two superstar NBA champions in their prime together? I can’t remember any over the last 25 years.

There's always a first for everything.

My preference is still to keep the Jays together.

But if the team really has to be broken up, I prefer getting Giannis for JB and Jrue.

One year of JT, Giannis, KP, White, and ??? would be really interesting.

KP becomes a FA in 2026, so if the Cs need to shed more salary, they can let KP go and make JT, Giannis, and White as the Big 3.

[165bows]

Super simple financial solution is KP for Brandon Clarke. Problem is is it is just a little too shy of saving enough money.

[Fierce1]

Super simple financial solution is KP for Brandon Clarke. Problem is is it is just a little too shy of saving enough money.

To solve the problem, it needs to be 2 big contracts.

[165bows]

Super simple financial solution is KP for Brandon Clarke. Problem is is it is just a little too shy of saving enough money.

To solve the problem, it needs to be 2 big contracts.

Not really it needs to be 24-25M which could be many different combos.

[phincsfan]

Super simple financial solution is KP for Brandon Clarke. Problem is is it is just a little too shy of saving enough money.

To solve the problem, it needs to be 2 big contracts.

When does the 2nd apron get triggered? At the start of the season or can contracts be shed at the deadline like they did with Springer?

Ai says it's triggered at the end of the regular season. If so, then get under the 2nd apron at the deadline in 26'.

So the C's finished the 23/24 and 24/25 season over the 2nd apron. If the penalties kick in at the seasons end in June of 26', moves can be made at the deadline to finish the season below the 2nd apron, but unfortunately there will be luxury tax penalties.

Lets say the first obvious move is Tillman. Payroll down to 221mil and still over the 2nd apron by 14mil.

Resign Al to a 2yr 8mil with a player option year 2. Payroll back to 225mil and over the 2nd apron by 18mil.

I'd let Luke walk unless it's a 3yr 12mil type contract.

I don't mind Craig at 3mil.

Don't pick up Walsh's option.

Don't pick up JD's option.

Peterson to another 2Way with Norris.

1st rd pick contract if they get a pick between 21 and 28 (if a trade happens) the range may be 2.6mil to 2.1 mil.

2nd rd pick is the third 2Way

13 on the roster including new deals for Al, Luke and Craig gets the payroll to 233.5mil

IMO, if the season is going the way it's been the last few years I think a move at the deadline to just get below the 2nd apron 207mil level is definitely doable.

The Jays can stay. A 26' deadline shakeup of a combo out of KP, Jrue, PP or Sam won't be so detrimental. The horses will have to work harder, but it's possible.

[Jellybeans]

KP is expiring.
He can just say im not playing for that team and goes into buyout. And trade doenst happen. Or he cant get extension from team hes traded to

[phincsfan]

KP is expiring.
He can just say im not playing for that team and goes into buyout. And trade doenst happen. Or he cant get extension from team hes traded to

He's never shown he's that type of person. He has the chance to make one more mini deal. He has the ring, so at this point it should be about the money.

[165bows]

KP is expiring.
He can just say im not playing for that team and goes into buyout. And trade doenst happen. Or he cant get extension from team hes traded to

That’s how Boston got him so cheaply to begin with.

[Fierce1]

Super simple financial solution is KP for Brandon Clarke. Problem is is it is just a little too shy of saving enough money.

To solve the problem, it needs to be 2 big contracts.

Not really it needs to be 24-25M which could be many different combos.

KP for Brandon Clarke does not work on the trade machine.

Removing 24-25m only takes the Cs below the 2nd apron.

They will still be a repeater if they don't get out of luxury tax territory.

[Fierce1]

Super simple financial solution is KP for Brandon Clarke. Problem is is it is just a little too shy of saving enough money.

To solve the problem, it needs to be 2 big contracts.

When does the 2nd apron get triggered? At the start of the season or can contracts be shed at the deadline like they did with Springer?

Ai says it's triggered at the end of the regular season. If so, then get under the 2nd apron at the deadline in 26'.

So the C's finished the 23/24 and 24/25 season over the 2nd apron. If the penalties kick in at the seasons end in June of 26', moves can be made at the deadline to finish the season below the 2nd apron, but unfortunately there will be luxury tax penalties.

Lets say the first obvious move is Tillman. Payroll down to 221mil and still over the 2nd apron by 14mil.

Resign Al to a 2yr 8mil with a player option year 2. Payroll back to 225mil and over the 2nd apron by 18mil.

I'd let Luke walk unless it's a 3yr 12mil type contract.

I don't mind Craig at 3mil.

Don't pick up Walsh's option.

Don't pick up JD's option.

Peterson to another 2Way with Norris.

1st rd pick contract if they get a pick between 21 and 28 (if a trade happens) the range may be 2.6mil to 2.1 mil.

2nd rd pick is the third 2Way

13 on the roster including new deals for Al, Luke and Craig gets the payroll to 233.5mil

IMO, if the season is going the way it's been the last few years I think a move at the deadline to just get below the 2nd apron 207mil level is definitely doable.

The Jays can stay. A 26' deadline shakeup of a combo out of KP, Jrue, PP or Sam won't be so detrimental. The horses will have to work harder, but it's possible.

It's harder to deal at the trade deadline in February.

Teams know the Celts will be desperate.
Cs will have no leverage.

It's better to make the move before 2026 season starts.

The earlier the Cs reset their salary cap, the faster they can get back a championship roster.

[celtxman]

The first part of figuring next year's roster is understanding the goal is to sneak below the 2nd apron and have a championship level team.
Please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe there is a roughly one week window after the Finals and before July 1 to make trades that involve expiring contracts.
Next to the numbers. The Celtics have $224M on the books for next season for 10 players. Then if they are lucky they get can resign Horford and Kornet for less than $12M total. Add $4M for 2 players to get to 14 players. So now we're at $240M. The 2nd apron is projected to be $207.8M.
$240M - $32.4M (Holidays salary)= $207.6M. This is the general concept
You could consider dropping KP into that Holiday slot for a couple of reasons. Holiday may be untradeable. His age, injury history, and contract give us a very limited market. Maybe you could do something with Detroit here. But it feels like despite how good Jrue has been for the Celtics , they may have to GIVE assets to trade him if they can.
Porzingis is a different conversation. With Holiday , you can't replace everything with him but you can add another good guard less expensively. Hauser may come into play here. But Porzingis will require a legitimate replacement (.i.e Poeltl.) . Unless Queta becomes the NBA most improved player next year, him Kornet and a year older Horford will not get it done. I'm not as casual as some are about trading KP.

[phincsfan]

Expiring targets at the deadline from teams who may have cap space for a big contract like KP or Jrue (picks would have to be included for both probably and Jrue may require a 1st):

Atlanta - Niang (8.2mil)
Detroit - Fontecchio (8.3mil)
Charlotte - Okogie (7.75mil)
Houston - Holiday (4.9mil team option)

Smaller multi year deals they can take on at the deadline

Chicago - Jalen Smith (2yrs 18.5mil)
Memphis - Konchar (2yrs 12.3mil)
Houston - Londale (2yrs 16mil with team option)

[Fierce1]

Can't trade expiring contracts anymore.

There's a 1 week window after the finals to make trades using the 2024-25 salaries.

By July 1 the 2025-26 salaries will take effect on trades.

[phincsfan]

To solve the problem, it needs to be 2 big contracts.

When does the 2nd apron get triggered? At the start of the season or can contracts be shed at the deadline like they did with Springer?

Ai says it's triggered at the end of the regular season. If so, then get under the 2nd apron at the deadline in 26'.

So the C's finished the 23/24 and 24/25 season over the 2nd apron. If the penalties kick in at the seasons end in June of 26', moves can be made at the deadline to finish the season below the 2nd apron, but unfortunately there will be luxury tax penalties.

Lets say the first obvious move is Tillman. Payroll down to 221mil and still over the 2nd apron by 14mil.

Resign Al to a 2yr 8mil with a player option year 2. Payroll back to 225mil and over the 2nd apron by 18mil.

I'd let Luke walk unless it's a 3yr 12mil type contract.

I don't mind Craig at 3mil.

Don't pick up Walsh's option.

Don't pick up JD's option.

Peterson to another 2Way with Norris.

1st rd pick contract if they get a pick between 21 and 28 (if a trade happens) the range may be 2.6mil to 2.1 mil.

2nd rd pick is the third 2Way

13 on the roster including new deals for Al, Luke and Craig gets the payroll to 233.5mil

IMO, if the season is going the way it's been the last few years I think a move at the deadline to just get below the 2nd apron 207mil level is definitely doable.

The Jays can stay. A 26' deadline shakeup of a combo out of KP, Jrue, PP or Sam won't be so detrimental. The horses will have to work harder, but it's possible.

It's harder to deal at the trade deadline in February.

Teams know the Celts will be desperate.
Cs will have no leverage.

It's better to make the move before 2026 season starts.

The earlier the Cs reset their salary cap, the faster they can get back a championship roster.

But you may also get a desperate team trying to make a run looking for a splash for a playoff push.

[Fierce1]

Expiring targets at the deadline from teams who may have cap space for a big contract like KP or Jrue (picks would have to be included for both probably and Jrue may require a 1st):

Atlanta - Niang (8.2mil)
Detroit - Fontecchio (8.3mil)
Charlotte - Okogie (7.75mil)
Houston - Holiday (4.9mil team option)

Smaller multi year deals they can take on at the deadline

Chicago - Jalen Smith (2yrs 18.5mil)
Memphis - Konchar (2yrs 12.3mil)
Houston - Londale (2yrs 16mil with team option)

New rules don't allow KP's contract to be traded for a player having a salary of 8m.

I checked and it won't work.

Like KP for Brandon Clarke does not work.

[Fierce1]

When does the 2nd apron get triggered? At the start of the season or can contracts be shed at the deadline like they did with Springer?

Ai says it's triggered at the end of the regular season. If so, then get under the 2nd apron at the deadline in 26'.

So the C's finished the 23/24 and 24/25 season over the 2nd apron. If the penalties kick in at the seasons end in June of 26', moves can be made at the deadline to finish the season below the 2nd apron, but unfortunately there will be luxury tax penalties.

Lets say the first obvious move is Tillman. Payroll down to 221mil and still over the 2nd apron by 14mil.

Resign Al to a 2yr 8mil with a player option year 2. Payroll back to 225mil and over the 2nd apron by 18mil.

I'd let Luke walk unless it's a 3yr 12mil type contract.

I don't mind Craig at 3mil.

Don't pick up Walsh's option.

Don't pick up JD's option.

Peterson to another 2Way with Norris.

1st rd pick contract if they get a pick between 21 and 28 (if a trade happens) the range may be 2.6mil to 2.1 mil.

2nd rd pick is the third 2Way

13 on the roster including new deals for Al, Luke and Craig gets the payroll to 233.5mil

IMO, if the season is going the way it's been the last few years I think a move at the deadline to just get below the 2nd apron 207mil level is definitely doable.

The Jays can stay. A 26' deadline shakeup of a combo out of KP, Jrue, PP or Sam won't be so detrimental. The horses will have to work harder, but it's possible.

It's harder to deal at the trade deadline in February.

Teams know the Celts will be desperate.
Cs will have no leverage.

It's better to make the move before 2026 season starts.

The earlier the Cs reset their salary cap, the faster they can get back a championship roster.

But you may also get a desperate team trying to make a run looking for a splash for a playoff push.

That's a big if.

That's risky because if the Cs can't make a deal then they will get to that 450m payroll.

I don't think the Cs will let this drag on to the 2026 season.