Celtics 2025-26, Off-Season/Training Camp Thread

[Fierce1]

Id be happy to trade for the number 2 pick and maybe get high pick next year as well and boom ,right back in business once Tatums back.

That's the plan.

Hopefully!

[bucknersrevenge]

Trading DWhite is an absolute NON-STARTER. He's on a good deal and he's Tatum's best friend on the team. That's absolutely not happening. In fact, Tatum, White, PP and Scheierman shouldn't be going anywhere and I'd love to see Scheierman getting heavy rotation minutes next year.

Decisions will have to be made on Luke and with Al. Al has earned his right to do whatever he wants. If he wants to come back, great. Retire? Congratulations. Go somewhere else? Unlikely given his family's comfort here, but sure. But if either one or both come back we have to adjust the calculus on outgoing salaries next year to get under the 2nd apron.

Guaranteed Jrue has to go. I love him for Houston, actually. They'll need a new PG. They're up and coming and his brother is there. Sam too. I love Sam but he's a casualty. I'd move off KP as well but ONLY if we don't have to attach draft capital to do so. I'm not giving up any picks. I'd rather just keep him for his last year as an expiring or trade him during the following year at the deadline if he re-establishes some value.

Then we get to the elephant in the room...

Look, Brad's not doing his job if he doesn't at least test Brown's value. That's just reality. There's a built-in excuse to move him if we choose to, but I would still want top-level value for him. I'm not interested in "dumping" Jaylen Brown, but if there's a deal to be made that adds talent while relieving the salary, I think you have to pull the trigger now.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Well, next season is going to suck from a contention perspective. But the silver lining is that it opens up so many more possibilities - do we try as hard as we can without out main man, do we dump salary and save tax and hope to rebound the following season or do we tank the **** out the season and try to reload in the lottery? I highly doubt we take the tanking route, but it is an option

Asked what he'd say to fans who want Boston to tank for a better pick in what's expected to be a loaded 2014 draft class, Stevens said, "I don't think they'll like me all that much, then. I'm one of those guys, I'm going to prepare every single day to be the best that we can be."
https://www.espn.com/boston/story/_/id/9483622/brad-stevens-hits-ground-running-boston-celtics-coach

Context is key there. He was the coach, not the GM. That was his first year. Look at the roster he agreed to come coach that had just traded away all of its good players basically and continued to do so throughout the year. Obviously he understood from the roster management standpoint what was going on. GMing to tank is different than COACHING to tank.

I could very well see Brad sell off a bunch of players but he'd still expect Mazzulla to coach them hard, build good habits, and make decisions in the interest of winning games.

Brad Stevens (after the 2024 finals): 'I'd rather be in the mix and have my guts ripped out than suck'
https://hoopshype.com/2024/06/19/brad-stevens-id-rather-be-in-the-mix-and-have-my-guts-ripped-out-than-suck/

I see no reason to believe his stance on tanking has changed since.

[redslastlaugh]

I think you're correct that Derrick will not be traded. Personally, I think White at his age and production would return a lot in a trade, so if I was the GM I'd kick the tires on DWhites value, see what offers are out there.

Also, part of why I'm less reluctant to move him, is I really thought Mazzulla coached him backwards this year. This seasons DWhite is 3pt rate up, free throw rate down, on/off metrics down, and assists down ... so if this is the trend, this is the height of his trade value imo.

I don't blame Derrick btw. I just think they've really coached his mid-range game, floater game, and setup game out of him. Derrick attempted 27 3's in first two Knicks game was just tough to watch. And then we're coming off Derrick's ineffective defense on Brunson in game 4 which was a rough moment for Derrick but also Brunson an MVP candidate and guys score buckets in the NBA so of course I don't want to get trapped in the moment.

I love Derrick as a Celtic and as a person. I'd look into his market this summer also.

Trading DWhite is an absolute NON-STARTER. He's on a good deal and he's Tatum's best friend on the team. That's absolutely not happening. In fact, Tatum, White, PP and Scheierman shouldn't be going anywhere and I'd love to see Scheierman getting heavy rotation minutes next year.

[redslastlaugh]

Brad Stevens (after the 2024 finals): 'I'd rather be in the mix and have my guts ripped out than suck'
https://hoopshype.com/2024/06/19/brad-stevens-id-rather-be-in-the-mix-and-have-my-guts-ripped-out-than-suck/

I see no reason to believe his stance on tanking has changed since.

I wonder if Brad keeps the core, keeps the coach but just moves KP and Jrue but retains Al and Luke. And we just go into the season to compete for a top 6 playoff seed with depth guys (scheierman, walsh, FA signing) stepping up to fill Tatum mins.

If that's the plan, then will Brad consider trading our 2026 first round pick unprotected this summer before we go into next summer. An unprotected pick with tatum out for the year would have a lot of value around the league. And would signal to the lockerrom that "We are not tanking!"

KP + Unprotected 2026 1st to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr? Desmond Bane?

[165bows]

Celtics were just exhausted that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Big leads in almost every game, almost +3 point differential, and three big fat giant collapses followed by injury.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Celtics were just exhausted that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Big leads in almost every game, almost +3 point differential, and three big fat giant collapses followed by injury.

Yeah, I mean look at the rotation : Tatum (wrist + Achilles), Holiday (hamstring), Porzingis (illness), Brown (knee), Hauser (ankle). It's faster to list the guys that AREN'T falling apart (White, Pritchard, Horford).

[fallguy]

Tatum's dad talking 8-9 months.

[Riverwalk2021]

White is the last guy who should get any blame. He struggled defensively the last game but that was more a product of the Knicks incredible shot making in the 2nd half and playing 44 minutes. Mazzulla did not use him as a play maker in the POs which imo cost us the first two games of this series with that disastrous Tatum/Brown iso crap down the stretch. When he's exclusively a catch and shoot guy, you are limiting his value as a finisher around the basket and offensive initiator. They needed more balance on offense with White/Jrue or even Prtichard initiating offense. They were more balanced last playoff run for whatever the reason particularly in close games (INDY series).

Mazzulla also stuck with KP way too long when it was clear he was cooked physically/mentally. That was his biggest mistake, and I think playing him cost us 2 games this series and the one we lost to the Magic. Porzingis made us a worse team when he was on the court all season. The eye test and advanced stats back it up. I don't think we would have won it if he was out but I do think we would have made at least the next round. A 2nd round exit with our talent level after a 61 win season is terribly underachieving. Mazzulla's failures to adjust have been exposed for the 2nd time in 3 postseasons despite having a superior talent advantage. He's lucky expectations are so low, otherwise, the story would be a growing desire to send him packing.

While I think it is likely White and Brown are back, Brad does need to gauge their value. They could get a ton back right now including picks and young talent. Brown would have suitors despite his albatross contract, and every contender would be interested in White because he is plug and play in pretty much any lineup config.

[165bows]

Really have a strong feeling Brown will take time to get his knee right. Kind of solves a lot of issues (health and roster replenishment) creates space to solve the $ issues.

Also creates the right framework for the timing of when Jokic might be available in that 1-2 year time frame. Not a given just one of those have to be doing due diligence on the true home run moves that come along.

[phincsfan]

Really have a strong feeling Brown will take time to get his knee right. Kind of solves a lot of issues (health and roster replenishment) creates space to solve the $ issues.

Also creates the right framework for the timing of when Jokic might be available in that 1-2 year time frame. Not a given just one of those have to be doing due diligence on the true home run moves that come along.

Pretty sure it’s the meniscus. Maybe just a cleanup. That’s why I don’t see a team trading for him this offseason.

[fallguy]

Once Brad does his end-of-season presser (this week?) we should have a better sense of how he'll attack the offseason. Right now, there's many plausible paths to make the best use of this bridge year.

[Celts17Pride]

Once Brad does his end-of-season presser (this week?) we should have a better sense of how he'll attack the offseason. Right now, there's many plausible paths to make the best use of this bridge year.

Stevens probably has to have a talk with a few players also to get their thoughts and interests.

[165bows]

Once Brad does his end-of-season presser (this week?) we should have a better sense of how he'll attack the offseason. Right now, there's many plausible paths to make the best use of this bridge year.

Stevens probably has to have a talk with a few players also to get their thoughts and interests.

Right this will unfold for a bit Brad loves to wheel at the draft but wouldn’t surprise if it is later in the summer dominos.

Tough one for me is what happens with Horford. Unless Tatum is really back at the end of the season does it make sense to have him back or do they do a s+t with Houston. Hate to even say it but just the new reality here he’s been such a huge piece and tough to replace what he brings.

[Celts17Pride]

Once Brad does his end-of-season presser (this week?) we should have a better sense of how he'll attack the offseason. Right now, there's many plausible paths to make the best use of this bridge year.

Stevens probably has to have a talk with a few players also to get their thoughts and interests.

Right this will unfold for a bit Brad loves to wheel at the draft but wouldn’t surprise if it is later in the summer dominos.

Tough one for me is what happens with Horford. Unless Tatum is really back at the end of the season does it make sense to have him back or do they do a s+t with Houston. Hate to even say it but just the new reality here he’s been such a huge piece and tough to replace what he brings.

Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Big Al ends up in Houston for his final two seasons playing for Udoka or maybe back to OKC

[Stanford]

I must apologize to you guys. Knicks fans are worse. I just didn't know.

[fallguy]

Why are we talking about Al to Houston? What did I miss?

[fallguy]

Once Brad does his end-of-season presser (this week?) we should have a better sense of how he'll attack the offseason. Right now, there's many plausible paths to make the best use of this bridge year.

Stevens probably has to have a talk with a few players also to get their thoughts and interests.

Right this will unfold for a bit Brad loves to wheel at the draft but wouldn’t surprise if it is later in the summer dominos.

Tough one for me is what happens with Horford. Unless Tatum is really back at the end of the season does it make sense to have him back or do they do a s+t with Houston. Hate to even say it but just the new reality here he’s been such a huge piece and tough to replace what he brings.

We will move early to start creating flexibility. That might take multiple moves. Something will happen between the finals and the draft. Maybe multiple things.

[djFan71]

Stevens probably has to have a talk with a few players also to get their thoughts and interests.

Right this will unfold for a bit Brad loves to wheel at the draft but wouldn’t surprise if it is later in the summer dominos.

Tough one for me is what happens with Horford. Unless Tatum is really back at the end of the season does it make sense to have him back or do they do a s+t with Houston. Hate to even say it but just the new reality here he’s been such a huge piece and tough to replace what he brings.

Honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Big Al ends up in Houston for his final two seasons playing for Udoka or maybe back to OKC

Feels like it's entirely up to Al. If he wants back at min or slightly more, even given the reset year, the team absolutely resigns him. Even in a reset year, he's an insanely good vet presence and on-court player. If he says he doesn't want to waste a year and wants to sign elsewhere, we thank him for everything and wish him the best. If an S&T helps, Brad facilitates (as long as it doesn't add $ back).

[165bows]

Why are we talking about Al to Houston? What did I miss?

Just my crappy spit balling.