Free Agent, Trade, Buyout, Extension & Conversion Thread, 2025 con't

[Hal14]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..between jrue/KP,white, the most likely to be moved is KP..least likely is white.

[ddb]

If Jrue ends up getting traded this summer my prediction is that it'll be to the Clippers. The formula is all there. Team that doesn't care about spending, veteran group that is desperate to win now, has role players/contracts to flip in a deal, Jrue is from LA, and the Clippers were in on Jrue prior to Boston acquiring him 2 summers ago.
Something along the lines of Jrue to LAC for Jones Jr/Bogdanovic/#30. Couple veteran wing role players that can help in Tatum's absence, plus an additional pick. Boston would then have #28/30/32 in the draft giving them ammunition to move up, down, or make a subsequent trade.

Clippers are a definite partner.

I could see Hauser/Tillman into their TPEs for #30/#51 in this year's draft. Starts the cost savings for almost $10M next year.

Maybe Jrue but how does LAC add that salary gets a lot more complicated.

The trade I proposed above works in the trade machine

[Shak_Celts]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..

So, JB is getting traded is what I’m seeing? I’m taking the opposite approach on all things this offseason because it’s such a big one. Fireworks and JB being traded, seem likely to me. I know you don’t think of fireworks because Tatum is out so long, but this is the season of expecting the unexpected.

[Gant]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..

Great article! A few key bits:

Even though NBA fans love to stir the pot by creating their own trade proposals and ideas, neither Tatum nor Brown are on their way out of Boston entering the summer, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints.

For starters, this isn't going to be a full-blown garage sale. Teams won't be able to approach Stevens and the Celtics like a “pawn shop with discounted items,” as one Western Conference executive joked. Boston still has one of the best rosters in the entire league, healthy or not, which is why there is value to be had in any potential trade scenarios they consider.

Celtics won't enter complete rebuild

Al Horford and Luke Kornet will both be unrestricted free agents this summer, and both players hold high interest in returning to Boston, sources said.

Out of all the players on the Celtics' roster, they could likely get the most in return for White on the trade block this summer.
Already, White has been no stranger to trade rumors beginning to manifest during the NBA Playoffs. Several teams around the league would be thrilled to pursue White in trade talks, yet league sources are insistent the Celtics have given zero indications that parting ways with Derrick White this summer is a possibility.

Between Porzingis, Holiday, and White, the Latvian big man is viewed as the most likely of the three complementary stars to be traded this offseason, sources said. Since he is in the final year of his contract, the Celtics wouldn't' necessarily need to attach extra assets in a package to unload Porzingis' contract. Not to mention, there are a few teams in the Western Conference who would explore the possibility of pursuing the Celtics center.

Jrue Holiday is a veteran player the Sacramento Kings have interest in, sources said.

[Gant]

‪Lev Akabas‬

With their current roster, the Boston Celtics are due for a payroll + luxury tax bill of nearly $500 million next season



https://bsky.app/profile/levakabas.bsky.social/post/3lpu5cnffsk2f

[Curmudgeon]

This isn't a "scoop." It's just another article from a sports journalist. If you read the article he never claims to have any inside information.

[Memokerobi]

More I think about it more I think there’s a good chance we keep Porzingis going into the season. We are very thin at the 5 with Al and Korner out of contracts. He’s our 3rd best scorer and closer to 2 than he is to 4 when healthy. He is at his lowest value due to questions about his health. If indeed its an illness he can recover from with rest, it makes sense to begin a Tatum-less season with him. He would easily average 20+ and would have way more value at the deadline as an expiring contract for a contender looking for a big. Or you can keep and extend him.

Jrue and Sam trades to get under the second apron seem way more likely the more I think

[165bows]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..

Great article! A few key bits:

Even though NBA fans love to stir the pot by creating their own trade proposals and ideas, neither Tatum nor Brown are on their way out of Boston entering the summer, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints.

For starters, this isn't going to be a full-blown garage sale. Teams won't be able to approach Stevens and the Celtics like a “pawn shop with discounted items,” as one Western Conference executive joked. Boston still has one of the best rosters in the entire league, healthy or not, which is why there is value to be had in any potential trade scenarios they consider.

Celtics won't enter complete rebuild

Al Horford and Luke Kornet will both be unrestricted free agents this summer, and both players hold high interest in returning to Boston, sources said.

Out of all the players on the Celtics' roster, they could likely get the most in return for White on the trade block this summer.
Already, White has been no stranger to trade rumors beginning to manifest during the NBA Playoffs. Several teams around the league would be thrilled to pursue White in trade talks, yet league sources are insistent the Celtics have given zero indications that parting ways with Derrick White this summer is a possibility.

Between Porzingis, Holiday, and White, the Latvian big man is viewed as the most likely of the three complementary stars to be traded this offseason, sources said. Since he is in the final year of his contract, the Celtics wouldn't' necessarily need to attach extra assets in a package to unload Porzingis' contract. Not to mention, there are a few teams in the Western Conference who would explore the possibility of pursuing the Celtics center.

Jrue Holiday is a veteran player the Sacramento Kings have interest in, sources said.

Weird bit about Pritchard in there too that stuck out to me

[GoCeltics123]

Jrue to the Kings still the most likely spot imo

[Hal14]

Jrue to the Kings still the most likely spot imo

Yeah, I could see it. They are trying to win, not rebuild..they desperately need a PG..and with Sabonis and Derozan, they really need a guy who can shoot from deep.

Makes a lot of sense.

Wouldn't hate it if we could manage to scoop up Devin Carter in the deal..I would think either Carter or Ellis would be on the move..

[hugepatsfan]

Jayson Tatum $54,126,450
Jaylen Brown $53,142,264
Jrue Holiday $32,400,000
Kristaps Porzingis $30,731,707
Derrick White $28,100,000
Sam Hauser $10,044,643
Payton Pritchard $7,232,143
#28 pick $2,817,600
Baylor Scheierman $2,619,000
Xavier Tillman $2,546,675
Neemias Queta $2,349,678
J.D. Davison $2,270,735
Jordan Walsh $2,221,677
#32 pick $1,272,869

That's our current roster, including projections for #28 and #32 pick contracts.

Salary = $231,875,441
Above the tax by $43,878,441
Above the 2nd apron by $24,050,441


IMO, the goal this offseason should be to send Jrue/Porzingis/Hauser out ($73,176,350 total) and end up taking back $29,197,909. That gets you below the tax. Included in that $29,197,909 has to be any vet min deals you sign. Hauser into a TPE/MLE somewhere is so easily doable that I think you can even simplify it to the "hard part" of KP/Jrue out ($63,131,707 total) and $29,197,909 in.

You can open up a little more room by being creative. Trade #28 for an early 2nd so you can pay him $1,272,869 instead of that $2.8M salary. Waive Davison at $2.27M and sign Peterson to his minimum of $2.05M instead for one of those spots. Maybe waive Jordan Walsh and replace him with a minimum salary rookie. Midseason you dump Tillman somewhere and replace him with a pro rated minimum salary so you only end up taxed on like half the number.

I think that's gotta be the goal though. Forget all the on court impact. It's just gotta be a cap sheet kind of offseason. Is what it is.

[165bows]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..between jrue/KP,white, the most likely to be moved is KP..least likely is white.

At this time, there aren't any indications that Payton Pritchard, the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, will be moved in the offseason. Not long ago, Pritchard wanted out of Boston to find a solidified role elsewhere since he wasn't getting minutes. That narrative is no more, as Pritchard proved to be one of the most important offensive weapons for the Celtics this season outside of their All-Stars.

If he were to be moved, sources say Pritchard would be included in a larger, unexpected move Stevens could pull off in the summer. The Celtics do not view him as a player who can be utilized in a salary dump

Wtf does that refer to

[Gant]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..between jrue/KP,white, the most likely to be moved is KP..least likely is white.

At this time, there aren't any indications that Payton Pritchard, the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, will be moved in the offseason. Not long ago, Pritchard wanted out of Boston to find a solidified role elsewhere since he wasn't getting minutes. That narrative is no more, as Pritchard proved to be one of the most important offensive weapons for the Celtics this season outside of their All-Stars.

If he were to be moved, sources say Pritchard would be included in a larger, unexpected move Stevens could pull off in the summer. The Celtics do not view him as a player who can be utilized in a salary dump

Wtf does that refer to

Something big and opportunistic like this (from the article):

The Suns' situation is much more complicated since they are a second-apron team with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Is there a potential path for the Celtics to create a package that involves Porzingis to make a run at Durant this summer? That is one of the instances where Stevens would need to consider the futures of White, Pritchard, and other assets that won't immediately be put on the trade block.

[hugepatsfan]

Trade #1 - The TL;DR for us is Jrue for Klay from DAL and JVal from SAC.

Spoiler:

BOS gives: Jrue
BOS gets: Klay, JVal

Why? Save $5.3M in salary on the face of it, $7.5M when you factor in the roster spot they fill. JVal is essentially an expiring contract and fits into several exceptions around the league so BOS can make follow up cost cutting moves with him and they can probably look to deal Klay's money down by taking a more useless player on the court. But that's for follow ups, this is just one trade in an offseason that probably includes many.

SAC gives: DDR, JVal
SAC gets: Jrue, Martin (MLE or TPE)

Why? With LaVine and Sabonis they already have two offense first stars. This gets them a versatile defensive forward and still one of the elite guard defenders. Their roster gets by without a PG because Sabonis is point-center, but Jrue gives them someone to help out. He's defensively versatile enough to guard wings so they can run 3 guard lineups with combos of Jrue/Lavine/Monk/Ellis. They take on some money here but tax situation still very solid and they're not good enough to make improvements via trading away their picks so if they want to keep pushing for the play in then this is how you upgrade without doing so.

DAL gives: Klay, Martin
DAL gets: DDR

Why? Number of players on Dallas roster right now who can create their own shot reliably on the perimeter with Kyrie out? 0. After this? 1. It ain't the deal to solve everything but it's a deal to address something.

Trade #2: The TL;DR is Porzingis for Jevon Carter and Jalen Smith of the Bulls

Spoiler:

BOS gives: Porzinigis
BOS gets: Jevon Carter, Jalen Smith

Why? Straight salary dump. It is what it is. Smith at least worth a look on the team that will need minutes filled at the 5.

CHI gives: Jevon Carter, Jalen Smith, Ayo Dosunmu
CHI gets: Porzingis, MIL 2nds

Why? Clear some backcourt log jam and make an upside play in the front court while clearing some salary next year and getting 2nds.

MIL gives: 2nds
MIL gets: Ayo Dosunmu (taken into MLE)

Why? Try to appease Giannis by getting a decent young player with their MLE vs. an old retread. They really need some backcourt scoring help and Ayo can provide some.

Salary dump Sam Hauser and JVal into TPEs somewhere. I imagine can be done for free, maybe even returning some 2nds to us. Also need to dump Jevon Carter somewhere, which will probably cost a future 2nd or two. But end result would be that we're $3,531,242 below the luxury tax with one spot left to fill. Ideally uou can convince Kornet to come back. Try to get cute with the math (trade #28 for an early 2nd so the contract is cheaper, waive JD Davison and save a couple hundred thousand by signing Peterson instead). Get up to about $5M to offer him for the last spot and guarantee multiple years.

White / Pritchard
Klay / Scheierman
Brown / Walsh
Jalen Smith / Peterson
Kornet / Queta / Tillman

+ #28 (or early 2nd traded for), #32 and Tatum on the injured list

[165bows]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..between jrue/KP,white, the most likely to be moved is KP..least likely is white.

At this time, there aren't any indications that Payton Pritchard, the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, will be moved in the offseason. Not long ago, Pritchard wanted out of Boston to find a solidified role elsewhere since he wasn't getting minutes. That narrative is no more, as Pritchard proved to be one of the most important offensive weapons for the Celtics this season outside of their All-Stars.

If he were to be moved, sources say Pritchard would be included in a larger, unexpected move Stevens could pull off in the summer. The Celtics do not view him as a player who can be utilized in a salary dump

Wtf does that refer to

Something big and opportunistic like this (from the article):

The Suns' situation is much more complicated since they are a second-apron team with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Is there a potential path for the Celtics to create a package that involves Porzingis to make a run at Durant this summer? That is one of the instances where Stevens would need to consider the futures of White, Pritchard, and other assets that won't immediately be put on the trade block.

Hmm guess I missed the end of it - I had put a KP/Holiday/Hauser for Durant idea out there at one point. I like that idea a lot more with PP still on the team but he’d need to go out to get within spitting distance of the apron.

Also the bench would literally be the Miane team of the last couple seasons.

[Celts17Pride]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/celtics-offseason-trade-intel-after-jayson-tatum-injury-siegels-scoop

TL/DR Tatum and Brown aren't going anywhere. Pritchard likely staying too. Luke may walk in free agency for more $. Horford will be resigned. KP, Jrue, Hauser, White could be on the trade block..between jrue/KP,white, the most likely to be moved is KP..least likely is white.

At this time, there aren't any indications that Payton Pritchard, the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, will be moved in the offseason. Not long ago, Pritchard wanted out of Boston to find a solidified role elsewhere since he wasn't getting minutes. That narrative is no more, as Pritchard proved to be one of the most important offensive weapons for the Celtics this season outside of their All-Stars.

If he were to be moved, sources say Pritchard would be included in a larger, unexpected move Stevens could pull off in the summer. The Celtics do not view him as a player who can be utilized in a salary dump

Wtf does that refer to

Something big and opportunistic like this (from the article):

The Suns' situation is much more complicated since they are a second-apron team with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Is there a potential path for the Celtics to create a package that involves Porzingis to make a run at Durant this summer? That is one of the instances where Stevens would need to consider the futures of White, Pritchard, and other assets that won't immediately be put on the trade block.

I've mention Durant before. A stop gap until JT comes back. Would be hard to do.

[djFan71]

Wtf does that refer to

Something big and opportunistic like this (from the article):

The Suns' situation is much more complicated since they are a second-apron team with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Is there a potential path for the Celtics to create a package that involves Porzingis to make a run at Durant this summer? That is one of the instances where Stevens would need to consider the futures of White, Pritchard, and other assets that won't immediately be put on the trade block.

I've mention Durant before. A stop gap until JT comes back. Would be hard to do.

Feels pointless. And I love KD, but screw him and coming here. He had his chances. Multiple. Plus, he wouldn’t want to without JT. Just not worth it from all sides.

[Bill Lumbergh]

To me, Dallas and LAC seem like the most logical landing spots for Jrue, but per usual, I know nothing.

[ConstableGeneva]

All Stevens and Zarren have to do is read through the Cs RGM threads and they'll for sure come up with a workable idea. Lots of options on here, good and bad.

[165bows]

Something big and opportunistic like this (from the article):

I've mention Durant before. A stop gap until JT comes back. Would be hard to do.

Feels pointless. And I love KD, but screw him and coming here. He had his chances. Multiple. Plus, he wouldn’t want to without JT. Just not worth it from all sides.

They’d have to feel like JT would be back in that actual 9 month timeline.

The other part imo is they’d really have to feel like they could develop their young players into legitimate rotation pieces over a couple of years since they’d have to cut salary in subsequent years. They’d get some real playing time though lol

Edit: the thing that makes sense about imo is it’s a big enough move maybe they get Horford and Kornet back on minimum deals. If they don’t go for it next year seems much more likely those two guys leave or want more money in which case the team is back to starting from scratch in the front court.