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

[Celts17Pride]

Porzingis and Hauser are the two most expendible. Jrue is another story. He will be sorely missed and will probably be an effective player after 36, just like Horford.

I don't believe any of the pronouncements coming out of "Celtics insiders" or "league sources." It's lying season.

Holiday looked like he was 42 years old this year. Celtics will be lucky if they find a taker for him this off-season.

[Celts17Pride]

The CBA is what it is. There is a reason why there have been seven different champions in the last 7 years. They wanted to end dynasties and they did.

The reality is that if they keep both Tatum and Brown, the 2026-27 is going to be virtually unrecognizable except for those two. Horford, Jrue, Porzingis, White... all gone. Maybe Pritchard stays, and Scheierman.

Once again you are exaggerating, Holiday is a bench player who should be making $15 million per year (which is why the Celtics will be lucky to move him) and Porzingis never plays. If the Celtics have Tatum, Brown and White (no reason for them not to with the aprons going up every year) they will always be contenders.

Holiday was great during the championship year, THANK YOU!

Paying Holiday and giving him the extension was fine because it helped bring a championship. Holiday is not the same player anymore. Time to move on if the Celtics are lucky.

[chrisab123]

The number to hit for next season is 188m.

If Cs get to 188m then they avoid repeater tax penalty.

You're talking about the 1st apron?

No.

The 1st apron for next season is around 196m.

189m is 22% of the salary cap and will make you a repeater.

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

[Fierce1]

You're talking about the 1st apron?

No.

The 1st apron for next season is around 196m.

189m is 22% of the salary cap and will make you a repeater.

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to explain.

Going under the cap is not what I'm saying, it's avoiding the repeater tax that what the Celtics should do.

The salary cap for next season is around 155m.

For the Celts to avoid repeater tax penalty, the Cs must not exceed 188m in total salaries by the end of the 2025-26 season.

That means the Cs are still a team over the salary cap.

188m - 155m = 33m

Cs have 33m to play with.

KP and Jrue will total 63.1m.

Cs total salary next season is 223.9m.

223.9m - 63.1m = 160.8m

160.8m - 188m = 27.2m

Actual salary Cs can use to complete the roster is 27.2m.

[tfmiii]

Ok here's my pretend trade that will never happen.

I would not be surprised if nothing happens till the trade deadline, but I found this interesting.

https://www.espn.com/nba/trademachine?tradeId=24d4kzmu

Jrue to the Rockets, Jabari Smith and Sheppard to Boston, and Hauser to Dallas.

Three team trade so we can take back 60% of Jrue's contract and Hauser fits into Dallas's trade exception.

This shaves $20 million off the cap immediately. You don't resign Kornet or Al since Al will be 40 in 2 years and, let's face it, Kornet - I love him - but he is a backup center.

You can let KP expire at the end of the year as well as Jabari Smith which represents another $40 million. If either shows any signs of life you could resign them at a lesser amount since by then we'll be 60 million under our current cap situation.

Promote PP to a starter roll. Playing time for Neemias Queta, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, Baylor Scheierman, and the G League MVP Jerdarrian Devontae Davison. Who knows Jordan Walsh may even see time.

Evaluate, reset the cap, and prepare for JT's return.

[Fierce1]

Ok here's my pretend trade that will never happen.

I would not be surprised if nothing happens till the trade deadline, but I found this interesting.

https://www.espn.com/nba/trademachine?tradeId=24d4kzmu

Jrue to the Rockets, Jabari Smith and Sheppard to Boston, and Hauser to Dallas.

Three team trade so we can take back 60% of Jrue's contract and Hauser fits into Dallas's trade exception.

This shaves $20 million off the cap immediately. You don't resign Kornet or Al since Al will be 40 in 2 years and, let's face it, Kornet - I love him - but he is a backup center.

You can let KP expire at the end of the year as well as Jabari Smith which represents another $40 million. If either shows any signs of life you could resign them at a lesser amount since by then we'll be 60 million under our current cap situation.

Promote PP to a starter roll. Playing time for Neemias Queta, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, Baylor Scheierman, and the G League MVP Jerdarrian Devontae Davison. Who knows Jordan Walsh may even see time.

Evaluate, reset the cap, and prepare for JT's return.

Houston is giving up too much.

And Celtic financial issue not resolved.

[chrisab123]

No.

The 1st apron for next season is around 196m.

189m is 22% of the salary cap and will make you a repeater.

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to explain.

Going under the cap is not what I'm saying, it's avoiding the repeater tax that what the Celtics should do.

The salary cap for next season is around 155m.

For the Celts to avoid repeater tax penalty, the Cs must not exceed 188m in total salaries by the end of the 2025-26 season.

That means the Cs are still a team over the salary cap.

188m - 155m = 33m

Cs have 33m to play with.

KP and Jrue will total 63.1m.

Cs total salary next season is 223.9m.

223.9m - 63.1m = 160.8m

160.8m - 188m = 27.2m

Actual salary Cs can use to complete the roster is 27.2m.

No I understand it fine. It’s just not realistic.

[Fierce1]

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to explain.

Going under the cap is not what I'm saying, it's avoiding the repeater tax that what the Celtics should do.

The salary cap for next season is around 155m.

For the Celts to avoid repeater tax penalty, the Cs must not exceed 188m in total salaries by the end of the 2025-26 season.

That means the Cs are still a team over the salary cap.

188m - 155m = 33m

Cs have 33m to play with.

KP and Jrue will total 63.1m.

Cs total salary next season is 223.9m.

223.9m - 63.1m = 160.8m

160.8m - 188m = 27.2m

Actual salary Cs can use to complete the roster is 27.2m.

No I understand it fine. It’s just not realistic.

How come?

If the Cs can get Gafford for Jrue, is a JT, JB, White, PP, and Gafford not good enough as a starting 5?

[Fierce1]

The Celtics can even hold on to KP then trade him at the trade deadline.

What's important is the final tally of the salaries at the end of the 2025-26 season.

So Brad does not have to move multiple players this off-season.

[winsomme2]

The Celtics can even hold on to KP then trade him at the trade deadline.

What's important is the final tally of the salaries at the end of the 2025-26 season.

So Brad does not have to move multiple players this off-season.

I've been wondering about this. If we can keep KP and hopefully show that he's healthy, it makes way more sense than selling low on him now.

Plus, since the EC is so weak I wouldn't be surprised if Tatum pushes hard to make a playoff run next year. It would be super risky, but I could definitely see it happening depending on how much Brad dismantles this roster.

This is where Brad could really set himself in the upper echelon of career GMs. There are so many ways for this to play out and still keep this team elite.

Personally, I hope he is seriously considering "style of play" in how he makes his moves. This team needs to evolve to a more balanced attack on offense, but I'm worried that he's still determined to play Mazzula-ball.

[Fierce1]

There's one scenario where the Cs get an instant upgrade but still a 1st apron team.

Jrue and KP for Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton.

It would be 2 separate trades.

Claxton
JT
Cam Johnson
JB
White

That's one big starting 5.

[165bows]

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to explain.

Going under the cap is not what I'm saying, it's avoiding the repeater tax that what the Celtics should do.

The salary cap for next season is around 155m.

For the Celts to avoid repeater tax penalty, the Cs must not exceed 188m in total salaries by the end of the 2025-26 season.

That means the Cs are still a team over the salary cap.

188m - 155m = 33m

Cs have 33m to play with.

KP and Jrue will total 63.1m.

Cs total salary next season is 223.9m.

223.9m - 63.1m = 160.8m

160.8m - 188m = 27.2m

Actual salary Cs can use to complete the roster is 27.2m.

No I understand it fine. It’s just not realistic.

Actually wondered about this same thing - what if they don’t get under the tax just get it low enough that it’s not that relevant.

Seems like the big drawback is it’s harder to have a big escalation later but I guess it’s just pick your poison.

[brackdan70]

You're talking about the 1st apron?

No.

The 1st apron for next season is around 196m.

189m is 22% of the salary cap and will make you a repeater.

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

My guess is they aren’t worried about ducking the tax in 25/26. Mainly because it’s not realistic. I am sure they want to reduce it and get out of those higher tiers. Getting under the tax for 2026/27 is realistic and I would guess that’s the goal .

[celtxman]

The CBA is what it is. There is a reason why there have been seven different champions in the last 7 years. They wanted to end dynasties and they did.

The reality is that if they keep both Tatum and Brown, the 2026-27 is going to be virtually unrecognizable except for those two. Horford, Jrue, Porzingis, White... all gone. Maybe Pritchard stays, and Scheierman.

A couple of thoughts. Parity was already working before this CBA took affect. The NBA killed an ant with a grenade and in doing this blew up a lot of great management work in its path. The CBA is what it is and it has to be be dealt with and win or lose you can't keep the gang together.
I'm missing why White is gone. The Celtics philosophy reported is keeping Brown, White, and Tatum. Obviously you dislike Brown. I'm already on record as somebody who would consider trading Brown for an up and coming star making less. But I certainly think there is a path to being a real contender again with keeping Brown,White and Tatum, that I've outlined.. It's just probably not going to come together next season.

[celticgreenie]

I would prefer to avoid any Klutch clients in trades like Gafford and DJJ if possible. They can sometimes be a headache to deal with behind the scenes.

[Fierce1]

No.

The 1st apron for next season is around 196m.

189m is 22% of the salary cap and will make you a repeater.

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

My guess is they aren’t worried about ducking the tax in 25/26. Mainly because it’s not realistic. I am sure they want to reduce it and get out of those higher tiers. Getting under the tax for 2026/27 is realistic and I would guess that’s the goal .

Just by trading KP and Jrue, the Cs would be able to duck the tax.

So I don't understand why it's not realistic.

[brackdan70]

What if ownership doesn’t care about being a repeater?

Getting under the 2nd apron won’t be an issue. But you want to actually get under the salary cap then yeah you have to trade White or Brown. But again just because you keep repeating that there is no other way this offseason can go other than choosing between the two doesn’t mean that the Celtics will actually do that.

If Tatum will truly be ready to go by say March there is zero reason to dip under the actual salary cap. That’s not realistic.

My guess is they aren’t worried about ducking the tax in 25/26. Mainly because it’s not realistic. I am sure they want to reduce it and get out of those higher tiers. Getting under the tax for 2026/27 is realistic and I would guess that’s the goal .

Just by trading KP and Jrue, the Cs would be able to duck the tax.

So I don't understand why it's not realistic.

Trading them both for very little returning Salary is not realistic. It’s mathematically possible sure, but not realistic. I don’t see Brad attaching the necessary assets to do it all this year, I don’t see ownership directing Brad to make panic moves.

[Fierce1]

My guess is they aren’t worried about ducking the tax in 25/26. Mainly because it’s not realistic. I am sure they want to reduce it and get out of those higher tiers. Getting under the tax for 2026/27 is realistic and I would guess that’s the goal .

Just by trading KP and Jrue, the Cs would be able to duck the tax.

So I don't understand why it's not realistic.

Trading them both for very little returning Salary is not realistic. It’s mathematically possible sure, but not realistic. I don’t see Brad attaching the necessary assets to do it all this year, I don’t see ownership directing Brad to make panic moves.

Some of you guys are undervaluing Jrue and KP.

Jrue will be able to help young teams that are on the verge of becoming legit playoff teams.

KP has an expiring contract that might interest the Nets if the Nets want out of Claxton's 3 years remaining worth 69m.

Brad does not need to attach assets to get rid of Jrue and KP because both of them have trade value.

[brackdan70]

Just by trading KP and Jrue, the Cs would be able to duck the tax.

So I don't understand why it's not realistic.

Trading them both for very little returning Salary is not realistic. It’s mathematically possible sure, but not realistic. I don’t see Brad attaching the necessary assets to do it all this year, I don’t see ownership directing Brad to make panic moves.

Some of you guys are undervaluing Jrue and KP.

Jrue will be able to help young teams that are on the verge of becoming legit playoff teams.

KP has an expiring contract that might interest the Nets if the Nets want out of Claxton's 3 years remaining worth 69m.

Brad does not need to attach assets to get rid of Jrue and KP because both of them have trade value.

In specific situations yes I agree yes they both have value or at least not negative value. However dumping all of the salary requires a handful of specific scenarios.
We can come up with Scenarios that work. But there is very little cap space out there aside from the Nets, and they are going to look for the very best situations.

[Curmudgeon]

Porzingis and Hauser are the two most expendible. Jrue is another story. He will be sorely missed and will probably be an effective player after 36, just like Horford.

I don't believe any of the pronouncements coming out of "Celtics insiders" or "league sources." It's lying season.

Holiday looked like he was 42 years old this year. Celtics will be lucky if they find a taker for him this off-season.

Horford looked 42 when he was in Philadelphia. Jrue just needs a Summer in the Bahamas instead of playing in the Olympics.