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

[Deivork]

Very complicated situation indeed. One thing is sure, Brad won't go for a tank.

I'm open to trading anybody but White, like others have said. You keep Derrick White with that salary.

It will be interesting to see what road Brad takes. I'm of the opinion that there is not one single right way to go and that he may just roll the dice with what the market offers this summer. A great deal comes, you take it. If it doesn't, small tweaks instead.

Trading-Brad may have spoiled us, if it wasn't for still having Joe Mazzulla around I'd say I have blind faith in him.

Go Brad, go Cs.

[winsomme2]

Tatum is coming back in March, if the Cs are a playoff team.

Report says JT will be out for 8-9 months.

That's around February.

After the shock of Tatum's injury started to wear off, I'm now agreeing with this timeline. Especially if Brad is able to make some savvy moves to satisfy the tax situation while actually giving the roster some new dimensions.

If this team remains exciting, I could see Tatum not wanting to give away a whole season in his prime.

It really is largely on Brad at this point and there are a lot of ways for him to go. It's going to be a fascinating off season for the NBA.

[Fierce1]

Tatum is coming back in March, if the Cs are a playoff team.

Report says JT will be out for 8-9 months.

That's around February.

After the shock of Tatum's injury started to wear off, I'm now agreeing with this timeline. Especially if Brad is able to make some savvy moves to satisfy the tax situation while actually giving the roster some new dimensions.

If this team remains exciting, I could see Tatum not wanting to give away a whole season in his prime.

It really is largely on Brad at this point and there are a lot of ways for him to go. It's going to be a fascinating off season for the NBA.

So true.

This will be all Brad and that's not a bad thing.

[winsomme2]

Tatum is coming back in March, if the Cs are a playoff team.

Report says JT will be out for 8-9 months.

That's around February.

After the shock of Tatum's injury started to wear off, I'm now agreeing with this timeline. Especially if Brad is able to make some savvy moves to satisfy the tax situation while actually giving the roster some new dimensions.

If this team remains exciting, I could see Tatum not wanting to give away a whole season in his prime.

It really is largely on Brad at this point and there are a lot of ways for him to go. It's going to be a fascinating off season for the NBA.

So true.

This will be all Brad and that's not a bad thing.

I hope Brad is super competitive because right now Presti is tbh getting the better of him. I'm rooting for the Pacers for this very reason but Presti does have OKC on a path to being a championship contender for a long window.

SGA was his Tatum and Hartenstein and Caruso are his Jrue and Big Al...KP is I guess Holmgren...Idk it's not a perfect comparison. But they both have assembled pieces that add up to winning bball.

Presti has done it with a younger core (SGA/Williams vs the Js) and he has been so good at bringing in these dynamic wings. This is part of the reason I obsess over the draft. I KNOW these guys are there even with our low picks. It's just a matter of identifying them.

If Brad can put together a team that beats OKC for a FInals win in the next couple of years, it would be pretty sweet. I guess it's another reason I'm hoping for Tatum to have a quicker than expected recovery because that could be the Finals next year...

C'mon Brad!!

[NotAKnicksFan]

Tatum will definitely be back next year

When klay had hid achilles it was in late November, easy to miss year

KD, it happened in late june/surgery etc , full tear and was also a bit older than tatum , he went to sign with bk who were bad and was a throwaway year no need to comeback

With advancements and him getting surgery mid may, expect him back right around allstar break…

[Fierce1]

Just read on REALGM that Giannis and Toronto have mutual interest.

Maybe it will really be a wild off-season.

[winsomme2]

Just read on REALGM that Giannis and Toronto have mutual interest.

Maybe it will really be a wild off-season.

I'm kinda hoping that there are enough big moves that it gives Brad an opening for sneakily making a move similar to how he got Jrue.

Sometimes the big moves create unexpected fallout.

[hugepatsfan]

I don't think Brad's inclination is to "tank" but I can't imagine any conceivable scenario where we don't at least duck the 2nd apron (need to shed $24M). And there's serious long term benefit to getting all the way below the tax line (need to shed $44M). And Tatum already being out for the year or most of it means it's in the best interests of the team to be cautious with Brown's knee even more so than that was in their best interest if Tatum was healthy. And on Tatum, whatever timeline people want to hope for it's really for the better of the franchise to be cautious over aggressive on that.

You just add it all together and follow the flow chart and I just don't think this offseason is going to be about getting better now. I think it will be about getting better in the future via getting their cap sheet in a healthy long term place and preserving their future assets. And by "future" I mean short term future, not 5 years out from now. That goal will naturally lend itself to a step back on the court because it's tough to shed money and get better players while preserving your assets.

[Celts17Pride]

I don't think Brad's inclination is to "tank" but I can't imagine any conceivable scenario where we don't at least duck the 2nd apron (need to shed $24M). And there's serious long term benefit to getting all the way below the tax line (need to shed $44M). And Tatum already being out for the year or most of it means it's in the best interests of the team to be cautious with Brown's knee even more so than that was in their best interest if Tatum was healthy. And on Tatum, whatever timeline people want to hope for it's really for the better of the franchise to be cautious over aggressive on that.

You just add it all together and follow the flow chart and I just don't think this offseason is going to be about getting better now. I think it will be about getting better in the future via getting their cap sheet in a healthy long term place and preserving their future assets. And by "future" I mean short term future, not 5 years out from now. That goal will naturally lend itself to a step back on the court because it's tough to shed money and get better players while preserving your assets.

I not certain that the Celtics goal is to get below the 2nd apron this year when it's almost certain they will be below in 2026/2027. I'm expecting Holiday, Hauser being moved for expiring contracts. Porzingis is 50/50 because he expires after 1 year. Celtics may wait until the trade deadline to move KP. Going to be extremely hard for the Celtics to get below the 2nd apron, it's probably a two year plan. Teams are not out there to help the Boston Celtics.

[hugepatsfan]

I don't think Brad's inclination is to "tank" but I can't imagine any conceivable scenario where we don't at least duck the 2nd apron (need to shed $24M). And there's serious long term benefit to getting all the way below the tax line (need to shed $44M). And Tatum already being out for the year or most of it means it's in the best interests of the team to be cautious with Brown's knee even more so than that was in their best interest if Tatum was healthy. And on Tatum, whatever timeline people want to hope for it's really for the better of the franchise to be cautious over aggressive on that.

You just add it all together and follow the flow chart and I just don't think this offseason is going to be about getting better now. I think it will be about getting better in the future via getting their cap sheet in a healthy long term place and preserving their future assets. And by "future" I mean short term future, not 5 years out from now. That goal will naturally lend itself to a step back on the court because it's tough to shed money and get better players while preserving your assets.

I not certain that the Celtics goal is to get below the 2nd apron this year when it's almost certain they will be below in 2026/2027. I'm expecting Holiday, Hauser being moved for expiring contracts. Porzingis is 50/50 because he expires after 1 year. Celtics may wait until the trade deadline to move KP. Going to be extremely hard for the Celtics to get below the 2nd apron, it's probably a two year plan. Teams are not out there to help the Boston Celtics.

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

[Celts17Pride]

I don't think Brad's inclination is to "tank" but I can't imagine any conceivable scenario where we don't at least duck the 2nd apron (need to shed $24M). And there's serious long term benefit to getting all the way below the tax line (need to shed $44M). And Tatum already being out for the year or most of it means it's in the best interests of the team to be cautious with Brown's knee even more so than that was in their best interest if Tatum was healthy. And on Tatum, whatever timeline people want to hope for it's really for the better of the franchise to be cautious over aggressive on that.

You just add it all together and follow the flow chart and I just don't think this offseason is going to be about getting better now. I think it will be about getting better in the future via getting their cap sheet in a healthy long term place and preserving their future assets. And by "future" I mean short term future, not 5 years out from now. That goal will naturally lend itself to a step back on the court because it's tough to shed money and get better players while preserving your assets.

I not certain that the Celtics goal is to get below the 2nd apron this year when it's almost certain they will be below in 2026/2027. I'm expecting Holiday, Hauser being moved for expiring contracts. Porzingis is 50/50 because he expires after 1 year. Celtics may wait until the trade deadline to move KP. Going to be extremely hard for the Celtics to get below the 2nd apron, it's probably a two year plan. Teams are not out there to help the Boston Celtics.

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

The only team that has cap space is Brooklyn and everyone is trying to rent their cap space. It won't easy and it will be very costly. Nobody is taking Holiday or Porzingis into cap space. It's a pipe dream. Celtics need to move $23 million when you include this year's draft picks and even more if you bring back Horford and/or Kornet.

[Fierce1]

I not certain that the Celtics goal is to get below the 2nd apron this year when it's almost certain they will be below in 2026/2027. I'm expecting Holiday, Hauser being moved for expiring contracts. Porzingis is 50/50 because he expires after 1 year. Celtics may wait until the trade deadline to move KP. Going to be extremely hard for the Celtics to get below the 2nd apron, it's probably a two year plan. Teams are not out there to help the Boston Celtics.

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

The only team that has cap space is Brooklyn and everyone is trying to rent their cap space. It won't easy and it will be very costly. Nobody is taking Holiday or Porzingis into cap space. It's a pipe dream. Celtics need to move $23 million when you include this year's draft picks and even more if you bring back Horford/Kornet.

The solution is a multiple team trade.

It's been done at the trade deadline.

This is where Brad's creativity will be tested.

[Celts17Pride]

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

The only team that has cap space is Brooklyn and everyone is trying to rent their cap space. It won't easy and it will be very costly. Nobody is taking Holiday or Porzingis into cap space. It's a pipe dream. Celtics need to move $23 million when you include this year's draft picks and even more if you bring back Horford/Kornet.

The solution is a multiple team trade.

It's been done at the trade deadline.

This is where Brad's creativity will be tested.

I'm sure the Celtics would love to get below the 2nd apron this year, all I'm saying is it won't be easy because teams are not out there to help get the Celtics out of a financial crisis. They are all going to want a pound of flesh and given the fact that the Celtics are almost certain to be below the 2nd apron in 2026/2027, is it worth giving up future draft picks to be below the 2nd apron in 2025/2026?

[winsomme2]

I not certain that the Celtics goal is to get below the 2nd apron this year when it's almost certain they will be below in 2026/2027. I'm expecting Holiday, Hauser being moved for expiring contracts. Porzingis is 50/50 because he expires after 1 year. Celtics may wait until the trade deadline to move KP. Going to be extremely hard for the Celtics to get below the 2nd apron, it's probably a two year plan. Teams are not out there to help the Boston Celtics.

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

The only team that has cap space is Brooklyn and everyone is trying to rent their cap space. It won't easy and it will be very costly. Nobody is taking Holiday or Porzingis into cap space. It's a pipe dream. Celtics need to move $23 million when you include this year's draft picks and even more if you bring back Horford and/or Kornet.

KP is the x factor for me. As much has he hasn't been there for us in the playoffs the past two seasons, he could bounce back next season because he is still relatively young and has an appealing skillset.

This post viral syndrome could keep limiting him or he could be fine. There really is no way to know. If he is fine, his contract instantly becomes way more valuable or he just becomes way more valuable to us. Who knows? He's literally just one big wild card...

If he is fine and plays well early next season. It could actually go a long way to the Cs being a top 4 team in the EC through the early part of the season.

I can't think of another GM move that has been simultaneously so RIGHT and so WRONG at the exact same time...

When KP was playing well, we were so hard to matchup against, but when we have need really needed him, he has not been there for pretty crazy reasons...

[hugepatsfan]

I not certain that the Celtics goal is to get below the 2nd apron this year when it's almost certain they will be below in 2026/2027. I'm expecting Holiday, Hauser being moved for expiring contracts. Porzingis is 50/50 because he expires after 1 year. Celtics may wait until the trade deadline to move KP. Going to be extremely hard for the Celtics to get below the 2nd apron, it's probably a two year plan. Teams are not out there to help the Boston Celtics.

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

The only team that has cap space is Brooklyn and everyone is trying to rent their cap space. It won't easy and it will be very costly. Nobody is taking Holiday or Porzingis into cap space. It's a pipe dream. Celtics need to move $23 million when you include this year's draft picks and even more if you bring back Horford and/or Kornet.

Not all salary saving deals get done that way. An outright dump is actually pretty rare. Teams need to "match" salaries in trades but not dollar for dollar. You leverage that through a series of deals. I really don't think it'd be very difficult at all to execute a series of trade that sheds $24M with Hauser/Jrue/Porzingis.

[Fierce1]

One example is Jrue to the Clips for Bogdanovic and DJJ.

That's trading 32m for 26m.

You can then trade DJJ or Bogdanovic to further trim the payroll.

It doesn't have to be all in on Brooklyn.

[WeLikeOurGuys]

The more I think about it, the more I'm on Team "blow it up"—if Tatum is really going to miss almost the whole year and if someone offers a godfather package for Jaylen Brown, like the Spurs.

If you're able to get the 2nd pick—which is a big if and probably not that feasible—then I’d pull the trigger. Trade Brown, bring in Dylan Harper, let Tatum sit out for most of the year, get a very high draft pick, and head into the 2026–27 offseason with flexibility and a new core built around Tatum and Harper.

Then, you can either trade that top pick for another star or just draft another young piece to add to the Tatum/Harper core.

Of course, all of this hinges on the Spurs actually being willing to give you the 2nd pick for Brown.

[Celts17Pride]

Getting under the 2nd apron will be very easy IMO. You just have to be willing to take the on court tradeoff. Getting under the tax altogether is going to be extremely difficult, but the 2nd apron should be pretty easy because we're dealing good players, not slop.

The only team that has cap space is Brooklyn and everyone is trying to rent their cap space. It won't easy and it will be very costly. Nobody is taking Holiday or Porzingis into cap space. It's a pipe dream. Celtics need to move $23 million when you include this year's draft picks and even more if you bring back Horford and/or Kornet.

KP is the x factor for me. As much has he hasn't been there for us in the playoffs the past two seasons, he could bounce back next season because he is still relatively young and has an appealing skillset.

This post viral syndrome could keep limiting him or he could be fine. There really is no way to know. If he is fine, his contract instantly becomes way more valuable or he just becomes way more valuable to us. Who knows? He's literally just one big wild card...

If he is fine and plays well early next season. It could actually go a long way to the Cs being a top 4 team in the EC through the early part of the season.

Teams are not going to offer much for Porzingis until he proves he can play (maybe this summer for Latvia) otherwise the only teams that would be interested in him are teams that want a expiring contract to move long term money. In the 2nd case, the Celtics are better off keeping him.

[Fierce1]

The more I think about it, the more I'm on Team "blow it up"—if Tatum is really going to miss almost the whole year and if someone offers a godfather package for Jaylen Brown, like the Spurs.

If you're able to get the 2nd pick—which is a big if and probably not that feasible—then I’d pull the trigger. Trade Brown, bring in Dylan Harper, let Tatum sit out for most of the year, get a very high draft pick, and head into the 2026–27 offseason with flexibility and a new core built around Tatum and Harper.

Then, you can either trade that top pick for another star or just draft another young piece to add to the Tatum/Harper core.

Of course, all of this hinges on the Spurs actually being willing to give you the 2nd pick for Brown.

2nd pick for JB really tempting.

[Netaman]

Nets fan coming in peace throwing out an idea, how's this? Too much for Boston? Not enough? Basically #8, Claxton, Vassell, Keldon for both Jaylen and getting under the 2nd apron dumping multi-year salary instead of KP's expiring (which could probably be moved separately pretty easily).

Could switch Vassell or Keldon to Barnes on expiring and/or add in some more picks (likely from Brooklyn). Could also switch Claxton to Cam Johnson if that's preferred.



More of a retool saving money but adding a bunch of younger assets and the 8th overall pick to retool around Tatum when he's healthy. Keeps White.