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

[Celts17Pride]

Utah gets: Porzingis, Holiday
Bos gets: Collins, Sexton and Kessler

The Ainge boys strike again!

Utah throws in their 21st pick as well.

Why would Ainge do that deal? Also, why would Boston do that deal? It's like a bad trade all around

Not saying I would do that, just tossing things against the wall like everyone else.

[Fierce1]

What does this accomplish for us? Shaking up the team just to get worse players and still be in the 2nd apron.

I think he's sticking with his argument to go below the apron in 2026-27.

Collins is an expiring, so Cs can move him at deadline.

But you're right, that move only saves the Cs around 12m.

What about 27-28? Because resetting the apron and the lax penalties is a 2 year thing. You have to stay under it for 2 years, not just 1. If we go under and then back over then we don't reset anything. There's really no functional benefit for going under the apron or tax in 26-27 unless we also do it in either 25-26 or 27-28.

True.

I agree with you.

That's why I keep saying the magic number is 189m.

If Cs don't reach 189m next season then they will not be a repeater.

So yeah, it's a must the Cs reset in 2026 and 2027.

By doing that, Cs will have cap freedom in 2028.

[celtxman]

I have been saying all season that I believed that Hauser would be gone, mostly for 2nd apron reasons. That doesn't mean his contract is bad for other teams, particularly a team like Detroit where Beasley might be gone.

Yup, Hauser's contract is a complete non factor. It's a piss in the ocean among modern NBA salaries. So, the Celts should receive a present or future First...

That contract is exactly why the Celtics should keep Hauser. Same with Pritchard. Why would you trade two useful players on great contracts? You need guys like that to fill out a rotation when you have max guys on the roster. The Celtics issue is they have 3 second tier contracts (KP, Jrue, White) when they can only really have 2.

The solution seems too obvious to me. Move KP's contract. Shouldn't be too difficult as it's an expiring deal, and when he's healthy he's a really good player. There will be teams interested in taking a chance on KP. For Boston, take a lesser player or two that offers more durability. At the end of the day, KP missed half the games anyway. At least, you fix the tax situation, then have a couple more able bodies on the roster that can hopefully help some.

On Hauser. I'm not as sold on him as a player. His overall 3 point percentage looks good on paper, but I rarely find a game that I say, Hauser really won that game for us. Yes he plays better defense than many believe, but he has too many games that he doesn't contribute much if anything. You rarely say that about Pritchard getting paid less, and you often say Pritchard won us games. A $10 million contract on the Celtics is different than many teams. It is possible to keep him with other trades lowering their payroll, but I guess we'll see.
You mention trading KP. I'm not against trading him. I'm just not a fan of trading him to get rid of him and flying by the seat of our pants and kicking the can down the road and figuring it out later. I think I was in the midst of writing my last post when you posted this. So I was thinking of acquiring a high draft pick to get Maluach as an example. But someone has to show me something tangible. If you trade KP maybe the best time is at the trade deadline where he's probably healthy and this condition is gone. Think of the market for teams vying for a championship where his contract expires or they have Bird rights to resign him

[Larry_Russell]

without brown you are pulling a spurs getting Duncan move.

So trade Brown and hope for a once in a lifetime chance on a draft pick. Yikes!

I am squarely in the middle about a possibility of trading Jaylen Brown. I see both sides.

Pros of keeping Brown: He's already performed on the biggest stage. That's in the books. Brown in the biggest moments of a championship season was their best player, not just in my opinion but also by being voted EC Finals MVP and Finals MVP. This season, those of us who have had a torn meniscus know full well what it's like to play basketball with it, much less at the highest level. He went out there.
Also, I know in the world of us all making fun trades in trade checkers we never factor in what the player means to the community. Brown has a huge impact in Boston. Can you imagine the Celtics miscalculating this trade? What would be the thought players coming here and loyalty?
Finally his contract. We all know Brown never should have had the highest contract in the NBA. Its all about timing and the supermax. With the projected salary cap increases and league revenues this may end up being an excellent contract. He is in the prime of his career.

Pros of trading Brown. The devil is in the details. Let's consider a trade idea that's out there. Think of Derrick White. What if the Celtics see that kind of White potential in Devin Vassell?Then you also get the #2 pick. We keep hearing about Harper, but what about Bailey? And moving up the board is Maluach. He moved up to #4 in some Mock drafts partly because he showed offensive skills in a LA pro day that he couldn't display on a loaded Duke team. Your center issue changes overnight. If Vassell is really good you just saved $25 million per (and are in position to get under the 2nd apron)and he is also under contract for 4 more seasons at $27 million per. Therefore you are in position to keep Jrue and KP, or if you do want to trade either of them no one can have you over a barrel.

As always I root for the laundry- the Celtics. May they make great decisions!

RE: The point on not moving up for Harper.

That can certainly be a thing as well. I know they worked out Tre, and Maluach seems like an OBVIOUS choice as well.

Spurs: Jaylen Brown, KJ MArtin, Johnny Juzan (into TPE)

Utah Kristaps, #2, #28

Boston #5, #21, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Taylor Hendricks, Walker Kessler, Julian Champagnie, Isaiah Collier, #5 (Maluach), #21 (Clifford)

Trade saves 21 Million
Drop/Trade/Cut Queta, Davidson, Tillman - Saves 7 million
Trade Hauser for picks saves 10 million

Total savings 38 million putting them below the 1st apron before signing Rookies. In offseason (When Tatum is back and 100%) can look to trade Jrue for more savings.


Jrue/Pritchard/Collier
White/Scheierman/Clifford
Vassell/Champagnie/Walsh
Barnes/Hendricks/Horford?
Kessler/Maluach/Kornet

[Celts17Pride]

Whatever happens this off-season I hope Brad Stevens brings in a few young, athletic, wings and bigs to play defense and bring a little energy into the game. I think the Celtics were lacking in that area a little last year.

[Fierce1]

Swapping Jrue for Sexton will be an upgrade.

I will be content if that's the move Brad makes.

[ddb]

The more I think about it, the more I feel like Derrick White could ultimately be the guy that nets the highest return in a trade. Listen, I LOVE DWhite. He's been incredible in Boston. Obviously, good friends with JT as well. He's under contract. There's really no reason to trade him this summer. But let's think about this a bit further.

1. Coming off a career year
2. In his prime
3. Locked in to a manageable contract for multiple years
4. Great teammate. Plug n Play in any situation
5. Olympian. An All-Star in his role.

If you look back in the history of the NBA, there are examples of great President/GM's trading a player like White at the right time, and they end up bringing back Hall of Fame talent. One example worth sharing is in 2011 when the Spurs traded a 24-year-old George Hill coming off a season in which he averaged 11.6PPG. He was beloved in San Antonio and looked like he'd be a solid Spur for a long time. Until they traded him to Indy for the draft pick that turned into Kawhi Leonard.

A little bit different situation in that White is older, but he's also better that Hill ever was. What if Brad sees a potential superstar in the late lottery? What if Brad loves a player like Cedric Coward, for example, and Coward turns into an absolute monster player. 6'6 2-way star to put alongside JT/JB. New Big 3. 3 All-Stars.

Raptors and Rockets are 2 teams I'd like at for this type of approach. Would Houston send #10, Reed Sheppard package for DWhite? Hmmmmmm.

[ddb]

Yup, Hauser's contract is a complete non factor. It's a piss in the ocean among modern NBA salaries. So, the Celts should receive a present or future First...

That contract is exactly why the Celtics should keep Hauser. Same with Pritchard. Why would you trade two useful players on great contracts? You need guys like that to fill out a rotation when you have max guys on the roster. The Celtics issue is they have 3 second tier contracts (KP, Jrue, White) when they can only really have 2.

The solution seems too obvious to me. Move KP's contract. Shouldn't be too difficult as it's an expiring deal, and when he's healthy he's a really good player. There will be teams interested in taking a chance on KP. For Boston, take a lesser player or two that offers more durability. At the end of the day, KP missed half the games anyway. At least, you fix the tax situation, then have a couple more able bodies on the roster that can hopefully help some.

On Hauser. I'm not as sold on him as a player. His overall 3 point percentage looks good on paper, but I rarely find a game that I say, Hauser really won that game for us. Yes he plays better defense than many believe, but he has too many games that he doesn't contribute much if anything. You rarely say that about Pritchard getting paid less, and you often say Pritchard won us games. A $10 million contract on the Celtics is different than many teams. It is possible to keep him with other trades lowering their payroll, but I guess we'll see.
You mention trading KP. I'm not against trading him. I'm just not a fan of trading him to get rid of him and flying by the seat of our pants and kicking the can down the road and figuring it out later. I think I was in the midst of writing my last post when you posted this. So I was thinking of acquiring a high draft pick to get Maluach as an example. But someone has to show me something tangible. If you trade KP maybe the best time is at the trade deadline where he's probably healthy and this condition is gone. Think of the market for teams vying for a championship where his contract expires or they have Bird rights to resign him

Only issue is you're not getting anything for Hauser. Maybe a 2nd rd pick or two. It would be a salary dump. IDK. I just think he's a useful rotation player. He was missed in the playoffs because of his injury.

[Fierce1]

The more I think about it, the more I feel like Derrick White could ultimately be the guy that nets the highest return in a trade. Listen, I LOVE DWhite. He's been incredible in Boston. Obviously, good friends with JT as well. He's under contract. There's really no reason to trade him this summer. But let's think about this a bit further.

1. Coming off a career year
2. In his prime
3. Locked in to a manageable contract for multiple years
4. Great teammate. Plug n Play in any situation
5. Olympian. An All-Star in his role.

If you look back in the history of the NBA, there are examples of great President/GM's trading a player like White at the right time, and they end up bringing back Hall of Fame talent. One example worth sharing is in 2011 when the Spurs traded a 24-year-old George Hill coming off a season in which he averaged 11.6PPG. He was beloved in San Antonio and looked like he'd be a solid Spur for a long time. Until they traded him to Indy for the draft pick that turned into Kawhi Leonard.

A little bit different situation in that White is older, but he's also better that Hill ever was. What if Brad sees a potential superstar in the late lottery? What if Brad loves a player like Cedric Coward, for example, and Coward turns into an absolute monster player. 6'6 2-way star to put alongside JT/JB. New Big 3. 3 All-Stars.

Raptors and Rockets are 2 teams I'd like at for this type of approach. Would Houston send #10, Reed Sheppard package for DWhite? Hmmmmmm.

White can get you KD.

[hugepatsfan]

Get Klay and Gafford from DAL for Jrue. Other pieces dumped elsewhere.

Move Gafford to LAL for an expiring deal and Knecht. I've suggested this with Vandy before but feedback on main board suggests it could be an expiring and be fair.

Trade Porzingis to CHA for Nurkic (they dump Okogie elsewhere as part of the deal).

Attach Knecht to Nurkic to get ATL to take them into TPEs. They could use more wing scorers and a backup center and have plenty of tax wiggle room.

Trade #28 for an early 2nd and some future 2nds. Use the future 2nds to dump the expiring LAL deal.

White / Pritchard / Davison
Klay
Brown / Scheierman / Walsh
Hauser
Queta / Tillma
+#32 and another early 2nd, Tatum on injured list

By my calculations, that would leave us $4M below the tax with 13 players signed. Ideally you can get Kornet to take a 1 year minimum deal to preserve his bird rights. Do wink-wink to pay him a little more next year. You can waive Davison/Walsh and replace with vet min players if you prefer. Can do same with Tillman but have to find someone to take him first.

It's not the best team, but it's still pretty good overall PG/SG/SF. Weak in the front court. But it's a tax reset year. In position to duck the tax again in 26-27, probably with a lottery to mid 1st round pick added to the mix. Klay's deal will be expiring at $17M so usable in trades with future picks attached, presumably for a center. We start opening up future picks to trade. You can get a starting center for Klay on an expiring deal plus picks to have while Tatum is back.

White / Pritchard
Brown
Hauser / Schierman
Tatum
(Center from trade) / Kornet (keep re-signing)
+ a lottery to mid 1st added somewhere, as well as any good development returns on our 2025 picks which would be 2 early 2nds

That's a good team. Then in 27-28 you have all your financial penalties reset and can spend freely for the rest of Tatum's prime without worrying about repeater tax and aprons.

[brackdan70]

Swapping Jrue for Sexton will be an upgrade.

I will be content if that's the move Brad makes.

Not an upgrade on the court. We can’t likely keep sexton long term even if you think future sexton is better than future Jrue.
Jrue is a more positive impact on the floor.

[Fierce1]

Swapping Jrue for Sexton will be an upgrade.

I will be content if that's the move Brad makes.

Not an upgrade on the court. We can’t likely keep sexton long term even if you think future sexton is better than future Jrue.
Jrue is a more positive impact on the floor.

That's one of the lower expectations trade scenario.

I still want Brad to go after Giannis and KD.

[ddb]

The more I think about it, the more I feel like Derrick White could ultimately be the guy that nets the highest return in a trade. Listen, I LOVE DWhite. He's been incredible in Boston. Obviously, good friends with JT as well. He's under contract. There's really no reason to trade him this summer. But let's think about this a bit further.

1. Coming off a career year
2. In his prime
3. Locked in to a manageable contract for multiple years
4. Great teammate. Plug n Play in any situation
5. Olympian. An All-Star in his role.

If you look back in the history of the NBA, there are examples of great President/GM's trading a player like White at the right time, and they end up bringing back Hall of Fame talent. One example worth sharing is in 2011 when the Spurs traded a 24-year-old George Hill coming off a season in which he averaged 11.6PPG. He was beloved in San Antonio and looked like he'd be a solid Spur for a long time. Until they traded him to Indy for the draft pick that turned into Kawhi Leonard.

A little bit different situation in that White is older, but he's also better that Hill ever was. What if Brad sees a potential superstar in the late lottery? What if Brad loves a player like Cedric Coward, for example, and Coward turns into an absolute monster player. 6'6 2-way star to put alongside JT/JB. New Big 3. 3 All-Stars.

Raptors and Rockets are 2 teams I'd like at for this type of approach. Would Houston send #10, Reed Sheppard package for DWhite? Hmmmmmm.

White can get you KD.

Trade doesn't work straight up. Celts cannot aggregate players in a deal right now due to the 2nd Apron.

[cl2117]

Spurs are not taking $110 million of salary for two players already having Fox, Wemby and Castle People need to go outside and get some fresh air. The Spurs and Brown is not even a rumor, it's 100% speculation from Mannix. He was answering a question from Drew Carter to give his opinion.

Spurs remove 63.5m from Vassell, Keldon, and Barnes.

They will be a 1st apron team, but the math works.

I'm not saying there are any legs to the Brown talk, but the media stuff goes both ways. Speculation from Mannix/Carter gets picked up by other outlets and then discussed, but who do those two guys ultimately work for?

At any rate, it would have to be at least a three-team 6 for 2 or more likely 7 for 2 to bring in those two salaries and it's easier talking about trading a FMVP than it is that stuff around here lol.

For novelty I tried to work something out where the Spurs can get KD and Brown and Spurs basically would have to clean house including Castle/Sochan as well to make it work. At a minimum they have to send out:

Castle
Vassell
Johnson
Sochan
Barnes

And then 2/3 of Branham, Wesley and Champagnie. Assuming they keep Champagnie who is the cheapest of the 3 and in played in all 82 games this year, it would leave them with a roster of:

Fox
Brown
Champagnie
KD
Wemby

And that's literally it, just 5 guys. I mean it's a stellar starting 5, but they need to fill 9 bench slots with vet minimums/rookies, it's gotta be an either/or situation w/ JB and KD.

[cl2117]

Whatever happens this off-season I hope Brad Stevens brings in a few young, athletic, wings and bigs to play defense and bring a little energy into the game. I think the Celtics were lacking in that area a little last year.

Jaden Springer may be available for the right price.

[brackdan70]

The more I think about it, the more I feel like Derrick White could ultimately be the guy that nets the highest return in a trade. Listen, I LOVE DWhite. He's been incredible in Boston. Obviously, good friends with JT as well. He's under contract. There's really no reason to trade him this summer. But let's think about this a bit further.

1. Coming off a career year
2. In his prime
3. Locked in to a manageable contract for multiple years
4. Great teammate. Plug n Play in any situation
5. Olympian. An All-Star in his role.

If you look back in the history of the NBA, there are examples of great President/GM's trading a player like White at the right time, and they end up bringing back Hall of Fame talent. One example worth sharing is in 2011 when the Spurs traded a 24-year-old George Hill coming off a season in which he averaged 11.6PPG. He was beloved in San Antonio and looked like he'd be a solid Spur for a long time. Until they traded him to Indy for the draft pick that turned into Kawhi Leonard.

A little bit different situation in that White is older, but he's also better that Hill ever was. What if Brad sees a potential superstar in the late lottery? What if Brad loves a player like Cedric Coward, for example, and Coward turns into an absolute monster player. 6'6 2-way star to put alongside JT/JB. New Big 3. 3 All-Stars.

Raptors and Rockets are 2 teams I'd like at for this type of approach. Would Houston send #10, Reed Sheppard package for DWhite? Hmmmmmm.

White can get you KD.

Trade doesn't work straight up. Celts cannot aggregate players in a deal right now due to the 2nd Apron.

White has a lot of trade value IMO.
If you were to trade him you get back a younger player with quality starter upside. At least 2 first round picks, one of which has to have strong lotto potential and Salary savings for 26/27 of at least 12 million.
I think that’s the minimum. I’d bet there are stronger offers if he really hits the market. Dude is a top 30 impact player in his prime on a four year team friendly contract. Huuuuuuge value.

[Fierce1]

The more I think about it, the more I feel like Derrick White could ultimately be the guy that nets the highest return in a trade. Listen, I LOVE DWhite. He's been incredible in Boston. Obviously, good friends with JT as well. He's under contract. There's really no reason to trade him this summer. But let's think about this a bit further.

1. Coming off a career year
2. In his prime
3. Locked in to a manageable contract for multiple years
4. Great teammate. Plug n Play in any situation
5. Olympian. An All-Star in his role.

If you look back in the history of the NBA, there are examples of great President/GM's trading a player like White at the right time, and they end up bringing back Hall of Fame talent. One example worth sharing is in 2011 when the Spurs traded a 24-year-old George Hill coming off a season in which he averaged 11.6PPG. He was beloved in San Antonio and looked like he'd be a solid Spur for a long time. Until they traded him to Indy for the draft pick that turned into Kawhi Leonard.

A little bit different situation in that White is older, but he's also better that Hill ever was. What if Brad sees a potential superstar in the late lottery? What if Brad loves a player like Cedric Coward, for example, and Coward turns into an absolute monster player. 6'6 2-way star to put alongside JT/JB. New Big 3. 3 All-Stars.

Raptors and Rockets are 2 teams I'd like at for this type of approach. Would Houston send #10, Reed Sheppard package for DWhite? Hmmmmmm.

White can get you KD.

Trade doesn't work straight up. Celts cannot aggregate players in a deal right now due to the 2nd Apron.

Yeah, it has to be multi-team trade.

White is the main trade piece.

[ddb]

Spurs remove 63.5m from Vassell, Keldon, and Barnes.

They will be a 1st apron team, but the math works.

I'm not saying there are any legs to the Brown talk, but the media stuff goes both ways. Speculation from Mannix/Carter gets picked up by other outlets and then discussed, but who do those two guys ultimately work for?

At any rate, it would have to be at least a three-team 6 for 2 or more likely 7 for 2 to bring in those two salaries and it's easier talking about trading a FMVP than it is that stuff around here lol.

For novelty I tried to work something out where the Spurs can get KD and Brown and Spurs basically would have to clean house including Castle/Sochan as well to make it work. At a minimum they have to send out:

Castle
Vassell
Johnson
Sochan
Barnes

And then 2/3 of Branham, Wesley and Champagnie. Assuming they keep Champagnie who is the cheapest of the 3 and in played in all 82 games this year, it would leave them with a roster of:

Fox
Brown
Champagnie
KD
Wemby

And that's literally it, just 5 guys. I mean it's a stellar starting 5, but they need to fill 9 bench slots with vet minimums/rookies, it's gotta be an either/or situation w/ JB and KD.

That's pretty much what Danny did summer 07. Gutted team to create PP/KG/RA. Had young Rondo & Perk to round out the 5. Allen & Powe had opportunity to step up. Big Baby was a rookie that year. Figured it out from there signing Posey, House, Pollard, and later in the season adding Cassell & PJ Brown.

If they can end up with Fox-Brown-Durant-Wemby you, do it. lol.

[cl2117]

Get Klay and Gafford from DAL for Jrue. Other pieces dumped elsewhere.

Move Gafford to LAL for an expiring deal and Knecht. I've suggested this with Vandy before but feedback on main board suggests it could be an expiring and be fair.

Trade Porzingis to CHA for Nurkic (they dump Okogie elsewhere as part of the deal).

Attach Knecht to Nurkic to get ATL to take them into TPEs. They could use more wing scorers and a backup center and have plenty of tax wiggle room.

Trade #28 for an early 2nd and some future 2nds. Use the future 2nds to dump the expiring LAL deal.

White / Pritchard / Davison
Klay
Brown / Scheierman / Walsh
Hauser
Queta / Tillma
+#32 and another early 2nd, Tatum on injured list

By my calculations, that would leave us $4M below the tax with 13 players signed. Ideally you can get Kornet to take a 1 year minimum deal to preserve his bird rights. Do wink-wink to pay him a little more next year. You can waive Davison/Walsh and replace with vet min players if you prefer. Can do same with Tillman but have to find someone to take him first.

It's not the best team, but it's still pretty good overall PG/SG/SF. Weak in the front court. But it's a tax reset year. In position to duck the tax again in 26-27, probably with a lottery to mid 1st round pick added to the mix. Klay's deal will be expiring at $17M so usable in trades with future picks attached, presumably for a center. We start opening up future picks to trade. You can get a starting center for Klay on an expiring deal plus picks to have while Tatum is back.

White / Pritchard
Brown
Hauser / Schierman
Tatum
(Center from trade) / Kornet (keep re-signing)
+ a lottery to mid 1st added somewhere, as well as any good development returns on our 2025 picks which would be 2 early 2nds

That's a good team. Then in 27-28 you have all your financial penalties reset and can spend freely for the rest of Tatum's prime without worrying about repeater tax and aprons.

This is the most practical approach I think I've seen yet. Makes a ton of sense. Resets the tax, opens minutes to develop the kids, creates some TPEs to use when we decide to try and put our foot back on the gas.

It's not sexy, it does commit us to a down-ish year, but it keeps us in a position where we could bounce back fast by trying to get the next versions of KP/Jrue when Tatum is healthy. And given how the new CBA seems to encourage teams to jettison good players due to cap constraints we should be in a great spot to replace those two just by adding our own 1sts to TPEs and/or Klay/Hauser (taking advantage f being able to aggregate again).

I think the hardest part about this kind of re-tool is how the front office can spin the moves in a way that they can claim that '26 isn't a lost year. Giving up KP/Jrue for ostensibly just Klay is a hard sell to your less invested fanbase that probably doesn't appreciate all the ancillary benefits that this re-tool brings the team.

[ddb]

Brad's going to shock us all.