2025 Offseason Trade and Free Agency Thread (Wow this is fun!)

[165bows]

Suns are $12M over the 2nd apron right now with 11 players signed. Even more over once they sign #10 and #29 and fill out the last couple of open roster spots. Realistically they're probably $25M over the 2nd apron if they keep Martin/Micic to use in deals like this. If they aggregate like this they have to be below the 2nd apron.

I don't see how they'd duck the 2nd apron with this deal here. They'd have Booker/Beal/Green/Porzingis/Brooks all on the books which is pretty inflexible to move off of salary.

Good point I totally missed that. Phoenix has a ton of deals to make those new second rounders are going to fly off the shelves.

Eh, not so sure. Micic is a team option they can walk away from. Martin is fully non guaranteed. I do think Allen can be moved into ATL's TPE or moved for smaller filler salary plus pick value that can then be used to dump the filler salary on someone else (Allen is a decently positive value piece, IMO). That alone gets them under or very close to it.

The math gets really hard for them if they try to use Micic/Martin in trades like you forecasted, but they're in fairly decent shape (relatively speaking) as far as ducking the 2nd apron if they don't.

Right they can let some guys go to get out of the very worst of the penalties but they have I'd assume the most unbalanced roster in the league and probably by far.

It's just a combo of high salary (and the various restrictions that come along with it), 157M sunk into guys (Beal/Booker/Green/Allen) that are all pigeon-holed two guards (counting Brooks at the 3), 0-1 starter level guys at the 4-5 spots, and they can't tank much since WAS holds their swap rights.

It's just a roster that desperately needs re-balancing and they are one of the least flexible teams in the league.

Edit: long story short they can dump some guys to reduce salary but they also really need to add some guys back as well.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Kudos to Brad. He got his most difficult piece of work done early. Everything else is easy compared to getting off of Jrue's contract. Great start to the off-season.

[165bows]

One note on missing a Jrue-Simons trade ahead of time - Portland currently sits with the fifth(!) highest tax bill next year.

[Celts17Pride]

Kudos to Brad. He got his most difficult piece of work done early. Everything else is easy compared to getting off of Jrue's contract. Great start to the off-season.

Celtics all set up for 2026/2027. Worst case scenario. Celtics will be busy

[WeLikeOurGuys]

At first, I wasn’t thrilled about getting Simons, but this was probably the best we were going to do. The more I think about it, the more I’m coming around on him. When we first traded Derrick White, I hated it—I thought he was putting up decent stats on a bad team.

But maybe Simons turns out to be a good pro on a good team. He’s already a great 3-point shooter, and playing alongside Tatum and Brown, he’ll get a ton of open looks instead of having to create everything himself—which he can do.

[FlatearthZorro]

At first, I wasn’t thrilled about getting Simons, but this was probably the best we were going to do. The more I think about it, the more I’m coming around on him. When we first traded Derrick White, I hated it—I thought he was putting up decent stats on a bad team.

But maybe Simons turns out to be a good pro on a good team. He’s already a great 3-point shooter, and playing alongside Tatum and Brown, he’ll get a ton of open looks instead of having to create everything himself—which he can do.

He could be a rental. The Celtics do have to cut ~ 15 million more if not 20, if they want to sign people... It wont be easy for Brad, but if you can trade Hauser without gettting more than 5 mils back and then somehow orchestrate a trade where you get less back for KP, you're under the 2nd apron.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

No complaints about the trade. I loved Holiday but he was starting to be cooked. Goal here was to save money so Boston will either trade him at the deadline if not they will just let him walk at the end of season. He is 100% a rental nothing more.

[The Corey's]

No complaints about the trade. I loved Holiday but he was starting to be cooked. Goal here was to save money so Boston will either trade him at the deadline if not they will just let him walk at the end of season.

No way he walks. We're over the cap and can't just let pieces walk without a return.

Also they need to get under the second apron before the end of the trade deadline.

One of Simons, KP or White have to go with almost nothing coming back in return for salary.

[Larry_Russell]

No complaints about the trade. I loved Holiday but he was starting to be cooked. Goal here was to save money so Boston will either trade him at the deadline if not they will just let him walk at the end of season.

No way he walks. We're over the cap and can't just let pieces walk without a return.

Also they need to get under the second apron before the end of the trade deadline.

One of Simons, KP or White have to go with almost nothing coming back in return for salary.

Or Brown.

[The Corey's]

No complaints about the trade. I loved Holiday but he was starting to be cooked. Goal here was to save money so Boston will either trade him at the deadline if not they will just let him walk at the end of season.

No way he walks. We're over the cap and can't just let pieces walk without a return.

Also they need to get under the second apron before the end of the trade deadline.

One of Simons, KP or White have to go with almost nothing coming back in return for salary.

Or Brown.

I originally had Brown listed but removed him because if they traded him they open up a **** ton of cap, presumably. Definitely enough to get under the apron, take on salary with some returning prospects and sign Horford and Luke.

If they want to really jump start this rebuild then Brown is the one to go.

[165bows]

If the Celtics do further trade KP and Hauser, that's pulls out ~7200 minutes off of last year's roster (including Tatum not playing meaningful minutes).

Simons could take ~2000 if he stays but there are some real players still coming back to this team since Brad is going to not let these roster spots go to unproven guys.

[Jellybeans]

Nola doenst need KP when they have young guy Missi.They aint going anywhere with that core
Atlanta doenst need KP when they have Okongwu.

[Larry_Russell]

No way he walks. We're over the cap and can't just let pieces walk without a return.

Also they need to get under the second apron before the end of the trade deadline.

One of Simons, KP or White have to go with almost nothing coming back in return for salary.

Or Brown.

I originally had Brown listed but removed him because if they traded him they open up a **** ton of cap, presumably. Definitely enough to get under the apron, take on salary with some returning prospects and sign Horford and Luke.

If they want to really jump start this rebuild then Brown is the one to go.

Yup, still have that runired SAS deal out there, so it could be something.

Like a brown to SAS,

#14, simons, barnes and Johnson to Philly

#3, Paul George, castle and Champaigme to Boston

Saves 22 milliom

Castle/pritch
White/scheierman
#3/hauser
George/horford
KP/Kornet

[redslastlaugh]

People have said Josh Richardson. Acquire an NBA player at a value nadir, build up his value and then use his salary slot to trade for a player that fits better for long term.

I could see Josh Richardson 2.0 ... Or Simons is traded again tomorrow, lol ... Getting off Jrue's $105 for Simons's $27.7 while adding a couple outyear seconds, that's good business!

Himmelsbach:

The fact that Simons is on an expiring deal, combined with Boston’s clear desire for further cost-cutting, certainly opens the door for Simons to potentially be moved in a subsequent trade. A league source said that the Celtics acquired Simons because they like what he can bring to the team, but added that the team remains engaged on all fronts as it continues to look for ways to upgrade the roster.

[chrisab123]

If the Celtics do further trade KP and Hauser, that's pulls out ~7200 minutes off of last year's roster (including Tatum not playing meaningful minutes).

Simons could take ~2000 if he stays but there are some real players still coming back to this team since Brad is going to not let these roster spots go to unproven guys.

He won’t. But the Simons acquisition doesn’t make sense unless you’re flipping him with someone to get under the 2nd apron. Maybe you do flip him KP and Hauser for Bam which might be able to get you under. Maybe you flip him and Hauser with a pick to move up in the draft then use the pick to make a move for a veteran or a young point guard. Lots of ways for this to go.

[ThePigeon]

The bigs situation in DAL may get Kai Jones left out of the team
If this happens I would love to get a swing (of course if Al and Kornet aren't signed). He played really well when the other bigs were injured

[Hal14]

I still want us to sign Nigel Hayes-Davis to a fairly cheap 2 year deal. With Tatum out, a team that has JB, White, Simons, Pritchard, Hayes-Davis, Horford, Kornet (hopefully resigns), possibly Hauser and whatever we get for KP could make some noise.

Assuming Simons isn't a long term piece, but Hayes-Davis could be a solid wing off the bench during 26-27, when we're ready to make another run at a title.

Watch on YouTube

He's pretty much the best player in Europe, still in his prime..

Unless the C's get below the 2nd apron, I believe a minimum deal for a guy costs around 20 mils for the team...

We'll get below the 2nd apron.

[Bill Lumbergh]

As usual, Timi is right on time with the highlights. No idea if he'll stick around or not, but the kid is a pretty gifted scorer, can get to the rim easily, and is at the age where he's learned the NBA game. I think his best role would be as a microwave scorer off the bench. A Lou Williams type of role. Or, he's a much easier guy to move off of should we need to. Right now, I lean toward keeping him and moving KP and maybe Sam to get under the second apron. Think Baylor will be ready to take on more minutes. Anyway, fun stuff from Timi.

Watch on YouTube

[165bows]

If the Celtics do further trade KP and Hauser, that's pulls out ~7200 minutes off of last year's roster (including Tatum not playing meaningful minutes).

Simons could take ~2000 if he stays but there are some real players still coming back to this team since Brad is going to not let these roster spots go to unproven guys.

He won’t. But the Simons acquisition doesn’t make sense unless you’re flipping him with someone to get under the 2nd apron. Maybe you do flip him KP and Hauser for Bam which might be able to get you under. Maybe you flip him and Hauser with a pick to move up in the draft then use the pick to make a move for a veteran or a young point guard. Lots of ways for this to go.

Idk where do they send Simons? I don't think he's a very valuable guy on his contract and kind of fits what the Celtics need right now.

Guy has been pretty available for a long time iinm.

[chrisab123]

If the Celtics do further trade KP and Hauser, that's pulls out ~7200 minutes off of last year's roster (including Tatum not playing meaningful minutes).

Simons could take ~2000 if he stays but there are some real players still coming back to this team since Brad is going to not let these roster spots go to unproven guys.

He won’t. But the Simons acquisition doesn’t make sense unless you’re flipping him with someone to get under the 2nd apron. Maybe you do flip him KP and Hauser for Bam which might be able to get you under. Maybe you flip him and Hauser with a pick to move up in the draft then use the pick to make a move for a veteran or a young point guard. Lots of ways for this to go.

Idk where do they send Simons? I don't think he's a very valuable guy on his contract and kind of fits what the Celtics need right now.

Guy has been pretty available for a long time iinm.

Brooklyn has space and could use him. Read Miami was interested at the deadline so there’s spots.