Rumors, Random Thoughts, and non-Threadworthy Posts 18.0 Dave Cowens drove a taxi

hugepatsfan · Post #1861 » by **hugepatsfan** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:15 pm

Simons and Niang makes a combined $35,878,571 on expiring deals right now. Celtics, once they sign their picks, are $16,891,585 over the tax with 14 players under contract. I expect them to makes a trade or series of trades that send those two guys out and turn them into $19,186,986 of salary for this year. Ideally expiring, but they have room to take back multi year deals if that's the trade off for savings this year (as opposed to including picks - which while they avoided so far, now they're going from trading really good players to not so good ones and thus will be harder to avoid). By staying below the tax, they make a huge move towards resetting their repeater tax. If they stay under this year and next, they'll basically be able to be a tax team and even up to a 2nd apron team for the rest of Tatum's prime years once back from injury without ever hitting "repeater" penalties for either tax rates or the 2nd apron stuff.

I also expect them to combine their trades such that they generate a TPE for Jrue's $32.4M salary that they can carry forward to next year.

Assuming the players they take back from the deal/deals above are expiring like Simons/Niang, then the Celtics right now (after signing #28/#32) will be about $29.9M under the projected tax line for 26-27 season with 10 players signed (Tatum, Brown, White, Hauser, Pritchard, 2025 #28 pick, Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, 2025 #32 pick). Based on a lesser roster, their 2026 pick should be a decent addition. Then they'll have that Jrue TPE that I expect them to try and use future picks with to get in a good player with the room under the tax they have left. probably a guy making like $20M. If the deal to duck the tax this year means multi year salary, they can still use the Jrue TPE in that trade, but they'll have to also send out that player's salary still on their books. But that would then generate a TPE they can use in the following year when they're good to go back over the tax again.

I don't see any Brown/White trades now. IMO, this is what will be their plan.

enzino · Post #1862 » by **enzino** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:33 pm

jayjaysee · Post #1863 » by **jayjaysee** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:40 pm

So..

Spurs - Barnes and second for Gafford and Martin
Dallas - Gafford, Martin, Hardy, Powell, second for McCollum
Washington - McCollum for Barnes, Hardy, Powell, and two seconds

But needs like 1-2 more teams probably?

And SAS should pay more. But trying it like that..

Post #1864 » by **Texas Chuck** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:40 pm

Okay Wiggins salute to Mr. Thunder Nick Collison was super cool. Loved it.

arbsn · Post #1865 » by **arbsn** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:42 pm

Brad Steven’s fleecing Portland and ATL within 24hrs … are these teams just stupid why are they helping the Celtics I don’t understand?

SkyHook · Post #1866 » by **SkyHook** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:43 pm

jayjaysee wrote:So..

Spurs - Barnes and second for Gafford and Martin
Dallas - Gafford, Martin, Hardy, Powell, second for McCollum
Washington - McCollum for Barnes, Hardy, Powell, and two seconds

But needs like 1-2 more teams probably?

And SAS should pay more. But trying it like that..

Assuming that this is a SRP and not pick #2 as I originally read it. If the former, then yes it's light from SA. If the latter... ?

daoneandonly · Post #1867 » by **daoneandonly** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:44 pm

arbsn wrote:Brad Steven’s fleecing Portland and ATL within 24hrs … are these teams just stupid why are they helping the Celtics I don’t understand?

A conspircy theorist could argue look at teams (or team) doing the same for the Lakers. Its best for the bottom line

jayjaysee · Post #1868 » by **jayjaysee** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:45 pm

SkyHook wrote:
jayjaysee wrote:So..

Spurs - Barnes and second for Gafford and Martin
Dallas - Gafford, Martin, Hardy, Powell, second for McCollum
Washington - McCollum for Barnes, Hardy, Powell, and two seconds

But needs like 1-2 more teams probably?

And SAS should pay more. But trying it like that..

Assuming that this is a SRP and not pick #2 as I originally read it. If the former, then yes it's light from SA. If the latter... ?

Bad editing on my part as it originally said a few seconds. And then I got scared of the reaction and took it back..

Really was playing with 14/18 swap as the value but gave up.

SkyHook · Post #1869 » by **SkyHook** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:47 pm

enzino wrote:

Celtics end up with picks #2 AND #3?

SkyHook · Post #1870 » by **SkyHook** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:48 pm

jayjaysee wrote:
SkyHook wrote:
jayjaysee wrote:So..

Spurs - Barnes and second for Gafford and Martin
Dallas - Gafford, Martin, Hardy, Powell, second for McCollum
Washington - McCollum for Barnes, Hardy, Powell, and two seconds

But needs like 1-2 more teams probably?

And SAS should pay more. But trying it like that..

Assuming that this is a SRP and not pick #2 as I originally read it. If the former, then yes it's light from SA. If the latter... ?

Bad editing on my part as it originally said a few seconds. And then I got scared of the reaction and took it back..

Really was playing with 14/18 swap as the value but gave up.

We've all been there. :nod:

jayjaysee · Post #1871 » by **jayjaysee** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:52 pm

arbsn wrote:Brad Steven’s fleecing Portland and ATL within 24hrs … are these teams just stupid why are they helping the Celtics I don’t understand?

Not sure I see Atlanta getting fleeced. They gave up a late first to dump 30 million in long term money while also improving their second unit tremendously for 40-50 games. And it’s a contract year for KP so would expect him to play every minute he can to try and trick someone into paying him big.

SkyHook · Post #1872 » by **SkyHook** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:56 pm

I saw Nico in this wiretap headline and immediately got excited for my Mavs fan friends. Alas...

https://soccer.realgm.com/wiretap/11371/Nico-Williams-Tells-Athletic-He-Intends-To-Join-Barcelona

Bornstellar · Post #1873 » by **Bornstellar** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:57 pm

enzino wrote:

I would puke if this happened. Jaylen Brown is not the kind of player Spurs need to push their chips in for

ReggiesKnicks · Post #1874 » by **ReggiesKnicks** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:58 pm

Bornstellar wrote:
enzino wrote:

I would puke if this happened. Jaylen Brown is not the kind of player Spurs need to push their chips in for

To be fair he is the De'Aaron Fox of wings

Post #1875 » by **Mavrelous** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:29 pm

Read on Twitter

Post #1876 » by **Texas Chuck** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:35 pm

So Paul isn't interested....not that Dallas can possibly know that.... He can shoot so there is that.

SkyHook · Post #1877 » by **SkyHook** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:36 pm

I love Zach Harper's way with words.

There will be plenty of smoke and mirrors leading up to the NBA Draft. Let me assure you they are all 100 percent correct and you should believe them – even if they contradict each other. The draft is way more fun when you operate with that chaotic mindset.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6450550/2025/06/25/cooper-flagg-nba-draft-predictions-trade-the-bounce/

Post #1878 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:37 pm

Mavrelous wrote:

Read on Twitter

It'd have to be for the taxpayer exception of $5.7m, no? Russell seems pretty good value for that salary. :dontknow:

mg · Post #1879 » by mg » Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:38 pm

If Dallas is going to sign a PG thru FA they might be better off chasing Brogdon or even Dennis as Kyrie fill ins. Brogdon hasn't been a pillar of health himself but DLo doesn't seem the type to fit the Dallas defense culture that Nico apparently wants there.

Post #1880 » by **Mavrelous** » Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:40 pm

Scoot McGroot wrote:
Mavrelous wrote:

Read on Twitter

It'd have to be for the taxpayer exception of $5.7m, no? Russell seems pretty good value for that salary.

It is, but if Lakers couldn't live with him as a starting PG Mavs also wouldn't, they need much better play maker than him, I'd even say Tyus would be better.