2025 Offseason Trade and Free Agency Thread (The Fun Never Stops Edition)

[fallguy]

[Jake L. Fischer] The Spurs, league sources say, are looming as a prominent landing spot for big men on the free agent market. Another center target, sources say, that rival executives expect San Antonio to pursue: Boston's Luke Kornet.


"The Spurs' desire to add to its frontline became apparent on the day before the NBA Draft, when I first reported that San Antonio was chasing Kristaps Porzingis before Boston agreed to send the 7-footer to Atlanta.

Now the Spurs, league sources say, are looming as a prominent landing spot for big men on the free agent market as well.

On Saturday afternoon we reported San Antonio's rising interest, among other teams, in trying to lure rugged French forward Guerschon Yabusele away from Philadelphia.

Another center target, sources say, that rival executives expect San Antonio to pursue: Boston's Luke Kornet.

The Celtics' 29-year-old big man, who has yet to earn north of $3 million in any single season in his eight-year NBA career, appears to have a real shot to cash out in this summer's midlevel market."

Luke should go for the biggest payday he can get.

The only reason he might stick around (IMO) is that he's basically headed for a media career in Boston.

[Fierce1]

18m for 3 years is fair for Luke.

[redslastlaugh]

If we lose Kornet, I hope he goes to the Spurs.
Just please not the Lakers. Anywhere but there, lol

Luke should go for the biggest payday he can get.

The only reason he might stick around (IMO) is that he's basically headed for a media career in Boston.

[jfs1000d]

The Venture Capitalist Celtics are not paying any taxes this season. No ifs and buts about that...

It is stupid to pay the tax and suffer the consequences.


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[jfs1000d]

Celtics are missing 57 points per game from JT, KP, and Jrue.

Back to back 60 wins during the regular season was due to the Cs being in the top 5 in offense and defense.

If the Cs trade Simons and the Cs don't get a scorer back in return, we will see a lot of what happened to the Cs in Game 6 of the semis against the Knicks.

Cs better get Vooch or Coby White if Simons is the one going out.

That is ok. They aren't looking to win a title.


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[Hal14]

The Celtics either have to re-sign Kornet and Horford, or they have to make more trades. They probably make another trade even if they bring back both those guys. Tatum was the power forward, the leading rebounder, and the leading minutes player in the frontcourt. They need playable talls.

Right now in unfinished rosterland, the big forward is either Jaylen Brown, Hauser or Niang. That's not going to happen, is it?

a) it doesn't really matter that much..it's a bridge year, we're not really trying to win this year..what matters more is what the roster looks like in 26-27 when Tatum is back at full health for the full season

b) We'll probably do quite a bit of double big lineups next season, rotating Horford, kornet, amari, queta and Tillman in and out at the 4 and the 5. With Niang/Hauser/JB and maybe Walsh and maybe Craig getting some mins at the 4..

a) Can change if the Cs are 30-20 or 28-22 by trade deadline.

If the Cs have losing record by deadline, I think Cs will officially enter bridging.

Per ChatGPT:

"The Celtics are indeed approaching the 2025–26 season as more of a bridge or transitional year, rather than going all-in for a championship run. Here's why:

The Context
-Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury is expected to sideline him for most, if not all, of the 2025–26 season. Without their superstar, Boston’s title prospects take a big hit
-Facing major luxury tax penalties and limitations under the second apron of the new CBA, Boston traded away key veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis to free up cap space and clear future flexibility

Strategic Roster Reset
-Staying under the luxury tax apron allowed the Celtics to rebuild around their core of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Tatum (when healthy), while accumulating draft assets
-They've drafted young, cost-controlled players—Hugo González, Amari Williams, Max Shulga—as part of a longer-term development plan rather than immediate impact moves

What "Bridge Year" Means Here
-Without Tatum, Boston likely won't be legitimate title contenders in 2025–26—a timeline upended by circumstances.
-The goal isn't to tank, but to stay competitive in the East with a retooled roster of veterans and youth.
-Crucially, this season gives them time to build toward championship contention in 2026–27, when Tatum returns and cap flexibility returns

Bottom Line
Yes—the Celtics are treating 2025–26 as a bridge season: they’ve retooled the roster, embraced financial prudence, added young talent, and realigned their timeline to peak when their core is fully healthy and financially flexible."

[Fierce1]

The Venture Capitalist Celtics are not paying any taxes this season. No ifs and buts about that...

It is stupid to pay the tax and suffer the consequences.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Case in point, if this CBA existed in 2009 and 2010, the Lakers would not have won back to back in 2010.

[Fencer reregistered]

[Jake L. Fischer] The Spurs, league sources say, are looming as a prominent landing spot for big men on the free agent market. Another center target, sources say, that rival executives expect San Antonio to pursue: Boston's Luke Kornet.


"The Spurs' desire to add to its frontline became apparent on the day before the NBA Draft, when I first reported that San Antonio was chasing Kristaps Porzingis before Boston agreed to send the 7-footer to Atlanta.

Now the Spurs, league sources say, are looming as a prominent landing spot for big men on the free agent market as well.

On Saturday afternoon we reported San Antonio's rising interest, among other teams, in trying to lure rugged French forward Guerschon Yabusele away from Philadelphia.

Another center target, sources say, that rival executives expect San Antonio to pursue: Boston's Luke Kornet.

The Celtics' 29-year-old big man, who has yet to earn north of $3 million in any single season in his eight-year NBA career, appears to have a real shot to cash out in this summer's midlevel market."

Luke should go for the biggest payday he can get.

The only reason he might stick around (IMO) is that he's basically headed for a media career in Boston.

If the money is close, he should stay, for various reasons. But only if it's close.

Since his value to the Cs is probably at least as great as to other teams, I expect that it will indeed be close enough to keep him.

[NotAKnicksFan]

Kornet isnt that good, i could care less if he leaves for more money , 3-6-7 mil per year fine but no more than that. Hes a backup

Al horford almost feel the same, hes too old, 1 or 2 ye contract 6-9 mil a year

[Fierce1]

a) it doesn't really matter that much..it's a bridge year, we're not really trying to win this year..what matters more is what the roster looks like in 26-27 when Tatum is back at full health for the full season

b) We'll probably do quite a bit of double big lineups next season, rotating Horford, kornet, amari, queta and Tillman in and out at the 4 and the 5. With Niang/Hauser/JB and maybe Walsh and maybe Craig getting some mins at the 4..

a) Can change if the Cs are 30-20 or 28-22 by trade deadline.

If the Cs have losing record by deadline, I think Cs will officially enter bridging.

Per ChatGPT:

"The Celtics are indeed approaching the 2025–26 season as more of a bridge or transitional year, rather than going all-in for a championship run. Here's why:

The Context
-Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury is expected to sideline him for most, if not all, of the 2025–26 season. Without their superstar, Boston’s title prospects take a big hit
-Facing major luxury tax penalties and limitations under the second apron of the new CBA, Boston traded away key veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis to free up cap space and clear future flexibility

Strategic Roster Reset
-Staying under the luxury tax apron allowed the Celtics to rebuild around their core of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Tatum (when healthy), while accumulating draft assets
-They've drafted young, cost-controlled players—Hugo González, Amari Williams, Max Shulga—as part of a longer-term development plan rather than immediate impact moves

What "Bridge Year" Means Here
-Without Tatum, Boston likely won't be legitimate title contenders in 2025–26—a timeline upended by circumstances.
-The goal isn't to tank, but to stay competitive in the East with a retooled roster of veterans and youth.
-Crucially, this season gives them time to build toward championship contention in 2026–27, when Tatum returns and cap flexibility returns

Bottom Line
Yes—the Celtics are treating 2025–26 as a bridge season: they’ve retooled the roster, embraced financial prudence, added young talent, and realigned their timeline to peak when their core is fully healthy and financially flexible."

Not disagreeing with all of that.

All I'm saying is it will not be too bridging if the Cs are in a good spot by trade deadline.

We've seen this before in 2015 when the Cs traded for IT.

Let's put it this way, I read reports that JT might be back by March.

If that's the case the Cs will be in the conversation.

But if JT does not return then I will concede to bridging.

[NotAKnicksFan]

You dont trade simons for freaking vucevic, vuc is attrocious at basketball

[jfs1000d]

Kornet isnt that good, i could care less if he leaves for more money , 3-6-7 mil per year fine but no more than that. Hes a backup

Al horford almost feel the same, hes too old, 1 or 2 ye contract 6-9 mil a year

So those 2 anchored a team with 60 wins, but now they aren't good. They were our centers last year. Not KP.'


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[Fierce1]

You dont trade simons for freaking vucevic, vuc is attrocious at basketball

Some Celtic fans also say Simons is atrocious at basketball.

So it's just trading a smaller atrocious for a big atrocious.

Atrocious all around.

[Fencer reregistered]

You dont trade simons for freaking vucevic, vuc is attrocious at basketball

Some Celtic fans also say Simons is atrocious at basketball.

So it's just trading a smaller atrocious for a big atrocious.

Atrocious all around.

Each is good at one end of the court (and it's the same end).

[gammajamma]

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2025/06/jaylen-brown-trade-rumors-nba-insider-hints-at-new-team-targeting-celtics-star.html

If Celtics can get a bunch of picks from a team run like the Kings that would be intriguing

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2025/06/jaylen-brown-trade-rumors-nba-insider-hints-at-new-team-targeting-celtics-star.html

If Celtics can get a bunch of picks from a team run like the Kings that would be intriguing

From the article...

[What could a ‘godfather’ offer from the Kings look like exactly? Any deal would need to be centered around one big salary player such as Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis or DeMar DeRozan for salary matching purposes. Sabonis is obviously the most valuable piece in that bunch, but is a serious step below Brown in trade value. Sabonis also might be the type of player Perry hopes to pair Brown with, in theory. Elsewhere, the Kings have a few intriguing young players (Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis, Devin Carter) but all are either unproven (Carter) or will need new contracts starting next offseason.

Thus, the prize of any big Kings offer would be the draft capital. The Kings own all their future first round picks as well as a 2031 Wolves unprotected first round pick. If the Kings offer the Celtics a big contract, Murray and/or Ellis, and a massive haul of draft capital including several first-round picks and swaps, the most attractive part of that deal for Boston would probably be the draft capital. Conceivably, the Celtics could take those picks (and a big contract) to target another star for Tatum’s return.]

I'd be interested in teaming Sabonis with Tatum but obviously the Kings want to go with a Brown - Sabonis combo. So, lots of Draft Picks it would have to be...

[Larry_Russell]

You dont trade simons for freaking vucevic, vuc is attrocious at basketball

And simons is a savant?

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

What type of trade would I do with the Kings for Brown?

I'm glad you asked, very thoughtful.

Brown for Derozan, Murray, 2026 Unprotected First (the West is stacked, Sacramento would be one injury away from finishing high up in the Lottery), 2027 Pick Swap, 2028 Unprotected Kings First, 2029 Pick Swap, 2030 First (Top 4 Protected), 2031 Wolves First.

That's about right. I'm not even concerned about Second Rounders, but I suppose the Kings could toss a few of them to the Celtics too...

[Hal14]

Now, we sit and wait to see the fate of Simons, Niang, Hauser, Kornet and Horford.

My prediction? 2 or 3 weeks from now, we'll know which team they'll be on next season..it'll either be boston or somewhere else..that's my bold take lol.

Then we'll have summer league starting.

So it'll be a fun summer

[redslastlaugh]

I hope we don't use draft picks to dump Simons just so we can sign Luke Kornet to an 8 figure per annum deal and do the same with Al Horford who turns 40 yrs old next yr.

I think we're way more likely to need all our draft picks (plus more) to build another contender around JT and burning any picks to open space for Luke and Al just makes the team building challenge of a Jays 2.0 (or even just JT 2.0) championship much much much harder

if it comes down to burning a first or two firsts to dump Simons/Niang, Id rather move Derrick and get firsts coming back in because then we're still gonna have the ammo to build a team around Tatum.

Just let Luke and Al go.