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

[redslastlaugh]

Reporting that C's considering offering a NO TRADE CLAUSE to Luke.
Luke has 8yrs NBA service, 4 consecutive yrs with same team
only Celtics can offer him a no-trade and team may give NTC to retain him

Bradley Beal, LeBron, Luke Kornet ... no trade clause guys, lol

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I'd be most happy for Kornet with SAS. Hiss passing and Wemby would work great together. Plus SAS cuts and moves so much better than Boston. Luke will stand out more offensively over there.

[playa-hater]

Reporting that C's considering offering a NO TRADE CLAUSE to Luke.
Luke has 8yrs NBA service, 4 consecutive yrs with same team
only Celtics can offer him a no-trade and team may give NTC to retain him

Bradley Beal, LeBron, Luke Kornet ... no trade clause guys, lol

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I'd be most happy for Kornet with SAS. Hiss passing and Wemby would work great together. Plus SAS cuts and moves so much better than Boston. Luke will stand out more offensively over there.

interesting.. For the record, I'd rather keep Luke and trade Hauser if that was the money situation.

[flintsky21]

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I have a feeling Brad already had wink wink agreements with both Luke and Al to re-sign. Otherwise, drafting a big would've been a priority. What Brad's working on now is moving salaries to make room for them both.

[cloverleaf]

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I have a feeling Brad already had wink wink agreements with both Luke and Al to re-sign. Otherwise, drafting a big would've been a priority. What Brad's working on now is moving salaries to make room for them both.

Sounds likely.

[return2glory]

All this talk about teams targeting Brown and White is overdone. Why wouldn't teams want Brown and White? They are great players. Of course they will call Brad about them. The conversations will be short.

Boston is getting ready for 2026-2027 season with Tatum returning and Boston having money to spend to add to the talent. Simons and Niang's contracts will expire after this season, if one of them isn't traded this season. If Simons stays this year and plays really well, maybe Boston resigns him if Brad and the owners feel that's the best move.

Some people are saying the owners aren't willing to spend. Wait until next season. That will tell you if they are or not. Their focus going into this season was to shed salary. Everyone knew that. Most everyone that follows the Celtics knew we were going to trade KP or Jrue, most likely both. And that's what's happened. Also Brad has said he wants to resign Al and Kornet. If Kornet leaves, they have Queta and now Amari Williams to take on minutes during this gap year.

This is the season to develop Hugo and Baylor (and maybe Amari if Kornet is gone) and figure out what to do with Simons, if they haven't already mind their minds on Simons that is.

[SuperDeluxe]

Some people are saying the owners aren't willing to spend. Wait until next season. That will tell you if they are or not. Their focus going into this season was to shed salary. Everyone knew that. Most everyone that follows the Celtics knew we were going to trade KP or Jrue, mostly both. And that's what's happened. Also Brad has said he wants to resign Al and Kornet. If Kornet leaves, they have Queta and now Amari Williams to take on minutes during this gap year.

Back in the day there were voices on this board about Wyc not willing to spend either. Those voices quietly shut up in time, and I expect these voices to shut up in due time too. I guess some people are still recovering from the Paul Gaston years.

[Gant]

--

[cloverleaf]

So a 4- or 5-year, midlevel, no-trade for Luke? They need to hurry up and find a taker for Simons in order to get Luke and Al back here.

[jfs1000d]

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I have a feeling Brad already had wink wink agreements with both Luke and Al to re-sign. Otherwise, drafting a big would've been a priority. What Brad's working on now is moving salaries to make room for them both.

Luke and AL both want to resign. There is no wink wink. Issue is two fold.

There is about $15M for both of these guys.

Luke gets $30M for 3 Al $10M for 2.

But if Al wants to only play one more year, worthless here.

Kornet, if we don't go to $10M someone is gonna be him up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jfs1000d]

So a 4- or 5-year, midlevel, no-trade for Luke? They need to hurry up and find a taker for Simons in order to get Luke and Al back here.

Thank you. They either have Hauser, AL, Kornet or Simons.

Kornet, Hauser and AL will be here in 2026. Simons? I don't see how.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[djFan71]

We're at 13 players after Hugo is signed, $4.5M under the 2nd apron. Assuming he gets the 120%. In order to have a frontcourt you have to make some moves.

1. Hope that one of Al or Luke takes the min or slightly above and roll with them, Queta and X
2. Trade Niang. Likely requires a 2nd. Have $12M+ to split between Luke & Al.
3. Trade Hauser. Likely returns a 2nd or 2. Have $14M+ to split between Luke & Al
4. Trade Simons. Likely gets one good player, and/or pick(s) and more $ savings.

They're all valid options. If the team is fine staying in the 2nd apron, then 2 or 3 seem like the way to go.

But, if they want to reset the lux tax - so that they can spend more later - then even doing 2 & 3 doesn't get you there. Trade both those guys with no money coming back and you still only have $2.8M under the tax. No Al or Luke. Unless one takes the min.

Simons is the real answer to duck the luxury tax. You can hope for 1 & 4. You can also debate whether it makes sense to duck the tax or not, as I have. But, keeping Simons this year means paying higher tax rates throughout the rest of Tatum's prime. $2 more for every dollar over the line. It's a reasonable approach to pay that tax and keep assets, but it depends on what those assets are. Is one year of Anfernee Simons worth paying that for the rest of Tatum's prime? It's not about paying Al or Luke big money. If you don't trade Simons, you are not getting anything but a vet min in the front court while ducking the tax.

If you can send Simons out for contracts that help you duck the tax and get a future first, I think you go for it.

For scoring, you see what you got:
- White, Pritchard and JB get more usage. Can they handle it?
- Play Scheierman more. Play JD.
All 5 of those guys have creation possibilities.

Then you're either good or you're not next year, but you know more about your roster. And you have your own 2026 pick, an extra pick from a Simons trade, and smaller, tradeable salaries that you can aggregate to get another starter going forward when Tatum's back.

Or you use Simons to get that starter now if you identify someone you want that's available. If they're worth it pay the tax, pay picks to get them, whatever. But, unless you think Simons is that guy long term, I just don't see it making sense to hang on to him.

[celtxman]

I see Boston as having 4 starting level players on a contending team. Some may argue that Pritchard is a 5th but I believe he's a 6th man on a high level team. If they trade one of them (Simons?), then they need to get one back. The only way they can not do that and contend in the near future is if they get multiple starters or ways to acquire them in a Brown trade. I'm not talking about starters who are a stopgap like Vooch or someone they would let walk in FA. This talk of trading Simons for smaller salaried players isn't going to cut it without a larger plan in place. They cannot be stuck with just the Jays and White, not be willing to go into the 2nd apron, and expect to contend anytime soon.

We have to remember the Celtics already made a decision to get out of the 2nd apron. They could have kept Jrue and KP. They could have done the Jrue trade for flexibility and kept KP. In other words, they could have waited on KP's health, knowing they could be rid of both KP and Simons by the end of next year. So no, I don't see them going back into the 2nd apron unless it is for a deal they can't refuse.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Some people are saying the owners aren't willing to spend. Wait until next season. That will tell you if they are or not. Their focus going into this season was to shed salary. Everyone knew that. Most everyone that follows the Celtics knew we were going to trade KP or Jrue, mostly both. And that's what's happened. Also Brad has said he wants to resign Al and Kornet. If Kornet leaves, they have Queta and now Amari Williams to take on minutes during this gap year.

Back in the day there were voices on this board about Wyc not willing to spend either. Those voices quietly shut up in time, and I expect these voices to shut up in due time too. I guess some people are still recovering from the Paul Gaston years.

A rare Thanks, Dad! mention.

[redslastlaugh]

This is the strangest offseason I can remember, esp when you consider both Jays are coming off a injury repair surgeries.

You have:
Brad Stevens
Mike Zarren
The old owner and still governor, Wyc Grousbeck
The new owner and the new minority insitutional owners
Coach Joe Mazzulla

Like, are all five parties on the same page?

I listened to Brad Stevens's press conference and Mike Zarren's press conference and their tone/demeanor seemd quite different. Who knows, guess we will find out today/tomorrow as free agency opens what are the immediate priorities.

For the first time in years, I have no idea what the team is prioritizing internally.

So a 4- or 5-year, midlevel, no-trade for Luke? They need to hurry up and find a taker for Simons in order to get Luke and Al back here.

[Gant]

Celtics Reportedly 'Laughed' at Raptors' Derrick White Trade Offer After Tatum Injury
Timothy Rapp

The Toronto Raptors reportedly made an offer for Derrick White before the NBA draft, but the Boston Celtics weren't biting.

"There were reports that the Raptors offered No. 9 for Derrick White," The Ringer's Zach Lowe said on his podcast (41:57 mark). "I'm told that's true, but it happened like a month-and-a-half ago, right after Jayson Tatum got hurt, and Boston laughed at that offer and said, 'We need way more than No. 9 for Derrick White.'"

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25218966-celtics-reportedly-laughed-raptors-derrick-white-trade-offer-after-tatum-injury

[Larry_Russell]

Simons to Dalas

Gafford and Naji Marshall to Boston.

Saves another 3.5 million.


Ideally sign and trade Kornet to Lakers for knect


White/pritchard/davidson?
Brown/scheierman/gonzalez
Knect/hauser/walsh
Marshall/niang/tillman
Gafford/queta/williams

Thats a superior team with cashflow, picks and tatum coming back.

[celticgreenie]

Zach Lowe brought up the idea of Jaylen to Kings. My take is if Celtics ever trade him it needs to be for promising young players that would be a centerpiece of a big trade if Giannis or Jokic decide they want a new start. Jaylen for Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels with fillers and draft compensation could me some sense. Jaylen is from the area and can reunite with his bff Porzingis so cookies and cream is once more.

[cloverleaf]

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I have a feeling Brad already had wink wink agreements with both Luke and Al to re-sign. Otherwise, drafting a big would've been a priority. What Brad's working on now is moving salaries to make room for them both.

Luke and AL both want to resign. There is no wink wink. Issue is two fold.

There is about $15M for both of these guys.

Luke gets $30M for 3 Al $10M for 2.

But if Al wants to only play one more year, worthless here.

Kornet, if we don't go to $10M someone is gonna be him up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But would Luke prefer $30M for 3 years from another team, usual terms, or $30M over 4 or 5 years with the C's under a no-trade clause? I'd guess the latter.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Simons to Dalas

Gafford and Naji Marshall to Boston.

Saves another 3.5 million.


Ideally sign and trade Kornet to Lakers for knect


White/pritchard/davidson?
Brown/scheierman/gonzalez
Knect/hauser/walsh
Marshall/niang/tillman
Gafford/queta/williams

Thats a superior team with cashflow, picks and tatum coming back.

"Superior team?" That looks like a 38 to 40 win team to me.

[165bows]

Reporting that C's considering offering a NO TRADE CLAUSE to Luke.
Luke has 8yrs NBA service, 4 consecutive yrs with same team
only Celtics can offer him a no-trade and team may give NTC to retain him

Bradley Beal, LeBron, Luke Kornet ... no trade clause guys, lol

Several teams seem to be interested...

Read on Twitter

I'd be most happy for Kornet with SAS. Hiss passing and Wemby would work great together. Plus SAS cuts and moves so much better than Boston. Luke will stand out more offensively over there.

I believe Luke has had a de facto no trade clause the past year or two.