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

[fallguy]

unloading Simons at $27 million
(tho hopefully not)

To be fair, this is the one guy they may have to pay to dump. Although hopefully somebody is desperate for empty calories scoring and the chance to sign him to a terrible deal next summer.

[chrisab123]

unloading Simons at $27 million
(tho hopefully not)

To be fair, this is the one guy they may have to pay to dump. Although hopefully somebody is desperate for empty calories scoring and the chance to sign him to a terrible deal next summer.

So they didn’t have to pay to dump Jrue and they didn’t have to pay to dump KP. I understand that both are better but expiring deals are very valuable.

I really don’t want to see what this board becomes if they don’t get under the luxury tax and dump salaries. The hangover from this and the coping that the new owner won’t gut the franchise is going to be interesting.

[redslastlaugh]

unloading Simons at $27 million
(tho hopefully not)

To be fair, this is the one guy they may have to pay to dump. Although hopefully somebody is desperate for empty calories scoring and the chance to sign him to a terrible deal next summer.

So they didn’t have to pay to dump Jrue and they didn’t have to pay to dump KP. I understand that both are better but expiring deals are very valuable.

I really don’t want to see what this board becomes if they don’t get under the luxury tax and dump salaries. The hangover from this and the coping that the new owner won’t gut the franchise is going to be interesting.

Right, they didn't pay to dump Jrue. Because they didn't dump him, they traded Jrue's $32.4 million contract for Ant's $27.7 million contract. They got off the years, which is great. But now the remaining capspace around the league is drying up, so what are they going to do?

Himmelback reports today that C's looking to get under the tax:

[Himmelsbach] Boston has paid luxury tax for the past three seasons, and when teams are above the tax line in three of four seasons they are hit with harsh penalties. A league source said the team could explore ways to dip below that threshold.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/1lnr10e/himmelsbach_boston_has_paid_luxury_tax_for_the/

And so ... how are we getting under the tax. We're at present $200 million with 12 guys signed. We have to sign two more guys to get to roster min of 14. The tax line is $187.9 ...

I am curious to see the solution, honestly.

[chrisab123]

To be fair, this is the one guy they may have to pay to dump. Although hopefully somebody is desperate for empty calories scoring and the chance to sign him to a terrible deal next summer.

So they didn’t have to pay to dump Jrue and they didn’t have to pay to dump KP. I understand that both are better but expiring deals are very valuable.

I really don’t want to see what this board becomes if they don’t get under the luxury tax and dump salaries. The hangover from this and the coping that the new owner won’t gut the franchise is going to be interesting.

Right, they didn't pay to dump Jrue. Because they didn't dump him, they traded Jrue's $32.4 million contract for Ant's $27.7 million contract. They got off the years, which is great. But now the remaining capspace around the league is drying up, so what are they going to do?

Himmelback reports today that C's looking to get under the tax:

[Himmelsbach] Boston has paid luxury tax for the past three seasons, and when teams are above the tax line in three of four seasons they are hit with harsh penalties. A league source said the team could explore ways to dip below that threshold.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/1lnr10e/himmelsbach_boston_has_paid_luxury_tax_for_the/

And so ... how are we getting under the tax. We're at present $200 million with 12 guys signed. We have to sign two more guys to get to roster min of 14. The tax line is $187.9 ...

I am curious to see the solution, honestly.

They won’t. They’re under the 2nd apron. If you do that you’re committing to keeping Tatum out the entire year and trying to tank with a roster that is too good to miss the playoffs.

[165bows]

Celtics front office extended our players so far past the budget that they knew were writing checks they couldn't afford to cash. But they signed everyone anyway. And just displayed supreme confidence that they could get assets for our players at these salaries.

And so far they have turned Jrue into Simons and 2 second rounders.
And they turned KP into Niang.
We haven't had to gut the team or our assets to this point, even if KP is a better player than Niang.

The problem is that we are still way over budget if the budget is $188 million (the tax line) and I don't see what rabbit the front office is going to pull out of their hat here.

It does go back to why did Wyc authorize all these extensions that we couldn't afford in the first place? I don't know what they've got cooking behind the scenes ... but, at this moment, the books are still a mess, imo ... and we don't want to pay our limited picks to get off of these contracts.

I don't mind a bridge season if it meant We getting and developing young players. But this just shedding salary for a whole bunch of nobodies is killing me.

Well helps all the owners get more expansion fees when the Celtics win a title and ramp up their franchise sale price so imo the other owners were into it. Not to mention all the lux tax distributed.

[ajones9219]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

[cloverleaf]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

Actually, the people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

[djFan71]

Everyone's so dramatic, lol.

Analyzing possible options to duck the tax doesn't mean you're gonna freak out if they don't do it. Trading Simons doesn't mean taking pennies on the dollar in return. Of course you try to get a good player back or a pick or something. Problem is he's just not that good or valuable. Even if you keep him, you don't have this amazing player. You get a really good scorer who to date hasn't cared if he gives up more on the other end. I'd rather have Gafford and filler than that - just for on the court, forget the financials.

I think we all agree we ducked the 2nd apron and are gonna stay there. Do no moves, you get one more vet min, that's it. Given our frontcourt, I think there's more than 1 vet min signing left.

Hauser, Niang and Simons are your main trade pieces and make ~$46M total.
Between them and your FA signings / trade returns you need 4 players. You can spend up $50M on them and stay under the 2nd apron.
Or you can try to spend under $30M on them and duck the tax.

I'm honestly good either way, depending on those 4 players. It just doesn't seem like great resource allocation to me to spend $29M of that $30-50M on Simons.

[165bows]

Everyone's so dramatic, lol.

Analyzing possible options to duck the tax doesn't mean you're gonna freak out if they don't do it. Trading Simons doesn't mean taking pennies on the dollar in return. Of course you try to get a good player back or a pick or something. Problem is he's just not that good or valuable. Even if you keep him, you don't have this amazing player. You get a really good scorer who to date hasn't cared if he gives up more on the other end. I'd rather have Gafford and filler than that - just for on the court, forget the financials.

I think we all agree we ducked the 2nd apron and are gonna stay there. Do no moves, you get one more vet min, that's it. Given our frontcourt, I think there's at least more than 1 vet min signing left.

Hauser, Niang and Simons are your main trade pieces and make ~$46M total.
Between them and your FA signings / trade returns you need 4 players. You can spend up $50M on them and stay under the 2nd apron.
Or you can try to spend under $30M on then and duck the tax.

I'm honestly good either way, depending on those 4 players. It just doesn't seem like great resource allocation to me to spend $29M of that $30-50M on Simons.

I was just going to say it was feeling like Simons for Portis but I guess not lol

[ajones9219]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

Actually, the people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

We'll see. I think he sticks around.

Personally i'd rather trade anyone not named Brown/White/Tatum

[klemen44]

Man guys you are into this to much, relax.

Being below 2nd apron is more than enough for owners and team future.

Its enough that Niang is traded, than they can sign Luke and vetrmeran minimum players, be under 2nd apron and go into season and see how it goes...

Ypu can still trade Simmons later or resign him in 2026...his contract can and muat bring a starting center bacj in a trade.

[djFan71]

Everyone's so dramatic, lol.

Analyzing possible options to duck the tax doesn't mean you're gonna freak out if they don't do it. Trading Simons doesn't mean taking pennies on the dollar in return. Of course you try to get a good player back or a pick or something. Problem is he's just not that good or valuable. Even if you keep him, you don't have this amazing player. You get a really good scorer who to date hasn't cared if he gives up more on the other end. I'd rather have Gafford and filler than that - just for on the court, forget the financials.

I think we all agree we ducked the 2nd apron and are gonna stay there. Do no moves, you get one more vet min, that's it. Given our frontcourt, I think there's at least more than 1 vet min signing left.

Hauser, Niang and Simons are your main trade pieces and make ~$46M total.
Between them and your FA signings / trade returns you need 4 players. You can spend up $50M on them and stay under the 2nd apron.
Or you can try to spend under $30M on then and duck the tax.

I'm honestly good either way, depending on those 4 players. It just doesn't seem like great resource allocation to me to spend $29M of that $30-50M on Simons.

I was just going to say it was feeling like Simons for Portis but I guess not lol

I wonder if DET wants Niang or Hauser more with the Beasley news. They still have a TPE, get a 2nd for Georges or a couple for Hauser?

[cloverleaf]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

Actually, the people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

We'll see. I think he sticks around.

Personally i'd rather trade anyone not named Brown/White/Tatum

They may not succeed, but somebody's telling those beat reporters that they're trying.

[fallguy]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

The people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

[fallguy]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

Actually, the people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

Posted the same thing almost verbatim before I saw your post.

[ajones9219]

Actually, the people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

We'll see. I think he sticks around.

Personally i'd rather trade anyone not named Brown/White/Tatum

They may not succeed, but somebody's telling those beat reporters that they're trying.

We basically never make trades that get reported on besides KP/Jrue but those were extremely obvious.

Just don't see the point of dumping an elite, young scorer.

[fallguy]

We'll see. I think he sticks around.

Personally i'd rather trade anyone not named Brown/White/Tatum

They may not succeed, but somebody's telling those beat reporters that they're trying.

We basically never make trades that get reported on besides KP/Jrue but those were extremely obvious.

Just don't see the point of dumping an elite, young scorer.

He can't guard anybody. They don't want to pay his next contract. We need to use the salary room for bigs.

[165bows]

Everyone's so dramatic, lol.

Analyzing possible options to duck the tax doesn't mean you're gonna freak out if they don't do it. Trading Simons doesn't mean taking pennies on the dollar in return. Of course you try to get a good player back or a pick or something. Problem is he's just not that good or valuable. Even if you keep him, you don't have this amazing player. You get a really good scorer who to date hasn't cared if he gives up more on the other end. I'd rather have Gafford and filler than that - just for on the court, forget the financials.

I think we all agree we ducked the 2nd apron and are gonna stay there. Do no moves, you get one more vet min, that's it. Given our frontcourt, I think there's at least more than 1 vet min signing left.

Hauser, Niang and Simons are your main trade pieces and make ~$46M total.
Between them and your FA signings / trade returns you need 4 players. You can spend up $50M on them and stay under the 2nd apron.
Or you can try to spend under $30M on then and duck the tax.

I'm honestly good either way, depending on those 4 players. It just doesn't seem like great resource allocation to me to spend $29M of that $30-50M on Simons.

I was just going to say it was feeling like Simons for Portis but I guess not lol

I wonder if DET wants Niang or Hauser more with the Beasley news. They still have a TPE, get a 2nd for Georges or a couple for Hauser?

Idk but I think the bolded in your first post is a very good summation of the situation.

And in those four undetermined players they really need 2-3 front court guys so that is another knock on Simons’ longevity here.

I’m fine if he stays for the season but laying that out does make it seem less likely he’s just still too pricey a neighborhood for the circumstances and who he is.

[Cricket23]

I'm glad the people trying to dump Simons domt run the team. No shot im trading him unless we get an equal scorer in return.

Actually, the people trying to dump Simons DO run the team.

Shopping him doesn't necessarily mean dumping him.

Jrue was very much shopped, predicted to be dumped, and wasn't.

[Larry_Russell]

We'll see. I think he sticks around.

Personally i'd rather trade anyone not named Brown/White/Tatum

They may not succeed, but somebody's telling those beat reporters that they're trying.

We basically never make trades that get reported on besides KP/Jrue but those were extremely obvious.

Just don't see the point of dumping an elite, young scorer.

Nothing about Simons is Elite.