Holy Offseason I Can’t Believe it’s July FA/Trade/Waiver Thread

[djFan71]

Inline poll: Vuc or Kuz if you had to take one. Neither is not an option in this scenario. Nor is “anyone else”. Just pick one.

Vucevic.

Look, I'm not saying he's good defensively, but he's not a total disaster and he was pretty good on offense last year. He was 89th percentile in Offensive EPM and 57th percentile in defensive EPM. By comparison Queta was 64th and 58th percentiles. So he's no worse defensively than the other options you have right now, and waaaaaay better offensively.

If you're wondering where Kuzma ranked, he was in the 14th and 18th percentiles. Now I don't take EPM as gospel or anything, but that's really bad.

Vucevic is about 6 million dollars cheaper than Simons and is an expiring.

It’s basically a toss up to me, tbh. But I probably lean Kuz. He”s an expiring NEXT summer when we want salary ballast for trades. I think you throw out his WAS stats and go back to LAL days to look at him. I think PF is as big a need as C, maybe more if we dump Niang. And if we wanna play faster, I think Vuc doesn’t fit that.

[165bows]

Every year that passes, JB's salary becomes less and less of a concern because the salary cap increases every year.

Except for this year.

As I understand it, Brown's supermax salary increases 8% a year, so whether his salary becomes less of a concern depends on how much the salary cap increases in any given year relative to that 8%. According to what I just saw about projected salary cap increases, the difference between JB's annual increases and the salary cap increases is so slight that if you think he's overpaid now, you'll still think so going forward.

Here's a breakdown of the NBA salary cap increases:
This Year (2024-2025 Season vs. 2023-2024 Season):
The NBA salary cap went up by 3.36% from the 2023-24 season ($136.021 million) to the 2024-25 season ($140.588 million).
Projected Year-Over-Year Increases for the Next 4 Years:
* 2025-26 Season: Expected to increase by 10% (to $154.647 million). This is the maximum allowed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and is in line with previous projections due to new TV deals.
* 2026-27 Season: Projected to increase by 7% (to $165.472 million). While earlier projections had it at 10%, recent reports suggest a more conservative 7%.
* 2027-28 Season: Projected to increase by 10% (to $182.019 million).
* 2028-29 Season: Projected to increase by 9% (to $198.401 million).
* 2029-30 Season: Projected to increase by 9% (to $216.257 million).
It's important to note that these are projections and the final figures can be subject to change.

Yeah it’s likely single digit % either way I haven’t seen the exact specifics other than with last year’s shortfall compared to expected his deal is going to rise a tiny faster this year not slower.

This was just announced a day or two ago so I’m not sure if those numbers above are up to date or not but agree it’s all somewhat nominal.

Big thing is he was being called the highest paid guy in the game which was only true for a short period of time with a very specific definition.

[Celts17Pride]

Dosunmu and Vucevic for Simons and Niang. Get it done Brad!

Dosunmu and Jalen Smith for Simons and two second rounders.

Even better!

[djFan71]

Dosunmu and Vucevic for Simons and Niang. Get it done Brad!

Dosunmu and Jalen Smith for Simons and two second rounders.

Even better!

If you get the Bulls on board, sign me up as well.

[dortmunder]

So, simons and niang can be traded tonight, or they have to stay till december 15th?

Bring two more names: mogbo, gg Jackson
Guess tillman could be traded back to memphis

[Bill Lumbergh]

Not to sperg out (Mr Borophyll's up there talking about God knows what,) but I wanted to double check these numbers, and I think I found more accurate ones. What's important, though, is his contract as a percentage of the cap, and while the cap is projected to go up by the maximum 10% a year, it is determined annually based on actual revenue, so subject to change.

Anyway, as noted earlier, it's true that JB's salary as a percentage of the projected salary cap will go from 34.36% in 25-26 to 31.56% in 28-29 (according to Spotrac.)

The newer numbers I found:

The NBA salary cap for the 2025-26 season is set at $154.647 million.[](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-salary-cap-set-2025-26-season)

Projections for the subsequent four seasons, based on available information and the NBA's maximum allowable 10% annual increase (unless otherwise specified), are as follows:

- **2026-27**: Projected at $165.5 million, a 7% increase from 2025-26.[](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45622345/nba-salary-cap-rises-10-percent-1546m-2025-26)
- **2027-28**: Assuming a 10% increase (as no specific projection contradicts this), approximately $182.05 million (10% over $165.5 million).
- **2028-29**: Assuming a 10% increase, approximately $200.255 million (10% over $182.05 million).
- **2029-30**: Assuming a 10% increase, approximately $220.281 million (10% over $200.255 million).

**Year-over-Year Percentage Increases**:
- **2025-26 to 2026-27**: 7% (confirmed projection).[](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45622345/nba-salary-cap-rises-10-percent-1546m-2025-26)
- **2026-27 to 2027-28**: 10% (assumed maximum increase, as no specific projection is available).
- **2027-28 to 2028-29**: 10% (assumed maximum increase, consistent with expected TV deal revenue growth).
- **2028-29 to 2029-30**: 10% (assumed maximum increase).

**Notes**:
- The 7% increase for 2026-27 is lower than the expected 10%, as reported by ESPN and others, due to revised league projections.[](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nba-free-agency-2025-offseason-trade-rumors-news/fnwUjcuMFEqi/xSFF3CUSrCnF/)
- Beyond 2026-27, projections assume the maximum 10% increase due to the new TV deal's impact on basketball-related income, though actual figures will depend on league revenues and CBA rules.[](https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2024/05/30/the-nbas-new-tv-deals-are-poised-to-send-the-salary-cap-skyrocketing/)
- These projections are subject to change, as the NBA finalizes salary caps annually based on revenue. Always check official NBA announcements for precise figures closer to each season.

[playa-hater]

So, simons and niang can be traded tonight, or they have to stay till december 15th?

Bring two more names: mogbo, gg Jackson
Guess tillman could be traded back to memphis

I had GG as my hopeful when drafted. He showed great promise as a rookie as well. But I always wary on players who have had ACL surgery?? Of course he should be dirt cheap for us.

[Fierce1]

So, simons and niang can be traded tonight, or they have to stay till december 15th?

Bring two more names: mogbo, gg Jackson
Guess tillman could be traded back to memphis

They can be traded immediately as long as they are not packaged.

Simons and Niang have to be traded separately.

[keevsnick1]

This a pretty small piece of business, but I just learned that Memphis owns swap rights on our 2026 2nd round pick.
If we are going into a mini-tank we are not going to own our own 2nd rounder outright.

This is from a 2021 trade:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32140333/sources-memphis-grizzlies-trade-juancho-hernangomez-boston-celtics-kris-dunn-carsen-edwards-pick-swap

"The Memphis Grizzlies agreed to trade forward Juancho Hernangomez to the Boston Celtics on Friday in exchange for guards Carsen Edwards and Kris Dunn, as well as a swap of 2026 second-round picks, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski."

Additionally, we *had* a "best of" NYK/MIN/NOP/POR 2026 second rounder, but it appears this is the pick we sent out with Kristaps Porzingis to bring back Georges Niang's money and a 2031 second. So we don't have this one anymore.

EDIT: At this point, it's not clear to me what is the 2026 second we sent to Atlanta. I don't think the trade is finalized and the reporting isn't entirely clear, one source said it may be a swap. ESPN says it's the "least of" Boston's 2026 2nds.

We have three 2nds in 2026 at present:
- "best of" NYK/MIN/NOP/POR
- "best of" ORL/DET/MIL
- "lesser of" MEM/BOS

It may be that Atlanta receives whatever pick winds up worst of those three and Boston keeps the two best. It's just a little confusing which 2nd goes to Atlanta until the KP->ATL trade is finalized.

"Also, as part of the deal, Boston will receive Cleveland's 2031 second-round pick, which the Hawks previously had the rights to, and Atlanta will take Boston's least favorable 2026 second-round choice, sources told ESPN."
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45577808/celtics-send-porzingis-hawks-3-team-deal

Ya the maze of second round picks the Celtics could have next year is wild. They will end up with two picks. The first is pretty simple, its the best of MIL/ORL/DET.

The Second is much more complicated. It will come down to this:

Figure out the Better of IND/MIA.
A) Give Boston the WORSE of THAT pick and its own 2nd. The BETTER goes to Memphis.
B) Give Boston the BETTER of NYK/POR/NOP/MIN.

Lastly, Boston KEEPS the better of A and B. The WORSE foes to ATL.

Boston will likely get an OKAY second from the ORL/DET/MIL. The bucks could struggle, so that has some upside. They SHOULD get a pretty good second out of the 2nd pick, NOP and POR could both be top 40.

[Fierce1]

My best deal scenario is Simons and Hauser goes to Chicago and Vuc and Coby White comes to Boston.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, beware the Dreaded Dosunmu...

[jfs1000d]

So, simons and niang can be traded tonight, or they have to stay till december 15th?

Bring two more names: mogbo, gg Jackson
Guess tillman could be traded back to memphis

I had GG as my hopeful when drafted. He should great promise as a rookie as well. But I always wary on players who have had ACL surgery?? Of course he should be dirt cheap for us.

When did the trades officially happen?


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[Marvel]

If Vooch is going to be our starting C i would puke all over myself. Our defense is going to be so bad.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

If Vooch is going to be our starting C i would puke all over myself. Our defense is going to be so bad.

I'm not arguing that Vucevic is a good defensive player or even that the Celtics should try to get him to Boston but I would caution against saying that playing Vucevic automatically means the defense is terrible. He was on plenty of good to very good defenses in Orlando and more recently the 2023 Bulls were a top 5 defense. That was with DeRozan and Lavine starting next to him so it's not like the rest of the lineup gave him a ton of protection.

He has legit size, he tries and he knows the schemes so that's usually enough in the regular season. I'm not sure that holds up in the playoffs but is that relevant to the 2026 Celtics ?

[Fierce1]

Even if the Cs get Vuc, it's not a sure thing he stays with the Cs past trade deadline.

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm on board with Vooch as tank commander. Have no problems with our defense being bad next year. He does rebound decent though. I will say that.

[165bows]

Miami has some salary space and a bunch of front court guys wonder if they want in on the Simons sweepstakes.

[Celts17Pride]

There is talk of Vucevic getting bought out. No need to trade for him.

[doogie_hauser]

Miami has some salary space and a bunch of front court guys wonder if they want in on the Simons sweepstakes.

Unless they offer Ware (which they won't) am not interested in what they could offer us for Simons tbh.

Would prefer us to start the season Simons and see how he fits in with Jaylen and the team first

[Marvel]

If Vooch is going to be our starting C i would puke all over myself. Our defense is going to be so bad.

I'm not arguing that Vucevic is a good defensive player or even that the Celtics should try to get him to Boston but I would caution against saying that playing Vucevic automatically means the defense is terrible. He was on plenty of good to very good defenses in Orlando and more recently the 2023 Bulls were a top 5 defense. That was with DeRozan and Lavine starting next to him so it's not like the rest of the lineup gave him a ton of protection.

He has legit size, he tries and he knows the schemes so that's usually enough in the regular season. I'm not sure that holds up in the playoffs but is that relevant to the 2026 Celtics ?

Pass.