Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Parliament10]

The Wall of Fame
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Celts17Pride (80)
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phincsfan (62)
redslastlaugh (59)
winsomme2 (56)
hugepatsfan (53)
Larry_Russell (53)
bigfoot_cryptozoology (52)
165bows (51)
Curmudgeon (43)
The Corey's (41)
Shak_Celts (39)
brackdan70 (36)
bucknersrevenge (36)

[Celts17Pride]

I'm here for it!

[hugepatsfan]

The more and more apparent it becomes that Simons is viewed so negatively on that contract, I wonder how that translates into his next deal after the year is up. Is his market the MLE, about $15M on starting salary?

Obviously there are salary considerations with his contract and if we're in the tax or not, but my biggest objection for him as a long term piece on the court is that I think him and Pritchard both playing big roles in the same backcourt is a bad defensive recipe and guys as young as Simons usually find close to or more than their last salary when they hit FA. My think has been that Pritchard at $8M/year is just way more feasible to keep so Simons should be traded to reallocate his salary slot to a big. BUT if the new CBA is leading to a league wide slowdown on overpaying guys just because they're young, then maybe Simons' market crashes. And IDK, maybe if it's Pritchard at $8M plus whatever you get for Simons or Simons at $15M plus whatever you get for Pritchard then perhaps the better strategy would be to keep Pritchard.

If we just for a minute assume a world where Simons/Hauser/Niang/Pritchard all survive the season here (we stay in tax but under 2nd apron), then maybe next year you could re-sign Simons for full MLE type money and Niang for minimum or close to it. Then you trade Pritchard/Hauser/picks in a package for your starting big or even a starting perimeter player so Simons can be the 6th man like Pritchard was last year. Whichever you don't get, use the TPE and actual MLE to fill.

White / Simons
Player X / Hugo
Brown / Scheierman
Tatum / Niang
Player Y / Queta

Player X can play any of PG/SG/SF/PF really. Players X and Y acquired through some combo of:

Pritchard/Hauser/draft picks trade
MLE signing
Porzingis TPE
Actually making our 2016 draft pick (if not traded)

[celticgreenie]

The more and more apparent it becomes that Simons is viewed so negatively on that contract, I wonder how that translates into his next deal after the year is up. Is his market the MLE, about $15M on starting salary?

Obviously there are salary considerations with his contract and if we're in the tax or not, but my biggest objection for him as a long term piece on the court is that I think him and Pritchard both playing big roles in the same backcourt is a bad defensive recipe and guys as young as Simons usually find close to or more than their last salary when they hit FA. My think has been that Pritchard at $8M/year is just way more feasible to keep so Simons should be traded to reallocate his salary slot to a big. BUT if the new CBA is leading to a league wide slowdown on overpaying guys just because they're young, then maybe Simons' market crashes. And IDK, maybe if it's Pritchard at $8M plus whatever you get for Simons or Simons at $15M plus whatever you get for Pritchard then perhaps the better strategy would be to keep Pritchard.

If we just for a minute assume a world where Simons/Hauser/Niang/Pritchard all survive the season here (we stay in tax but under 2nd apron), then maybe next year you could re-sign Simons for full MLE type money and Niang for minimum or close to it. Then you trade Pritchard/Hauser/picks in a package for your starting big or even a starting perimeter player so Simons can be the 6th man like Pritchard was last year. Whichever you don't get, use the TPE and actual MLE to fill.

White / Simons
Player X / Hugo
Brown / Scheierman
Tatum / Niang
Player Y / Queta

Player X can play any of PG/SG/SF/PF really. Players X and Y acquired through some combo of:

Pritchard/Hauser/draft picks trade
MLE signing
Porzingis TPE
Actually making our 2016 draft pick (if not traded)

I like the thought process here. I would add maybe give Simons slightly more than full MLE money just to keep away other teams. Atlanta did that to lure NAW away from the Pistons, but of course Simons would be our own free agent.

I wonder when his archetype will be back in vogue again. It did take a while for traditional centers to come back from extinction.

[darrendaye]

The more and more apparent it becomes that Simons is viewed so negatively on that contract, I wonder how that translates into his next deal after the year is up. Is his market the MLE, about $15M on starting salary?

Obviously there are salary considerations with his contract and if we're in the tax or not, but my biggest objection for him as a long term piece on the court is that I think him and Pritchard both playing big roles in the same backcourt is a bad defensive recipe and guys as young as Simons usually find close to or more than their last salary when they hit FA. My think has been that Pritchard at $8M/year is just way more feasible to keep so Simons should be traded to reallocate his salary slot to a big. BUT if the new CBA is leading to a league wide slowdown on overpaying guys just because they're young, then maybe Simons' market crashes. And IDK, maybe if it's Pritchard at $8M plus whatever you get for Simons or Simons at $15M plus whatever you get for Pritchard then perhaps the better strategy would be to keep Pritchard.

If we just for a minute assume a world where Simons/Hauser/Niang/Pritchard all survive the season here (we stay in tax but under 2nd apron), then maybe next year you could re-sign Simons for full MLE type money and Niang for minimum or close to it. Then you trade Pritchard/Hauser/picks in a package for your starting big or even a starting perimeter player so Simons can be the 6th man like Pritchard was last year. Whichever you don't get, use the TPE and actual MLE to fill.

White / Simons
Player X / Hugo
Brown / Scheierman
Tatum / Niang
Player Y / Queta

Player X can play any of PG/SG/SF/PF really. Players X and Y acquired through some combo of:

Pritchard/Hauser/draft picks trade
MLE signing
Porzingis TPE
Actually making our 2016 draft pick (if not traded)

Does the TPE open up if still over the 1st apron? I though they had to get under (and in using it staying under)?

[hugepatsfan]

The more and more apparent it becomes that Simons is viewed so negatively on that contract, I wonder how that translates into his next deal after the year is up. Is his market the MLE, about $15M on starting salary?

Obviously there are salary considerations with his contract and if we're in the tax or not, but my biggest objection for him as a long term piece on the court is that I think him and Pritchard both playing big roles in the same backcourt is a bad defensive recipe and guys as young as Simons usually find close to or more than their last salary when they hit FA. My think has been that Pritchard at $8M/year is just way more feasible to keep so Simons should be traded to reallocate his salary slot to a big. BUT if the new CBA is leading to a league wide slowdown on overpaying guys just because they're young, then maybe Simons' market crashes. And IDK, maybe if it's Pritchard at $8M plus whatever you get for Simons or Simons at $15M plus whatever you get for Pritchard then perhaps the better strategy would be to keep Pritchard.

If we just for a minute assume a world where Simons/Hauser/Niang/Pritchard all survive the season here (we stay in tax but under 2nd apron), then maybe next year you could re-sign Simons for full MLE type money and Niang for minimum or close to it. Then you trade Pritchard/Hauser/picks in a package for your starting big or even a starting perimeter player so Simons can be the 6th man like Pritchard was last year. Whichever you don't get, use the TPE and actual MLE to fill.

White / Simons
Player X / Hugo
Brown / Scheierman
Tatum / Niang
Player Y / Queta

Player X can play any of PG/SG/SF/PF really. Players X and Y acquired through some combo of:

Pritchard/Hauser/draft picks trade
MLE signing
Porzingis TPE
Actually making our 2016 draft pick (if not traded)

Does the TPE open up if still over the 1st apron? I though they had to get under (and in using it staying under)?

Good point. Using a TPE generated in a prior season triggers hard cap at first apron. So if we used that Porzingis TPE next year we're hard capped at first apron.

Right now, for 26-27 we have 11 players signed for $180,626,999. That's $20.4M under the tax line, $29.0M under the 1st apron and $41.7M over the 2nd apron.

So if we re-signed Simons for call it $17M, then it probably gets tough to use the TPE in a meaningful way, yeah. Wouldn't even be able to use the full MLE.

Also, my plan of trading Hauser/Pritchard ($18.6M salary in 26-27 between them) for a $25M starter would also hard cap them at 1st apron.

So honestly, on further review of this stupid frickin CBA I seem to have greatly overstated our flexibility if Simons is kept at that number.

[phincsfan]

If SL doesn't go well for a few guys, I predict Stevens gives Peterson a contract.

[cloverleaf]

I hope Brad's out there schmoozing for a trade or two in Vegas.

[31to6]

If SL doesn't go well for a few guys, I predict Stevens gives Peterson a contract.

DOWN WITH THE PETERSON FANS!!!
also isn't he on someone else's SL roster?
it's time to move on
time for the division to end

[Fierce1]

I'm hoping we can buck the trend because the pattern is really the Celtics win a championship every other decade.

That's been happening since 1986.

1986-2008-2024

If that's the pattern then Cs will be due in the 2040s.

The good news is the enermous amount of pressure for the Jays to win a chip has passed.

After all those ECF appearances and twice in the Finals and end up with no championship, that would have been horrible.

[Fierce1]

Whatever happens in free-agency and whether Brad makes a trade or not, if the Cs can present us with entertaining basketball then that's the next best thing to winning a chip.

[The Corey's]

It's about patriot season boys. Enjoy the summer.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Celtics Could Pursue LeBron James If Lakers Buyout Happens

For the Celtics, pursuing LeBron makes more sense than most people might realize. With Jayson Tatum expected to miss the 2025-26 season, James could fill a significant chunk of the void without cutting into Boston’s long-term cap space. A buyout situation would minimize financial strain for Brad Stevens, allowing the Celtics to pair LeBron with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, forming a formidable core in a weak Eastern Conference.

LeBron’s arrival could thrust the Celtics right back into serious East contention conversations. And if all went swimmingly this season, LeBron could even stay on for one more year, setting up a 2026-27 epic run alongside Tatum.

https://nesn.com/2025/07/celtics-could-pursue-lebron-james-if-lakers-buyout-happens/

[redslastlaugh]

I see NESN is smoking crack again

Celtics Could Pursue LeBron James If Lakers Buyout Happens

For the Celtics, pursuing LeBron makes more sense than most people might realize. With Jayson Tatum expected to miss the 2025-26 season, James could fill a significant chunk of the void without cutting into Boston’s long-term cap space. A buyout situation would minimize financial strain for Brad Stevens, allowing the Celtics to pair LeBron with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, forming a formidable core in a weak Eastern Conference.

LeBron’s arrival could thrust the Celtics right back into serious East contention conversations. And if all went swimmingly this season, LeBron could even stay on for one more year, setting up a 2026-27 epic run alongside Tatum.

https://nesn.com/2025/07/celtics-could-pursue-lebron-james-if-lakers-buyout-happens/

[Fierce1]

If Lebron wants to come to Boston, Brad and the Celtics will not say no.

I'll only believe it once it happens.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Read on Twitter

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

It's the Bassey Hype Train gathering steam...

Read on Twitter

[Fierce1]

Sign Bassey.

He should be the best big on the Celtic roster.

[winsomme2]

If Lebron wants to come to Boston, Brad and the Celtics will not say no.

I'll only believe it once it happens.

If LeBron is bought out and agrees to come to Boston, that would tell me that he talked to Tatum and Tatum told him he has every intention of coming back next year.

DWhite
JB
JT
Lebron
BIg Al?

PP
Hugo
Hauser
Minott
Queta/Garza?

[165bows]

The more and more apparent it becomes that Simons is viewed so negatively on that contract, I wonder how that translates into his next deal after the year is up. Is his market the MLE, about $15M on starting salary?

Obviously there are salary considerations with his contract and if we're in the tax or not, but my biggest objection for him as a long term piece on the court is that I think him and Pritchard both playing big roles in the same backcourt is a bad defensive recipe and guys as young as Simons usually find close to or more than their last salary when they hit FA. My think has been that Pritchard at $8M/year is just way more feasible to keep so Simons should be traded to reallocate his salary slot to a big. BUT if the new CBA is leading to a league wide slowdown on overpaying guys just because they're young, then maybe Simons' market crashes. And IDK, maybe if it's Pritchard at $8M plus whatever you get for Simons or Simons at $15M plus whatever you get for Pritchard then perhaps the better strategy would be to keep Pritchard.

If we just for a minute assume a world where Simons/Hauser/Niang/Pritchard all survive the season here (we stay in tax but under 2nd apron), then maybe next year you could re-sign Simons for full MLE type money and Niang for minimum or close to it. Then you trade Pritchard/Hauser/picks in a package for your starting big or even a starting perimeter player so Simons can be the 6th man like Pritchard was last year. Whichever you don't get, use the TPE and actual MLE to fill.

White / Simons
Player X / Hugo
Brown / Scheierman
Tatum / Niang
Player Y / Queta

Player X can play any of PG/SG/SF/PF really. Players X and Y acquired through some combo of:

Pritchard/Hauser/draft picks trade
MLE signing
Porzingis TPE
Actually making our 2016 draft pick (if not traded)

Does the TPE open up if still over the 1st apron? I though they had to get under (and in using it staying under)?

Good point. Using a TPE generated in a prior season triggers hard cap at first apron. So if we used that Porzingis TPE next year we're hard capped at first apron.

Right now, for 26-27 we have 11 players signed for $180,626,999. That's $20.4M under the tax line, $29.0M under the 1st apron and $41.7M over the 2nd apron.

So if we re-signed Simons for call it $17M, then it probably gets tough to use the TPE in a meaningful way, yeah. Wouldn't even be able to use the full MLE.

Also, my plan of trading Hauser/Pritchard ($18.6M salary in 26-27 between them) for a $25M starter would also hard cap them at 1st apron.

So honestly, on further review of this stupid frickin CBA I seem to have greatly overstated our flexibility if Simons is kept at that number.

If Simons stays it’s at a 7 figure number but it’s a bit of a Catch 22 if he’s really good he will get something.

So it’s kind of a he over performs but loves it here situation.