Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Celts17Pride]

I don't see Garza automatically nudging out Bassey. They were both Drafted in 2021. Garza #52, Bassey #53.
While Garza has a much better 3pt shot; Bassey's stats are better elsewhere.

I can see a place for both.

Queta 1, Garza 2, Bassey 3. Just like Prozingis 1, Horford 2, Kornet 3 only a massive difference in talent. Hard for me to believe that Queta won't get the first crack at starting center given this is his 3rd year with the Celtics.

Yeah. But why Garza over Bassey?

Look above. Celtics gave him 2 years guaranteed, they want to see what he can do. Bassey isn't even on the team yet.

[Parliament10]

Queta 1, Garza 2, Bassey 3. Just like Prozingis 1, Horford 2, Kornet 3 only a massive difference in talent. Hard for me to believe that Queta won't get the first crack at starting center given this is his 3rd year with the Celtics.

Yeah. But why Garza over Bassey?

Look above. Celtics gave him 2 years guaranteed, they want to see what he can do. Bassey isn't even on the team yet.

That your justification?
I think that all are Equal, until Proven better.

But, let's agree to disagree.

[Patsfan1081]

Based on what? 1 summer league game?

Summer League is not a good indicator for how guys will play in the NBA.

I should hope a guy who's 24 and already has 4 yrs of NBA experience would look good in SL..especially when all he has to do is stand under the basket, catch the ball and lay it in..rebound and block shots.

He's played for the Sixers and Spurs. Neither team is bringing him back. Spurs could use another big on the roster, especially since they need to watch Wemby's mins coming off season ending injury..and they might play double bigs a bit.

Sixers only kept him for a year, then decided to not bring him back. He's been a FA the entire offseason. All 30 teams decided to pass on offering him a contract. Celtics chose to draft Amari..they chose to sign Garza instead of Bassey. We signed Queta a couple yrs ago instead of Bassey.

He's been ok but overall hasn't shown much in the 4 seasons he's been in the NBA.

Apparently all we're signing him to is a training camp deal..

Based on his time with the Spurs.

I think he moves better than Queta.

But I want Bassey to play some PF with the Cs.

Clearly his time with the spurs didn't go so well if the spurs didn't want to bring him back, even though they need another big to help backup Wemby - they have to watch his mins coming off a season ending injury. Wemby and Kornet is not enough bigs.

Yet the spurs decided to not bring him back..he's been a FA all offseason and the other 29 teams all decided against offering him a contract as well. All he got is a training camp deal with us, and he's having to compete for a roster spot, play in summer league, despite having 4 years of NBA experience already. The guy also reclassified and went to a small school. Despite being in the league for four seasons there’s prob more room for development than someone like Garza.

Any guy with 4 yrs of NBA experience yet still having to play in SL..just to try and get a roster spot is likely not very good.

Why would he be able to play PF? He can't shoot, can't pass, can't dribble and can't defend out on the perimeter. He's clearly a 5 and only a 5.

I’m not sure I agree with any of this. His range and handles are pretty decent, and he’s def athletic enough to defend the four and five. Even in small stints in SA his mid range efficiency was decent. There’s a reason he was once regarded as a high lottery pick, though he didn’t do himself any favors going to W Kentucky. SA has Kornet, Biyombo, and old pal Olynyk, plus Carter and Sochan to develop at the four. They simply had better options this year with the open cap space, we don’t. I’m not saying he should be in line for major minutes, but I’d rather take a flyer on him rather than Quetta, Minott, or Garza, who have bigger holes to their games.

[redslastlaugh]

I don't see Garza automatically nudging out Bassey. They were both Drafted in 2021. Garza #52, Bassey #53.
While Garza has a much better 3pt shot; Bassey's stats are better elsewhere.

I can see a place for both.

Queta 1, Garza 2, Bassey 3. Just like Prozingis 1, Horford 2, Kornet 3 only a massive difference in talent. Hard for me to believe that Queta won't get the first crack at starting center given this is his 3rd year with the Celtics.

Yeah. But why Garza over Bassey?

Just the shooting like you said. Bassey has made 3/13 3pt in his limited career. Garza has made 49/156 3pt in his limited career.

I think Celtics preference is a spacing, shooting center, ideally who defends which is why Al and KP were like dream boats. But there is like 5 of those guys in the whole league. Garza doesnt defend but Queta/Bassey dont shoot it at all. non-shooter, shooter, non-shooter sub pattern, maybe

[Hal14]

Yeah. But why Garza over Bassey?

Look above. Celtics gave him 2 years guaranteed, they want to see what he can do. Bassey isn't even on the team yet.

That your justification?
I think that all are Equal, until Proven better.

But, let's agree to disagree.

Clearly the Celtics think Garza is better than Bassey.

Both guys were free agents this summer. There for the taking for all 30 NBA teams.

Both guys have 4 yrs of NBA experience. SO neither is eligible for a 2-way..both are only eligible for a standard contract.

We're pretty deep into the offseason and 0 out of 30 teams have offered Bassey a standard roster spot. All he was able to get was a training camp contract with the Celtics, which we still haven't really got a clear confirmation that he has gotten. Bassey is playing on our SL team just to try and earn a roster spot - either with Boston or perhaps if he is able to catch the eye of 1 of the other 29 NBA teams.

Garza is not playing SL. He has a guaranteed 2 year contract with Boston. We chose to sign Garza to that contract over Bassey..they were both available at the time..

Things could obviously change down the road. But clearly at this point, the Celtics (and the league as a whole) value Garza more than Bassey.

[Patsfan1081]

Pounding the Rocks summary of Bassey….

Charles Bassey
2024-25 stats: 36 games, 4.4 points. 4.2 rebounds, 58.1 FG%
Contract status: unrestricted free agent

Age: 24

Health has not been on Bassey’s side, and for the third year in a row, the injury bug stung him in the knee. After his previous two seasons were ended prematurely by a fractured patella and torn ACL, this time he suffered a bone bruise and only participated in four of the Spurs’ final 35 games. Before that, he had his chances to earn the backup center position as they moved away from Collins, but per usual, inconsistency was the game of the game for Bassey. He looked great and confident in some games, and he looked lost in others. Unfortunately, his latest injury occurred right when Collins was traded and two weeks before Wemby was ruled out, so instead of getting his big chance to start as the team’s only healthy center, he too was lost to injury.
Similar to Biyombo, Bassey’s future may depend on what the Spurs do this summer. Unfortunately, health keeps getting in the way of his development, and that along with inconsistency when he has played shows he also may not be the answer as Wemby’s backup. He could still be a reliable third stringer if the Spurs bring him back, but he could also seek a bigger role elsewhere in free agency.

[Hal14]

Just the shooting like you said. Bassey has made 3/13 3pt in his limited career. Garza has made 49/156 3pt in his limited career.

I think Celtics preference is a spacing, shooting center, ideally who defends which is why Al and KP were like dream boats. But there is like 5 of those guys in the whole league. Garza doesnt defend but Queta/Bassey dont shoot it at all. non-shooter, shooter, non-shooter sub pattern, maybe

Exactly. I think it's the combination of Garza's shooting + feel/basketball IQ/fundamentals that the Celtics like.

He's obviously been a better shooter and has more shooting upside than Bassey.

And Bassey just seems like your typical rim runner type of big who can catch the ball, dunk it, rebound and block shots. He doesn't appear to have much in terms of passing, feel, ability to put the ball on the floor, make advanced reads on either end.

Garza can shoot. He can put the ball on the floor, has a pretty deep bag of moves (facing up or posting up), he's skilled and a smart player.

Also, a direct quote in a Twitter DM from databallr, who runs a basketball stats/analytics site:

"Garza is averaging 27.6 points per 36 on 62% TS in his last 3 seasons with a monster o-reb rate while also spacing the floor. And he absolutely torched the g league in his stints there. I’ve watched him in the NBA, he’s clearly a very good offensive player with a great motor."

Here's one of his tweets about Garza:

Read on Twitter

Now of course, you have to kind of take this with a grain of salt, these per 36 stats for a guy like Garza who was only playing like 8 MPG. We obviously don't know for sure that his numbers would have held up on a much larger amount of MPG. But still, this at least is a clue into what may be some untapped potential in Garza, if given more of a role.

[celticgreenie]

Yeah. But why Garza over Bassey?

Look above. Celtics gave him 2 years guaranteed, they want to see what he can do. Bassey isn't even on the team yet.

That your justification?
I think that all are Equal, until Proven better.

But, let's agree to disagree.

I think you're both right. I could see possibly Garza ahead of Bassey initially due to the 2 year guaranteed contract but if preseason or especially during the regular season we are getting smoked defensively I don't think Mazulla would hesitate to put Bassey in first.

[Patsfan1081]

Queta 1, Garza 2, Bassey 3. Just like Prozingis 1, Horford 2, Kornet 3 only a massive difference in talent. Hard for me to believe that Queta won't get the first crack at starting center given this is his 3rd year with the Celtics.

Yeah. But why Garza over Bassey?

Just the shooting like you said. Bassey has made 3/13 3pt in his limited career. Garza has made 49/156 3pt in his limited career.

I think Celtics preference is a spacing, shooting center, ideally who defends which is why Al and KP were like dream boats. But there is like 5 of those guys in the whole league. Garza doesnt defend but Queta/Bassey dont shoot it at all. non-shooter, shooter, non-shooter sub pattern, maybe

Bassey hit 18/59 threes his final year in college and has had a solid mid range game though not really shown in the pros a whole lot. I wouldn’t call him a non-shooter in comparison to Queta/Timelord. Kornet shot a decent amount of threes throughout his career than pretty much went away from it his final years in Boston. Feels like Brad wants to have a higher motor/more moment, which points to Garza more so Tillman/Queta. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see a couple more moves in the front court.

[Patsfan1081]

Just the shooting like you said. Bassey has made 3/13 3pt in his limited career. Garza has made 49/156 3pt in his limited career.

I think Celtics preference is a spacing, shooting center, ideally who defends which is why Al and KP were like dream boats. But there is like 5 of those guys in the whole league. Garza doesnt defend but Queta/Bassey dont shoot it at all. non-shooter, shooter, non-shooter sub pattern, maybe

Exactly. I think it's the combination of Garza's shooting + feel/basketball IQ/fundamentals that the Celtics like.

He's obviously been a better shooter and has more shooting upside than Bassey.

And Bassey just seems like your typical rim runner type of big who can catch the ball, dunk it, rebound and block shots. He doesn't appear to have much in terms of passing, feel, ability to put the ball on the floor, make advanced reads on either end.

Garza can shoot. He can put the ball on the floor, has a pretty deep bag of moves (facing up or posting up), he's skilled and a smart player.

Also, a direct quote in a Twitter DM from databallr, who runs a basketball stats/analytics site:

"Garza is averaging 27.6 points per 36 on 62% TS in his last 3 seasons with a monster o-reb rate while also spacing the floor. And he absolutely torched the g league in his stints there. I’ve watched him in the NBA, he’s clearly a very good offensive player with a great motor."

Here's one of his tweets about Garza:

Read on Twitter

Now of course, you have to kind of take this with a grain of salt, these per 36 stats for a guy like Garza who was only playing like 8 MPG. We obviously don't know for sure that his numbers would have held up on a much larger amount of MPG. But still, this at least is a clue into what may be some untapped potential in Garza, if given more of a role.

Garza was the oldest player in his draft class, Bassey reclassified to enter early. I’d say at 27 Garza is probably close to his ceiling as can be. In a good situation though all of these guys at best should be the third or fourth big. I have trouble seeing Garza getting minutes from Joe with inefficiencies on the defensive end but they might not have a choice. Just tough to put any hope in someone who was getting healthy scratches every other game.

[Curmudgeon]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

[Celts17Pride]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

Right now with a ton of things that could happen, the last spot is probably between Davison and Bassey. Remember Tatum takes up a spot. Celtics are probably going with 14 players but not a given.

[Parliament10]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

Simons' Contract is killing us. He gotta go. Niang probably is off the roster, too.

[Parliament10]

Key 2025 NBA Offseason Dates, Deadlines

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/04/key-2025-nba-offseason-dates-deadlines.html

July 13
Last day for teams to unilaterally withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

July 31
Players signed using the second-round pick exception begin to count against a team’s cap.

August 5
Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks.

August 29
Last day for teams to waive players and apply the stretch provision to their 2025/26 salaries.

[Curmudgeon]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

Simons' Contract is killing us. He gotta go. Niang probably is off the roster, too.

Unloading Simons won't be easy. If it were, it would have happened already.

[phincsfan]

If there's gonna be an issue with Bassey, it's gonna be the knee. Just like Tillman and just like RWill.

[Fierce1]

If there's gonna be an issue with Bassey, it's gonna be the knee. Just like Tillman and just like RWill.

True.

Bassey just moves better than all the current bigs we have.

It's the agility department where Bassey is superior to the current Celtic bigs.

[Parliament10]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

Simons' Contract is killing us. He gotta go. Niang probably is off the roster, too.

Unloading Simons won't be easy. If it were, it would have happened already.

We gotta try and Trade him with no one coming back, or low salary.
Waiving him isn't ideal either, as he's making $27.6M/1 yr. We'd have to do a 3 year Stretch at $9.2M per.

[cloverleaf]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

Scheierman's more guard, Hugo more SF IMO, and I still question Walsh at the 4, seeing more Hauser there than that. Tillman's more a 4 than 5 (but probably gone anyway).

Fortunately, several players will likely move before the season.

[Parliament10]

So let's take a guess at the Celtics' depth chart as it stands now.
PG Pritchard, Simons [Davison]
SG White, Gonzalez [Peterson]
F Brown, Hauser Scheierman [Craig]
PF Niang, Minot, Walsh [Tatum rehabbing]
C Queta, Garza, Bassey? Tillman [Horford]

2-way contracts
Norris
Shulga
Williams

Players whose names are in in brackets are almost certainly gone.

So they have room for Bassey if he continues to play well and also for Davison-- but only if they are willing to go above the 2nd apron again.

Scheierman's more guard, Hugo more SF IMO, and I still question Walsh at the 4, seeing more Hauser there than that. Tillman's more a 4 than 5 (but probably gone anyway).

Fortunately, several players will likely move before the season.

Agreed.

Tillman's a 4/5
Walsh is a 3/4
Peterson is a 4, but he's a Point-Forward. He can run the Offense.