Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Celts17Pride]

Simons is gone to the first team that can offer young players, draft picks, expiring contracts and major salary cap reduction without the Celtics giving up draft capital. Teams have interest in Simons, they just can't meet those expectations. There are only two teams with cap space, Brooklyn $19+ million and Utah $4+ million. Any deal for Simons will have the Nets involved which means he will most likely be staying for now.

[Celts17Pride]

That's a lot of money for a non Playoff Team...

Read on Twitter

Which is why Simons will be moved one way or another.

Plenty of contenders around the NBA have given up first-round picks to cut some spending and tax bills lately. The Celtics posturing that they will not be one of those teams publicly should at least help Stevens in trade negotiations, where cutting payroll could be a goal.

Despite those remarks, it’s important to consider the financials here for the Celtics moving forward. Currently, they are projected to pay $88.4 million in luxury tax penalties for the 2025-26 season. That would be the biggest tax bill Celtics ownership has ever paid for a team in franchise history by a long shot. The previous high was 2022-23 ($70 million). The Celtics are only $20 million over the luxury tax line with this roster but are still on the hook for $88.4 million in tax penalties for now due to the stiff repeater tax penalties that kick in this season under the new CBA.

Currently, any additional dollar spent on Boston’s roster costs the team $6.75 in tax penalties so you can rule out any more additions to this group that increase the current number. At those ratios, even one more minimum contract costs Boston $15 million plus the salary itself ($2.4 million).

Instead, it’s fair to look at the Celtics’ situation now and infer that further tweaks are coming simply because it does not make sense to spend this kind of money on a team with Jayson Tatum potentially sidelined for the year from a strategic standpoint. Reducing payroll for the 2025-26 season to reallocate that money for next season’s group with a bigger spend for 2026-27 makes a lot more sense (assuming ownership does not have an unlimited budget) than paying the second-highest tax bill in the league ($88 million) for a team not currently projected to be in the top half of the East next year.

[165bows]

Maybe the dog didn't bark--because there wasn't a dog?

Actually someone had a report that Bassey had been working out mysteriously in Boston several days before SL. I forget who it was.

Yeah that's the whole point of my first post, not about reporting but about the idea that no one wanted or picked up Bassey. Dude had an agreement with the Celtics to come to SL and camp and my assumption is the whole point is to see that he's healthy.

Celtics are not signing Bassey because they are "Purposely trying not to win" which is different than "Purposely trying to lose". The Celtics will go with the very young players and washouts (Tillman) because it gives them the best chance to lose. Brad Stevens is not going to add players that might get you 2-6 more wins. Same can be said for Nikola Vucevic. Everything is about 2026/2027.

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

[Celts17Pride]

Yeah that's the whole point of my first post, not about reporting but about the idea that no one wanted or picked up Bassey. Dude had an agreement with the Celtics to come to SL and camp and my assumption is the whole point is to see that he's healthy.

Celtics are not signing Bassey because they are "Purposely trying not to win" which is different than "Purposely trying to lose". The Celtics will go with the very young players and washouts (Tillman) because it gives them the best chance to lose. Brad Stevens is not going to add players that might get you 2-6 more wins. Same can be said for Nikola Vucevic. Everything is about 2026/2027.

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

[chrisab123]

Celtics are not signing Bassey because they are "Purposely trying not to win" which is different than "Purposely trying to lose". The Celtics will go with the very young players and washouts (Tillman) because it gives them the best chance to lose. Brad Stevens is not going to add players that might get you 2-6 more wins. Same can be said for Nikola Vucevic. Everything is about 2026/2027.

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Curious how you expect the Celtics in a crappy east to get under 35 wins while keeping White and Brown. I think people are underrating this roster and overrating its ability to tank. Like I know the goal on here is to get a team that’s so bad it tanks and gets a pick for one or two years, even though the 2027 draft looks like ass. But it’s not likely. People are going to be pissed when they play hard, especially Brown. Brown is a perennial all star and White is borderline. In a stars league they’ll beat up on teams like the Wizards and Jazz all day.

[165bows]

Celtics are not signing Bassey because they are "Purposely trying not to win" which is different than "Purposely trying to lose". The Celtics will go with the very young players and washouts (Tillman) because it gives them the best chance to lose. Brad Stevens is not going to add players that might get you 2-6 more wins. Same can be said for Nikola Vucevic. Everything is about 2026/2027.

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Sure and I'm totally fine with that, they lost this season (and last year's prime opportunity as well) and it's a big loss. Just saying the move for Simons is for Smart but he's not pulling that trigger and same type of thing would be there for Niang as well. Not only does Simons have zero other homes right now Brad's going to try to get his 2-4 2nd round picks from those guys while he ratchets down in salary.

In other words he's at the mercy of the market (eg if/once Giannis gets moved, that creates room for Simons) to get anything that isn't trash but he could get worse and cheaper today if he chose imo.

[chrisab123]

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Sure and I'm totally fine with that, they lost this season (and last year's prime opportunity as well) and it's a big loss. Just saying the move for Simons is for Smart but he's not pulling that trigger and same type of thing would be there for Niang as well. Not only does Simons have zero other homes right now Brad's going to try to get his 2-4 2nd round picks from those guys while he ratchets down in salary.

In other words he's at the mercy of the market (eg if/once Giannis gets moved, that creates room for Simons) to get anything that isn't trash but he could get worse and cheaper today if he chose imo.

Smart would create issues with Prichard and White and to a lesser extent Brown. Especially this year when they have no Tatum, Smart would want the ball in crunch time and would want to be the Captain again. No thanks

[Celts17Pride]

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Curious how you expect the Celtics in a crappy east to get under 35 wins while keeping White and Brown. I think people are underrating this roster and overrating its ability to tank. Like I know the goal on here is to get a team that’s so bad it tanks and gets a pick for one or two years, even though the 2027 draft looks like ass. But it’s not likely. People are going to be pissed when they play hard, especially Brown. Brown is a perennial all star and White is borderline. In a stars league they’ll beat up on teams like the Wizards and Jazz all day.

The Celtics with Pritchard, Simons, Hauser, Niang, Queta, Garza, Tillman. A Williams etc. Who are they stopping on defense? The offense without Tatum, Holiday, Horford, Porzingis and Kornet are certainly not going to be better than the 119.5 ORTG (2nd in in the NBA). I actually think people in this forum are overrating the 2025/2026 Boston Celtics.

[Celts17Pride]

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Sure and I'm totally fine with that, they lost this season (and last year's prime opportunity as well) and it's a big loss. Just saying the move for Simons is for Smart but he's not pulling that trigger and same type of thing would be there for Niang as well. Not only does Simons have zero other homes right now Brad's going to try to get his 2-4 2nd round picks from those guys while he ratchets down in salary.

In other words he's at the mercy of the market (eg if/once Giannis gets moved, that creates room for Simons) to get anything that isn't trash but he could get worse and cheaper today if he chose imo.

Brad Stevens is going to do a series of moves in my opinion, for example I will use your player Smart

1. Hoilday for Simons - saves $4.8 million
2. Simons for Smart - saves $6.0 million
3. Smart for ? at mid-season trade deadline - saves $X million

Same thing for Niang. I just don't think Stevens goes for Smart because he brings complications. The next big time for the Celtics will be in mid to late September when Stevens can combine salaries with Simons and Niang. Still wouldn't surprise me if Simons or Niang never wear a Celtics uniform this year.

[Hal14]

Jrue Holiday went to Portland and introduced himself to team personnel. Has Simons even been in Boston at all? No introductory press conference and no appearance in Boston most likely indicates he's being traded.

I don't recall seeing an introductory press conference for Jrue in Portland or KD in Houston, or Bane in Orlando, or Poole in New Orleans or Lopez with the Clippers, or Jalen Green with the Suns or Powell with the Heat, CJ with the Wizards, etc.

There's been what, like 40+ guys who have changed teams this offseason, I think the only 1 I've seen an introductory press conference for was Luke Kornet.

I guess everyone else besides Luke is getting traded

I also wouldn't assume Simons hasn't been in Boston yet. I know we live in a digital/social media world these days where so much of the private lives for these players/coaches ends up getting out there but not everything these guys do gets out there.

The Celtics social media team has made multiple posts about Simons. One was a "Welcome to Boston" post with his picture about a week ago. And also about a week ago the team's social media made another post, with a highlight video of him with the caption "Anfernee Sizzle".

Brad has also been quoted multiple times now talking about how he likes Simons as a player, what he thinks Simons can bring to the team, etc.

Also, Simons hears the trade rumors. He knows he's in trade rumors. Most guys don't come into their team's facility much during the offseason. They spend their offseasons with friends, family, relaxing, going on vacations, working out back home with their trainer, doing open runs with other NBA players. I believe Simons spends his offseasons in Florida. Why come all the way up here from Florida and meet with our staff, tour the facility and stuff if there's a chance that any day now, it could get announced that you're traded out of town? Seems like a chance that could be a wasted trip.

Maybe he is just chilling back home, working out and waiting for the dust to settle and if it turns out he is staying in Boston, then he'll come up. Or maybe he has already been in Boston meeting with the team, we just don't know about it yet..

You should really do your homework before posting.I'll do it for you here.

-The Rockets franchise put out a "welcome to Houston" video for Durant.
-The Suns have a welcome to Phoenix video posted about Jalen Green
-The Wizards facebook page has a welcome post for CJ McCollum.

Maybe you should do yours

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

So only 1 post each about KD, Green and CJ by their new team, but 3 posts by the C's for Simons. Interesting..

You also seemed to conveniently ignore the part of my post in bold.

The entire offseason, the only posts I have seen anywhere that show a Celtics player in our facilities in Boston are the summer league guys, JB, JT and Queta. That's it. Guess the rest of the team is getting traded

We also saw Niang at the garden for the Suns game but he is is from Massachusetts so that makes sense..he probably spends quite a bit of time every offseason back home in Mass.

It's the offseason. Most spend it back home with friends/family, their trainers and then start trickling back into the facility during the weeks leading up to training camp. Younger players (with like 3 years or less of NBA experience) typically come into the facility sooner than the vets, for offseason workouts. Simons is a vet..I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't step foot in Boston until sometime in September..especially given the trade rumors.

[Larry_Russell]

I don't recall seeing an introductory press conference for Jrue in Portland or KD in Houston, or Bane in Orlando, or Poole in New Orleans or Lopez with the Clippers, or Jalen Green with the Suns or Powell with the Heat, CJ with the Wizards, etc.

There's been what, like 40+ guys who have changed teams this offseason, I think the only 1 I've seen an introductory press conference for was Luke Kornet.

I guess everyone else besides Luke is getting traded

I also wouldn't assume Simons hasn't been in Boston yet. I know we live in a digital/social media world these days where so much of the private lives for these players/coaches ends up getting out there but not everything these guys do gets out there.

The Celtics social media team has made multiple posts about Simons. One was a "Welcome to Boston" post with his picture about a week ago. And also about a week ago the team's social media made another post, with a highlight video of him with the caption "Anfernee Sizzle".

Brad has also been quoted multiple times now talking about how he likes Simons as a player, what he thinks Simons can bring to the team, etc.

Also, Simons hears the trade rumors. He knows he's in trade rumors. Most guys don't come into their team's facility much during the offseason. They spend their offseasons with friends, family, relaxing, going on vacations, working out back home with their trainer, doing open runs with other NBA players. I believe Simons spends his offseasons in Florida. Why come all the way up here from Florida and meet with our staff, tour the facility and stuff if there's a chance that any day now, it could get announced that you're traded out of town? Seems like a chance that could be a wasted trip.

Maybe he is just chilling back home, working out and waiting for the dust to settle and if it turns out he is staying in Boston, then he'll come up. Or maybe he has already been in Boston meeting with the team, we just don't know about it yet..

You should really do your homework before posting.I'll do it for you here.

-The Rockets franchise put out a "welcome to Houston" video for Durant.
-The Suns have a welcome to Phoenix video posted about Jalen Green
-The Wizards facebook page has a welcome post for CJ McCollum.

Maybe you should do yours

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

So only 1 post each about KD, Green and CJ by their new team, but 3 posts by the C's for Simons. Interesting..

You also seemed to conveniently ignore the part of my post in bold.

The entire offseason, the only posts I have seen anywhere that show a Celtics player in our facilities in Boston are the summer league guys, JB, JT and Queta. That's it. Guess the rest of the team is getting traded

We also saw Niang at the garden for the Suns game but he is is from Massachusetts so that makes sense..he probably spends quite a bit of time every offseason back home in Mass.

It's the offseason. Most spend it back home with friends/family, their trainers and then start trickling back into the facility during the weeks leading up to training camp. Younger players (with like 3 years or less of NBA experience) typically come into the facility sooner than the vets, for offseason workouts. Simons is a vet..I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't step foot in Boston until sometime in September..especially given the trade rumors.

I know you and a few other love to hype of Simons.

But he sucks and is a detriment to the team and all this nonsense from Media is to try and do one of a couple of things:

1) Raise his trade value (wont work)
2) Sell season tickets (shouldnt work)

Best case scenario is that Simons is traded for a young guy and a pick and savings now
mediumist scenario is that he expires in the offseason and the cash is used to get an actual good player and during the season Simons contributes to loses

Worst case scenario is Simons plays for a contract, increases team win total by a few games and puts them picking around 6-10 in a top 5 loaded draft and gets resigned by brad while continuing to be a 1 dimensional low IQ player.


I am strongly afraid of the last option, but am very convinced that it is what is going to happen.

[fallguy]

Celtics are not signing Bassey because they are "Purposely trying not to win" which is different than "Purposely trying to lose". The Celtics will go with the very young players and washouts (Tillman) because it gives them the best chance to lose. Brad Stevens is not going to add players that might get you 2-6 more wins. Same can be said for Nikola Vucevic. Everything is about 2026/2027.

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Agree with all of this.

Especially the part about Simons not being introduced to the media. That's a huge tell.

[fallguy]

I'll reiterate a point I made a couple of weeks ago:

We are in a single transaction window that started last month and ends about a year from now. In that window, we are building for 26-27. There is almost no thought being given to the 25-26 team except inasmuch as it allows for development or financial flexibility to set up the year following.

[Celts17Pride]

I'll reiterate a point I made a couple of weeks ago:

We are in a single transaction window that started last month and ends about a year from now. In that window, we are building for 26-27. There is almost no thought being given to the 25-26 team except inasmuch as it allows for development or financial flexibility to set up the year following.

Bingo!

The quicker people realize this, the happier they will be for next year.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Best contract in the NBA ...

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Agree with all of this.

Especially the part about Simons not being introduced to the media. That's a huge tell.

Oh please. Neither has KD, neither has Jordan Poole, neither has Niang, neither has McCollum, Olynyk, Jalen Green, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Dillon Brooks, Capela, Finney-Smith, Michael Porter Jr, Cam Johnson, Ty Jerome, Dennis Schroder, Deangelo Russell, John Collins, Collin Sexton, Jusuf Nurkic, Kennard, etc. Guess they're all getting traded..

Most of the time, vets spend the offseason back home, with friends/family, going on vacations, working out with their trainer, etc. And don't show up at their team's facility till right before training camp. Why bother wasting a trip across the country and back in the middle of the offseason? Especially if you're in trade rumors.

Being in trade rumors doesn't mean you'll get traded. Just ask JB, Myles Turner and the many other players who were with a team for awhile, had trade rumors but didn't get moved.

Is it possible Simons gets traded? Yes, of course.

But acting like it's a guarantee it'll happen just because he hasn't spoken to boston media since the trade sounds like some silly conspiracy theories and overthinking it. For all we know, he's been in Boston multiple times since the trade..not everything these guys do every second of every day is reported or posted on social media.

Niang was in Boston at the Suns game but he's from Massachusetts. But to my knowledge, Niang didn't speak to any Boston media, even though he was in Boston. Oh no! Sound the alarms! It's a huge tell he's getting traded!

Minott and Garza met with the C's media but it wasn't an official introductory press conference with Brad, Joe or any other team execs there. It was just a few reporters stuck a microphone in front of them because they happened to be at summer league..who knows, maybe they only wanted to go to Vegas to party and do some gambling and figured check out a C's game while they were there.

Who knows, I wouldn't overthink it..

Plus, this is 2025. A lot of conversations (like conversations between Simons and Brad, Simons and Joe, etc.) can just be had on a phone call or on a zoom call these days. That way you're not making a guy leave his family/friends/vacation destination of facility where he prefers to work out in the offseasons to make an unnecessary cross country trip.

[Celts17Pride]

People that fall in love with players on this Boston Celtics roster are going to have a real tough time this year. Going to be a ton of movement. If you don't think so then you simply just don't understand the situation. Best to just come back in the summer of 2026.

[Celts17Pride]

Agree and disgree, I think it's a very safe assumption that a Simons for Smart trade was something that was offered and turned down by Brad. Just an assumption but he got decent expirings back that can help this team when he could have gotten worse ones if he'd wanted.

Brack's 32-48 range in the other thread is very good imo because he is threading the needle with rebuilding and not just sucking altogether.

Celtics won't touch 35 wins. This is just the beginning. Simons will be moved. Niang will be moved. People need to get their heads around this. This year is about dropping salary, playing young players, losing for a high draft pick and getting below the 2nd, 1st aprons and hopefully below the luxury tax while keeping the core of Brown, White, Tatum and Pritchard intact. Nothing else matters. People expecting anything else are going to be severely disappointed. There is a reason why Simons hasn't been anywhere near Boston, he doesn't expect to be here at the start of the season.

Brad Stevens is going to be extremely active between now and the mid-season trade deadline.

Sure and I'm totally fine with that, they lost this season (and last year's prime opportunity as well) and it's a big loss. Just saying the move for Simons is for Smart but he's not pulling that trigger and same type of thing would be there for Niang as well. Not only does Simons have zero other homes right now Brad's going to try to get his 2-4 2nd round picks from those guys while he ratchets down in salary.

In other words he's at the mercy of the market (eg if/once Giannis gets moved, that creates room for Simons) to get anything that isn't trash but he could get worse and cheaper today if he chose imo.

Brad Stevens wants some expiring for Simons that he can trade again at the trade deadline to reduce the payroll even more. Players like Smart, Vucevic, Vincent, Kleber are very dicey. Stevens may not be able to move them again.

[redslastlaugh]

I think the problem is that no team is offering positive value for Simons. What Brad said at the presser is that he's not willing to include Celtics first round pick or picks to move Simons (or Niang). And of course Simons is still on the team. Connecting the dots, teams want a first (I bet ainge asked for TWO future firsts) to take Simons andd Brad said no.

This whole mess is a mess.

edit: The problem with giving out extensions at levels that push the team so far into the tax/apron is that you need a counterparty to get you out of that spot once you have booked yourself into it. We can't achieve our objectives without help from other teams. Other teams know this and want to use our predicament to take Celtics draft assets for helping us. We're in a very tough spot for negotiating.

Simons is gone to the first team that can offer young players, draft picks, expiring contracts and major salary cap reduction without the Celtics giving up draft capital. Teams have interest in Simons, they just can't meet those expectations. There are only two teams with cap space, Brooklyn $19+ million and Utah $4+ million. Any deal for Simons will have the Nets involved which means he will most likely be staying for now.

[Celts17Pride]

I think the problem is that no team is offering positive value for Simons. What Brad said at the presser is that he's not willing to include Celtics first round pick or picks to move Simons (or Niang). And of course Simons is still on the team. Connecting the dots, teams want a first (I bet ainge asked for TWO future firsts) to take Simons andd Brad said no. Eventually, capspace teams will spend their remaining space to get up to the salary floor and won't have cap space left.

Probably, Brad caves and gives a first or two, which would be freakin awful. Or he can find a Niang + seconds trade into an exception and he can find simons for players with less 2025-26 money but with future years of bad money like Kuzma. This whole mess is a mess.

Simons is gone to the first team that can offer young players, draft picks, expiring contracts and major salary cap reduction without the Celtics giving up draft capital. Teams have interest in Simons, they just can't meet those expectations. There are only two teams with cap space, Brooklyn $19+ million and Utah $4+ million. Any deal for Simons will have the Nets involved which means he will most likely be staying for now.

I don't think the teams that are interested in Simons want a 1st from the Celtics, they want to send longer term deals to the Celtics and the Celtics only want expiring contracts that Stevens can trade again at the deadline.

The only team that could take Simons and give significant salary cap reduction would be Brooklyn and the Nets are most definitely selling their cap space (for just this year) for 1st round picks.