Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[cl2117]

1) I think what Jake Fischer was saying is that the C's simply didn't like any of the guys in that draft range - at least not enough to make a move. Guys we could have possibly taken in that spot are like Queen, Maluach, CMB, Essengue, Carter Bryant Maybe Coward but he would have considered a bit of a reach that high (was projected to go in like the 13-22 range, Memphis reached for him)

I think maybe Boston just didn't love that group so much. At least not that high in the draft and with what we'd have to give up

2) It's just a rumor that we were offered 9 for Jrue. The clip where Bobby manning interviews Jake Fischer about it, the way Fischer words it is confusing. Like Bobby tries to confirm that Jrue was on the table and Fisher says "I think so". Like hmm, you don't sound so sure about that lol.

Then you sell off #9 for a 2026 1st.

No one was giving a 2026 1st for the 9th pick. Draft is too loaded. This draft was more or less a JAG draft after number 2 and probably will have a couple of role players and a bunch of wash outs.

Even if the Celtics get the 15-17 pick I would probably put money on that player making more of an impact than anyone in the back end of that top 10. Hell the Nets couldn’t even unload a pick in the 20s to trade back. That’s how bad this draft was.

Pelicans traded their NOP/MIL 2026 first and #23 for #13, so you're flat out wrong to say no one would trade a 2026 first for #9.

[Bad-Thoma]

I mean 9 would have been nice, but Barrett for two years would be dumb.
Would have had to use a first to dump him.
I like Simons better as a player and definitely like the contract better. Number nine pick evens out the value for sure and maybe then some, but Celtics needed to shave salary. I get the move by Stevens….but, damn.

Barrett is a vastly superior player to simons.

Jesus man.

True but I’m not taking on that money. Raptors have some decent pieces but they’re all overpaid. At least Simons expires after this year.

People’s heads spin about not wanting the 9th pick in a crappy draft. There’s a reason why Toronto was dangling that pick. After the first few picks it was an absolute toss up on who to draft. 9th pick has a guaranteed number attached to it. No one at that point was worth paying that number plus taking on Barrett for an extra year. But I don’t think anyone is saying Simons is a better player.

I'd say Barrett is a better player but "vastly superior" is definitely hyperbolic. Their numbers are kind of similar, I'd rather have Barrett for his defense and therefore as the overall player but on offense I'd take Simons. Neither is the model of consistency but Simons is a career 88% free throw shooter and he turns the ball over less.

I don't believe for a second that Jrue for 9 and Barrett was on the table though, that'd be a giant overpay by Toronto. Simons and 2 seconds felt like a bit of an overpay by Portland and we didn't even end up with that.

[Hal14]

I mean 9 would have been nice, but Barrett for two years would be dumb.
Would have had to use a first to dump him.
I like Simons better as a player and definitely like the contract better. Number nine pick evens out the value for sure and maybe then some, but Celtics needed to shave salary. I get the move by Stevens….but, damn.

Barrett is a vastly superior player to simons.

Jesus man.

True but I’m not taking on that money. Raptors have some decent pieces but they’re all overpaid. At least Simons expires after this year.

People’s heads spin about not wanting the 9th pick in a crappy draft. There’s a reason why Toronto was dangling that pick. After the first few picks it was an absolute toss up on who to draft. 9th pick has a guaranteed number attached to it. No one at that point was worth paying that number plus taking on Barrett for an extra year. But I don’t think anyone is saying Simons is a better player.

FWIW, on Bill Simmons Trade Value Rankings, neither Simons nor Barrett cracks the top 85.

Simons is in a section called "solid assets who can't believe they didn't crack the top 80" along with Jalen Green, PJ Washington, Giddey, Derozan, Draymond and Caruso.

Barrett is nowhere listed at all in the trade value rankings, implying he's a negative asset, ranked outside of the top 125 contracts in the league (there's 125 players listed in the article) which was last updated in January, so prior to the 2025 draft.

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value

[phincsfan]

I mean 9 would have been nice, but Barrett for two years would be dumb.
Would have had to use a first to dump him.
I like Simons better as a player and definitely like the contract better. Number nine pick evens out the value for sure and maybe then some, but Celtics needed to shave salary. I get the move by Stevens….but, damn.

Barrett is a vastly superior player to simons.

Jesus man.

True but I’m not taking on that money. Raptors have some decent pieces but they’re all overpaid. At least Simons expires after this year.

People’s heads spin about not wanting the 9th pick in a crappy draft. There’s a reason why Toronto was dangling that pick. After the first few picks it was an absolute toss up on who to draft. 9th pick has a guaranteed number attached to it. No one at that point was worth paying that number plus taking on Barrett for an extra year. But I don’t think anyone is saying Simons is a better player.

Raptors feel they are contenders this season and if true wanted a seasoned vet like Jrue. Giving up a 9th pick doesn’t necessarily mean it’s because the draft is weak. For them they may feel a player like Jrue is more valuable than a draft pick.

[phincsfan]

1) I think what Jake Fischer was saying is that the C's simply didn't like any of the guys in that draft range - at least not enough to make a move. Guys we could have possibly taken in that spot are like Queen, Maluach, CMB, Essengue, Carter Bryant Maybe Coward but he would have considered a bit of a reach that high (was projected to go in like the 13-22 range, Memphis reached for him)

I think maybe Boston just didn't love that group so much. At least not that high in the draft and with what we'd have to give up

2) It's just a rumor that we were offered 9 for Jrue. The clip where Bobby manning interviews Jake Fischer about it, the way Fischer words it is confusing. Like Bobby tries to confirm that Jrue was on the table and Fisher says "I think so". Like hmm, you don't sound so sure about that lol.

Then you sell off #9 for a 2026 1st.

No one was giving a 2026 1st for the 9th pick. Draft is too loaded. This draft was more or less a JAG draft after number 2 and probably will have a couple of role players and a bunch of wash outs.

Even if the Celtics get the 15-17 pick I would probably put money on that player making more of an impact than anyone in the back end of that top 10. Hell the Nets couldn’t even unload a pick in the 20s to trade back. That’s how bad this draft was.

If the C’s had the 9th pick there would be at least 3 “2025 Celtics draft talk” threads lol

[chrisab123]

Then you sell off #9 for a 2026 1st.

No one was giving a 2026 1st for the 9th pick. Draft is too loaded. This draft was more or less a JAG draft after number 2 and probably will have a couple of role players and a bunch of wash outs.

Even if the Celtics get the 15-17 pick I would probably put money on that player making more of an impact than anyone in the back end of that top 10. Hell the Nets couldn’t even unload a pick in the 20s to trade back. That’s how bad this draft was.

Pelicans traded their NOP/MIL 2026 first and #23 for #13, so you're flat out wrong to say no one would trade a 2026 first for #9.

I guess there’s always one moron in the NBA. Dumars gave that up for Queen. All I’m saying is teams in the top of the draft tried to get out and couldn’t. So could Boston have done it? I guess it’s possible and maybe I’m wrong. But again, Brooklyn had 5 picks, desperately tried moving all of them and couldn’t. And there is also a difference in paying Queen at 13 as opposed to 9. So there is a possibility that Boston is stuck picking at 9 and that deal for him still happens.

Picking Queen at 9 as opposed to 13 would have cost an extra 1.2 million annually. In a draft like this it’s tough to justify.

[djFan71]

I'd trade Simons for Barrett and Maluach right now, if it was possible.

[cloverleaf]

We didn't need no stinkin' Dame.

[Celts17Pride]

We didn't need no stinkin' Dame.

Not for $14 million per year.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

No Number 9 Pick, no Dame, Tatum can't recruit his way out of a paper bag.

If Kyrie was on the Celts, he would have sealed the Lillard deal yesterday.

The Summer of Slum continues...

[djFan71]

This article says Fischer said it was Barrett and 9 for WHITE not Jrue. Which, you obviously decline.

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-how-close-boston-jaylen-brown-derrick-white-trades

"Toronto aggressively pursued White, even offering the No. 9 overall pick and attempting to include RJ Barrett’s contract"

[phincsfan]

This article says Fischer said it was Barrett and 9 for WHITE not Jrue. Which, you obviously decline.

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-how-close-boston-jaylen-brown-derrick-white-trades

"Toronto aggressively pursued White, even offering the No. 9 overall pick and attempting to include RJ Barrett’s contract"

I figured that would be the deal. Any C’s/Raps scenarios I did had White and #9, but multiple future 1sts included.

If Stevens did that than it would pretty much be a rebuild in progress.

[Fierce1]

Can't be guarded 1 on 1.

He's like Kyrie on offense.

The only negative is he's bad on defense.

Had to display this post just to respond to it when I saw it in someone elses reply.



This is one of the worst takes I have ever seen. Bring that **** to any other board and see where that gets you.


Only negative...


Just like Kyrie....


Jesus, just admit you have never watched him play and youtubed him after hearing about the trade.

God

I watched a few Blazers games the last 2 years.

He's a dynamic scoring guard, just like Kyrie.

[Fierce1]

No Number 9 Pick, no Dame, Tatum can't recruit his way out of a paper bag.

If Kyrie was on the Celts, he would have sealed the Lillard deal yesterday.

The Summer of Slum continues...

Not at 14m per year.

It's Lame time if the Cs gave in to that demand.

[Larry_Russell]

1) I think what Jake Fischer was saying is that the C's simply didn't like any of the guys in that draft range - at least not enough to make a move. Guys we could have possibly taken in that spot are like Queen, Maluach, CMB, Essengue, Carter Bryant Maybe Coward but he would have considered a bit of a reach that high (was projected to go in like the 13-22 range, Memphis reached for him)

I think maybe Boston just didn't love that group so much. At least not that high in the draft and with what we'd have to give up

2) It's just a rumor that we were offered 9 for Jrue. The clip where Bobby manning interviews Jake Fischer about it, the way Fischer words it is confusing. Like Bobby tries to confirm that Jrue was on the table and Fisher says "I think so". Like hmm, you don't sound so sure about that lol.

Then you sell off #9 for a 2026 1st.

No one was giving a 2026 1st for the 9th pick. Draft is too loaded. This draft was more or less a JAG draft after number 2 and probably will have a couple of role players and a bunch of wash outs.

Even if the Celtics get the 15-17 pick I would probably put money on that player making more of an impact than anyone in the back end of that top 10. Hell the Nets couldn’t even unload a pick in the 20s to trade back. That’s how bad this draft was.

And in the case they were stuck with the 9th pick this is what the 9th pick is paid.

Collin Murray-Boyles signed a 4 year, $28,822,764 contract with the Toronto Raptors, including $12,982,080 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,205,691.

For a team that is close to the 2nd apron at the time of tip off it’s risky to give that money to a guy who is quite possibly a bust or best case a JAG.

No one?

That pure hyperbole

[Larry_Russell]

Can't be guarded 1 on 1.

He's like Kyrie on offense.

The only negative is he's bad on defense.

Had to display this post just to respond to it when I saw it in someone elses reply.



This is one of the worst takes I have ever seen. Bring that **** to any other board and see where that gets you.


Only negative...


Just like Kyrie....


Jesus, just admit you have never watched him play and youtubed him after hearing about the trade.

God

I watched a few Blazers games the last 2 years.

He's a dynamic scoring guard, just like Kyrie.

No he isnt. Take the L.

[Larry_Russell]

Barrett is a vastly superior player to simons.

Jesus man.

True but I’m not taking on that money. Raptors have some decent pieces but they’re all overpaid. At least Simons expires after this year.

People’s heads spin about not wanting the 9th pick in a crappy draft. There’s a reason why Toronto was dangling that pick. After the first few picks it was an absolute toss up on who to draft. 9th pick has a guaranteed number attached to it. No one at that point was worth paying that number plus taking on Barrett for an extra year. But I don’t think anyone is saying Simons is a better player.

FWIW, on Bill Simmons Trade Value Rankings, neither Simons nor Barrett cracks the top 85.

Simons is in a section called "solid assets who can't believe they didn't crack the top 80" along with Jalen Green, PJ Washington, Giddey, Derozan, Draymond and Caruso.

Barrett is nowhere listed at all in the trade value rankings, implying he's a negative asset, ranked outside of the top 125 contracts in the league (there's 125 players listed in the article) which was last updated in January, so prior to the 2025 draft.

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/trade-value

That holds as much value as the **** I just flushed

[winsomme2]

Something is bothering me that I wonder if it bothers other people as well.

So Brad has been saying that he doesn't want to trade draft assets in order to get out of money.

But at the same time seems super casual about second round picks because they usually don't amount to much. I feel like many are already excusing the play of Amari Williams because #46 picks are a long shot anyway.

Well if all these picks are long shots, then why be so precious with them? Just use them to unload bad contracts so you have the cap flexibility.

It feels like a massive contradiction to not want move the picks but then excuse their lack of talent because they're actually not that valuable.

Personally, I see a lot of value in these picks but not if you're going to dilute them by trading down. If Brad stayed at 32, he could have gotten a player with a pretty solid NBA floor, but if he's going to trade down like this, I'd rather he just use them in trades, so we could keep a Big Al and not being crossing my fingers about Garza.

Right now it's like the worst of each scenario. He's keeping the picks but at the same time decreasing the chance they're actually contributing players.

I don't know. I guess I'm venting. But I'm kinda frustrated watching SL and seeing players we should have targeted while also not being able to sign any FAs because Brad won't use picks to free up more money.

[djFan71]

Something is bothering me that I wonder if it bothers other people as well.

So Brad has been saying that he doesn't want to trade draft assets in order to get out of money.

But at the same time seems super casual about second round picks because they usually don't amount to much. I feel like many are already excusing the play of Amari Williams because #46 picks are a long shot anyway.

Well if all these picks are long shots, then why be so precious with them? Just use them to unload bad contracts so you have the cap flexibility.

It feels like a massive contradiction to not want move the picks but then excuse their lack of talent because they're actually not that valuable.

Personally, I see a lot of value in these picks but not if you're going to dilute them by trading down. If Brad stayed at 32, he could have gotten a player with a pretty solid NBA floor, but if he's going to trade down like this, I'd rather he just use them in trades, so we could keep a Big Al and not being crossing my fingers about Garza.

Right now it's like the worst of each scenario. He's keeping the picks but at the same time decreasing the chance they're actually contributing players.

I don't know. I guess I'm venting. But I'm kinda frustrated watching SL and seeing players we should have targeted while also not being able to sign any FAs because Brad won't use picks to free up more money.

I think he mainly likes them to help grease deals. For trades where sending out a first seems like too much, a 2nd or two can usually can make things work. Even though most teams agree that they're a long shot to amount to anything they also agree they are useful trade chips. Kinda like people decided gold or bitcoin or tulips before them were valued as currency. So stocking up on 2nds means stocking up on future trade currency.

Or maybe that's just how I think of it and I'm projecting it on Brad.
But it does seem to make sense with their moves. Trades for currently good players have been prioritized over picks for possibly future good players.

[redslastlaugh]

Parsing Brad's words, I think he mainly doesn't want to trade first round picks to dump money. He probably doesn't want to trade seconds either, but I don't think it's coming down to the seconds.

I imagine teams are asking Brad for his 2026 first round pick or really far our tradeable firsts like our 2031 or 2032.

And Brad is saying, "those are too valuable to use to clean up the accounting. We have to reserve those for basketball purposes."

If BRK would take Ant Simons + 2 second round picks, I think Brad would definitely do that. He just won't do all the seconds nor will he trade any firsts for a pure salary dump. That's how I take it.

Something is bothering me that I wonder if it bothers other people as well.

So Brad has been saying that he doesn't want to trade draft assets in order to get out of money.