Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[brackdan70]

Why are we talking about KCP?
We are way better if with Simons TBH.

[darrendaye]

Why are we talking about KCP?
We are way better if with Simons TBH.

[robdog_5]

Is Simmons a perfect fit? Nope. But with Tatum out all year it does make more sense to have him. We're gonna be missing a ton of shot making, taking and usage with no Tatum, Holiday, KP and Horford. You can ask JB, Pritch and White to take on more but your gonna need some other guys with actual talent to take some usage and shot making up. Simmons has that. He is a poor defender but with Bostons culture and identity hopefully he buys in and becomes adequate

[return2glory]

Thats true but if we just let him walk, I'm pretty sure that gives us access to the full non-tax payer mid level exception which will be $15 million which is a lesser amount for sure, but we'd still be able to get somebody good. Plus we could do a s&t with most teams using Simons or Queta or Niang etc

They can't bring in Jokic in 2026 to pair with the Jays that way, they can by pairing White's and Caldwell-Pope's contracts. Not that there's a chance, but should there be, you'd be prepared.

White, KCP, picks for Jokic to team with the Jays

yes, we're doing that

Watch on YouTube

I've said it before on here. I want KCP no where near the Celtics. One of my closest friends knows him personally. Let's just say he is not a good character guy. Basketball in not a priority for him. I will leave it at that. He wears his welcome out where ever he goes.

[playa-hater]

Simons > KCP easy.. But draft compensation?? first included then fine. But for 2nds, I will call for Brad's job. sick of 2nds that have NEVER resulted in anything.

[return2glory]

Is Simmons a perfect fit? Nope. But with Tatum out all year it does make more sense to have him. We're gonna be missing a ton of shot making, taking and usage with no Tatum, Holiday, KP and Horford. You can ask JB, Pritch and White to take on more but your gonna need some other guys with actual talent to take some usage and shot making up. Simmons has that. He is a poor defender but with Bostons culture and identity hopefully he buys in and becomes adequate

Agree on the above. I feel the plan is to keep Simons, at least until the trade deadline. Boston is in no rush to trade him away for the reasons mentioned above having to do with a big part. Boston isn't tanking, especially with the new owners in their first season. Now if someone approaches Brad before the trade deadline and gives him a good offer, that's a different story.

Even if the Celtics keep Simons for the entire season, he is an expiring contract. I don't think they can afford to sign him. I'm not sure on that. I don't know the type of money the Celtics will have without all the tax penalties. Not sure how much money we freed up with not resigning Kornet and Al or how much we free up with the Niang expiring after this season.

[return2glory]

Simons > KCP easy.. But draft compensation?? first included then fine. But for 2nds, I will call for Brad's job. sick of 2nds that have NEVER resulted in anything.

Brad just got you a championship. So easy on that. You didn't like him as a coach and you do like him as a GM. You're a self proclaimed playa-hater. But I don't think your hate stops with players. Just an observation, not a criticism.

I didn't like that Brad traded away #32 for #46 and 57# either. I feel they could have something a solid player at 32, better than Amari and Shulga.
It seems like Kyle Filipowski is a better player and fit for Boston than Baylor and that's looking like another Brad mistake. Brad isn't close to perfect, but he is really good. Calling for his job is premature.

[redslastlaugh]

They can't bring in Jokic in 2026 to pair with the Jays that way, they can by pairing White's and Caldwell-Pope's contracts. Not that there's a chance, but should there be, you'd be prepared.

In all seriousness, C's should atleast have some contingency plans to make an offer should Joker come available. Denver is so tapped out pick-wise, that they are one or two bad basketball or financial breaks away from putting Jokic on the market, and he may not want to stay in the West and he may not want to join OKC (who could beat any offer) after what happened to Durant's rep when he joined forces with the existing champion.

This is why you need to make draft picks and hit on them. If we'd taken Filipowski, if Hugo hits, and/or if we took another upside swing at #32 and signed him to a full 4yr rookie contract. Then you have assets, maybe not enough for Nikola Jokic, but you have intriguing pieces. Trading out of the top 45 and taking two guys for 2-ways like Sulga and Amari, this is not taking big swings on upside that you can then showcase during "gap" year and hopefully you have something intriguing to other teams short on cheap, exciting young chips

Not saying, we are gonna be able to trade for Jokic but saying we need to have aggressive plans to acquire out picks and take swings on rookie contract players with upside to just to take a seat at the table when deals are being made.

[playa-hater]

Simons > KCP easy.. But draft compensation?? first included then fine. But for 2nds, I will call for Brad's job. sick of 2nds that have NEVER resulted in anything.

Brad just got you a championship. So easy on that. You didn't like him as a coach and you do like him as a GM. You're a self proclaimed playa-hater. But I don't think your hate stops with players. Just an observation, not a criticism.

I didn't like that Brad traded away #32 for #46 and 57# either. I feel they could have something a solid player at 32, better than Amari and Shulga.
It seems like Kyle Filipowski is a better player and fit for Boston than Baylor and that's looking like another Brad mistake. Brad isn't close to perfect, but he is really good. Calling for his job is premature.

L o l. I am calling Brad one of the top POBO in the league.. Although I am starting to think he's just not good at drafting.. But I thought you figured out in the offSeason, many of my posts are very light Hearted and in a spirit of joking. I guess you didn't pick up on that.

[phincsfan]

They can't bring in Jokic in 2026 to pair with the Jays that way, they can by pairing White's and Caldwell-Pope's contracts. Not that there's a chance, but should there be, you'd be prepared.

In all seriousness, C's should atleast have some contingency plans to make an offer should Joker come available. Denver is so tapped out pick-wise, that they are one or two bad basketball or financial breaks away from putting Jokic on the market, and he may not want to stay in the West and he may not want to join OKC (who could beat any offer) after what happened to Durant's rep when he joined forces with the existing champion.

This is why you need to make draft picks and hit on them. If we'd taken Filipowski, if Hugo hits, and/or if we took another upside swing at #32 and signed him to a full 4yr rookie contract. Then you have assets, maybe not enough for Nikola Jokic, but you have intriguing pieces. Trading out of the top 45 and taking two guys for 2-ways like Sulga and Amari, this is not taking big swings on upside that you can then showcase during "gap" year and hopefully you have something intriguing to other teams short on cheap, exciting young chips

Not saying, we are gonna be able to trade for Jokic but saying we need to have aggressive plans to acquire out picks and take swings on rookie contract players with upside to just to take a seat at the table when deals are being made.

Joker will be opting out after the 26/27 season and playing alongside Luka in 27/28 in the city of angels. Book it.

[phincsfan]

If Stevens was the HC last season Rico would be getting the KO treatment playing 70+ games 15mpg. Especially with Sam’s back issues. He knows how to squeeze every drop out of a rock .

[redslastlaugh]

Jokic and Luka with Marcus Smart on the Lakers is a nightmare, lol

They can't bring in Jokic in 2026 to pair with the Jays that way, they can by pairing White's and Caldwell-Pope's contracts. Not that there's a chance, but should there be, you'd be prepared.

In all seriousness, C's should atleast have some contingency plans to make an offer should Joker come available.

Joker will be opting out after the 26/27 season and playing alongside Luka in 27/28 in the city of angels. Book it.

[Celts17Pride]

People keep acting like the results of the 2025/2026 season matters. They don't.

[Fierce1]

People keep acting like the results of the 2025/2026 season matters. They don't.

True.

But that doesn't mean you have to make bad trades just because 2026 does not matter

That's just not how Brad rolls.

[Celts17Pride]

People keep acting like the results of the 2025/2026 season matters. They don't.

True.

But that doesn't mean you have to make bad trades just because 2026 does not matter

That's just not how Brad rolls.

Getting $40 million chopped of your payroll is not a bad trade for 2025/2026

[bisme37]

Barfus Smart you guys.

[Fierce1]

Learn from 2015 and 2020.

Cs were expected to end up with another lottery pick in 2015.
But the IT trade happened.

In 2020, the Cs just lost Al and Kyrie in FA and the Cs were not expected to do much that season.
Then the Cs reached the ECF that 2020 Covid season.

Point is we've seen unexpected things happen in the NBA.

[Fierce1]

People keep acting like the results of the 2025/2026 season matters. They don't.

True.

But that doesn't mean you have to make bad trades just because 2026 does not matter

That's just not how Brad rolls.

Getting $40 million chopped of your payroll is not a bad trade for 2025/2026

And like I said, if it's just about the money then Simons would have been traded already.

Guess you don't believe Chisholm when he says the tax is not the primary objective.

[colincb]

Simons is brutal on defense, not merely poor. He'll be a target all season, and we still won't get a good pick. POR taking on JH's $104 million at age 35 to rid themselves of AS's $27 million tells you something

[Celts17Pride]

True.

But that doesn't mean you have to make bad trades just because 2026 does not matter

That's just not how Brad rolls.

Getting $40 million chopped of your payroll is not a bad trade for 2025/2026

And like I said, if it's just about the money then Simons would have been traded already.

Guess you don't believe Chisholm when he says the tax is not the primary objective.

Celtics salaries are at $208 million, Celtics salaries at the end of the year will be $188 million. Anyone expecting something different is just being foolish in my opinion. Celtics are not playing for the championship this year, they are playing to get out off the luxury tax.

Brad said Chisholm didn't give him a mandatory directive to get below the tax, not that it isn't the Celtics goal to do it.