Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Fierce1]

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

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

By that logic then why are the Lakers embracing Luka when the Mavs threw him away?

And it's not like Simons is staying long term.

Brad does not intentionally make bad trades.

Trade Simons, but not for bad players.

[Fierce1]

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.

You yourself said it, at the end of the year.

Is July the end of the year?

Why make bad trades in July when you have until Feb. 2026?

[Celts17Pride]

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.

You yourself said it, at the end of the year.

Is July the end of the year?

Why make bad trades in July when you have until Feb. 2026?

Brad needs to do something in the summer so he can retrade that player at the deadline. It's the only way they are going to get to $188

[djFan71]

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.

You do keep saying the bold, but that doesn’t make it true. Trades need multiple pieces to fall into alignment, even simple ones. Agreed there is plenty of time, but you still consider each trade as it is available.

[CelticFaninLBC]

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.

I suspect the 2025-2026 goal is to get under the luxury tax, but don't see them taking on a contract like KCP's, which limits flexibility in 2026-2027...

[Fierce1]

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.

I suspect the 2025-2026 goal is to get under the luxury tax, but don't see them taking on a contract like KCP's, which limits flexibility in 2026-2027...

Exactly!

You want to save money by trading 27m for 43m???

That doesn't make sense.

And I find it hard to believe KCP's trade value will be higher than Simons at trade deadline.

[Fierce1]

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.

It's also foolish to expect KCP's trade value will be higher than Simons, at trade deadline, when Simons is playing for his next contract this season.

[Fierce1]

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.

You do keep saying the bold, but that doesn’t make it true. Trades need multiple pieces to fall into alignment, even simple ones. Agreed there is plenty of time, but you still consider each trade as it is available.

Or maybe Brad does not want a downgrade by trading Simons for guys like KCP, Slo-Mo, and Mann.

If it's just about the money then KCP or Slo-Mo or Mann would already be a Celtic.

[Dogen]

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

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.

I'm not interested in promoting rumor, and have no idea why your friend's opinion is so negative, but of course character is important. I started googling KCP and google suggested "kentavious caldwell-pope ankle monitor" as a search.

I forgot all about that. It was back in 2017.

He seemed like a solid pro in Denver. The part about basketball not a priority is concerning, for whatever reason. The Celtics locker room morale will likely need every advantage it can get next season.

[bisme37]

It's not saying much but Simons is the best thing we got all summer and I'm hoping we don't trade him for another downgrade, personally.

[djFan71]

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.

You do keep saying the bold, but that doesn’t make it true. Trades need multiple pieces to fall into alignment, even simple ones. Agreed there is plenty of time, but you still consider each trade as it is available.

Or maybe Brad does not want a downgrade by trading Simons for guys like KCP, Slo-Mo, and Mann.

If it's just about the money then KCP or Slo-Mo or Mann would already be a Celtic.

lol, 732nd time is the charm. I now believe your theory that if Brad wanted a trade done, it would be done, regardless of any other team’s circumstances. Presto!

[cloverleaf]

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

yes, we're doing that

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.

I'm not interested in promoting rumor, and have no idea why your friend's opinion is so negative, but of course character is important. I started googling KCP and google suggested "kentavious caldwell-pope ankle monitor" as a search.

I forgot all about that. It was back in 2017.

He seemed like a solid pro in Denver. The part about basketball not a priority is concerning, for whatever reason. The Celtics locker room morale will likely need every advantage it can get next season.

Sounds like he also blew off some of his legal obligations stemming from the incident: https://www.basketballnetwork.net/old-school/remember-when-kcp-played-with-an-ankle-monitor

[djFan71]

KCP is making Kuz look better now, lol.

He is a tough one. Obvious contract to look at, but I don’t really want him on the team. You do it only as a step down in contract that gets an asset and them you immediately try to flip. But I’d pick Kuz first. Or whichever came with a better pick.

Definitely not the most attractive deals out there. Both as ex Lakers that did well there, I would look to 3 team them for items off the Vincent, Maxi, Vandy, Shake menu. Just gets hard with roster spots, Lakers’ lack of picks, etc.

[playa-hater]

It's not saying much but Simons is the best thing we got all summer and I'm hoping we don't trade him for another downgrade, personally.

Agreed, but once again, if there are good draft picks included, then that would change my opinion.

[jirrit]

I hate seeing Smart on the Lakers.

[31to6]

It's not saying much but Simons is the best thing we got all summer and I'm hoping we don't trade him for another downgrade, personally.

are you forgetting about our mid-second-round pick's above-average passing skills for an unathletic big man???

[31to6]

I hate seeing Smart on the Lakers.

I love Marcus, but am not against this for two reasons:
1. revives his career. He was going to get disappeared in WAS
2. if he stays there for at least a few months, there's a decent-to-better chance that he says something inflammatory -- and true! -- about Luka and/or LeBron. Maybe 5-10 minutes of drama will unfold in real time because you know ESPN will slobber all over it. Or maybe it'll be some statements that come out years afterwards. But whatever it is, I look forward to hearing it.

[celtxman]

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.

You yourself said it, at the end of the year.

Is July the end of the year?

Why make bad trades in July when you have until Feb. 2026?

Brad needs to do something in the summer so he can retrade that player at the deadline. It's the only way they are going to get to $188

Do you think the Celtics will then also be below the luxury tax in 2026-27?

[cloverleaf]

You yourself said it, at the end of the year.

Is July the end of the year?

Why make bad trades in July when you have until Feb. 2026?

Brad needs to do something in the summer so he can retrade that player at the deadline. It's the only way they are going to get to $188

Do you think the Celtics will then also be below the luxury tax in 2026-27?

Otherwise, what's the point?

[Celts17Pride]

You yourself said it, at the end of the year.

Is July the end of the year?

Why make bad trades in July when you have until Feb. 2026?

Brad needs to do something in the summer so he can retrade that player at the deadline. It's the only way they are going to get to $188

Do you think the Celtics will then also be below the luxury tax in 2026-27?

No