Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Fierce1]

IMO it's easier to trade a good player with 27m remaining than a bad player with 43m remaining.

And Memphis is once again going to overpay after overpaying for Marcus Smart?

They're paying to get off kcp. Like Orlando paid them to take him

But a 1st round pick?

Memphis really going to give up a 1st rnd pick just to get rid of KCP?

[djFan71]

IMO it's easier to trade a good player with 27m remaining than a bad player with 43m remaining.

And Memphis is once again going to overpay after overpaying for Marcus Smart?

They're paying to get off kcp. Like Orlando paid them to take him

But a 1st round pick?

Memphis really going to give up a 1st rnd pick just to get rid of KCP?

Get off his long term salary and a flyer on Simons. Maybe? Depending how you break down all the picks in the Bane deal, one was basically for eating KCP and Cole. It's a bit high to pay it right back out for just kcp, but it's possible. Depends on the rest of the deal whether it's a first or multiple seconds, imo.

[Fierce1]

They're paying to get off kcp. Like Orlando paid them to take him

But a 1st round pick?

Memphis really going to give up a 1st rnd pick just to get rid of KCP?

Get off his long term salary and a flyer on Simons. Maybe? Depending how you break down all the picks in the Bane deal, one was basically for eating KCP and Cole. It's a bit high to pay it right back out for just kcp, but it's possible. Depends on the rest of the deal whether it's a first or multiple seconds, imo.

Then Boston will attach a pick or picks to get rid of KCP at the deadline?

[djFan71]

But a 1st round pick?

Memphis really going to give up a 1st rnd pick just to get rid of KCP?

Get off his long term salary and a flyer on Simons. Maybe? Depending how you break down all the picks in the Bane deal, one was basically for eating KCP and Cole. It's a bit high to pay it right back out for just kcp, but it's possible. Depends on the rest of the deal whether it's a first or multiple seconds, imo.

Then Boston will attach a pick or picks to get rid of KCP at the deadline?

Ideally you 3-team it and we never have him. MEM pays a 3rd team to eat KCP. Something like this would be ideal:

BOS: Clarke
MEM: Simons and Tillman (optional)
BKN: KCP and 1st from MEM

MEM clears a ton of future money for when JJJ extension kicks in. Gets a look at Simons, maybe resign him cheap.
BOS saves a ton of this year money, takes on a little future salary, but also a good player.
BKN gets a first for salary they need to spend anyway to get to the salary floor.

BOS might actually need to kick in a 2nd or something here as well back to MEM since they're sending us Clarke.

3-way with Lakers where we get Vandy, Vincent is another option. We probably keep the first there. Maaaybe send LAL a 2nd.

If it's BOS taking back KCP, then it depends on when we flip him. This summer, yeah, the pick probably goes right back out, but we get lesser salary back. Deadline, we've already paid a lot of his salary and it's just an expiring+ at that point, so should cost a lesser pick to move.

I don't really see a KCP move unless we truly plan to duck the tax this summer though, or at least get within an easier deadline move at it. So, I doubt there's much chance we both trade for him and keep him beyond the summer.

[djFan71]

Forgot SloMo too. Utah would probably take a pick to turn SloMo and Martin into KCP.
I know you like SloMo.

[Fierce1]

Get off his long term salary and a flyer on Simons. Maybe? Depending how you break down all the picks in the Bane deal, one was basically for eating KCP and Cole. It's a bit high to pay it right back out for just kcp, but it's possible. Depends on the rest of the deal whether it's a first or multiple seconds, imo.

Then Boston will attach a pick or picks to get rid of KCP at the deadline?

Ideally you 3-team it and we never have him. MEM pays a 3rd team to eat KCP. Something like this would be ideal:

BOS: Clarke
MEM: Simons and Tillman (optional)
BKN: KCP and 1st from MEM

MEM clears a ton of future money for when JJJ extension kicks in. Gets a look at Simons, maybe resign him cheap.
BOS saves a ton of this year money, takes on a little future salary, but also a good player.
BKN gets a first for salary they need to spend anyway to get to the salary floor.

BOS might actually need to kick in a 2nd or something here as well back to MEM since they're sending us Clarke.

3-way with Lakers where we get Vandy, Vincent is another option. We probably keep the first there. Maaaybe send LAL a 2nd.

If it's BOS taking back KCP, then it depends on when we flip him. This summer, yeah, the pick probably goes right back out, but we get lesser salary back. Deadline, we've already paid a lot of his salary and it's just an expiring+ at that point, so should cost a lesser pick to move.

I don't really see a KCP move unless we truly plan to duck the tax this summer though, or at least get within an easier deadline move at it. So, I doubt there's much chance we both trade for him and keep him beyond the summer.

That's a better deal.

But this is just about Simons for KCP and not a 3-team deal.

What Celts17 is saying is Simons for KCP then Cs flip KCP at deadline.

That is something that doesn't make sense because Simons has better value and the Cs will just end up attaching a pick or picks to KCP.

[fallguy]

Then Boston will attach a pick or picks to get rid of KCP at the deadline?

Ideally you 3-team it and we never have him. MEM pays a 3rd team to eat KCP. Something like this would be ideal:

BOS: Clarke
MEM: Simons and Tillman (optional)
BKN: KCP and 1st from MEM

MEM clears a ton of future money for when JJJ extension kicks in. Gets a look at Simons, maybe resign him cheap.
BOS saves a ton of this year money, takes on a little future salary, but also a good player.
BKN gets a first for salary they need to spend anyway to get to the salary floor.

BOS might actually need to kick in a 2nd or something here as well back to MEM since they're sending us Clarke.

3-way with Lakers where we get Vandy, Vincent is another option. We probably keep the first there. Maaaybe send LAL a 2nd.

If it's BOS taking back KCP, then it depends on when we flip him. This summer, yeah, the pick probably goes right back out, but we get lesser salary back. Deadline, we've already paid a lot of his salary and it's just an expiring+ at that point, so should cost a lesser pick to move.

I don't really see a KCP move unless we truly plan to duck the tax this summer though, or at least get within an easier deadline move at it. So, I doubt there's much chance we both trade for him and keep him beyond the summer.

That's a better deal.

But this is just about Simons for KCP and not a 3-team deal.

What Celts17 is saying is Simons for KCP then Cs flip KCP at deadline.

That is something that doesn't make sense because Simons has better value and the Cs will just end up attaching a pick or picks to KCP.

Why would they do this? Whether you like it or not?

[psman2]

Why would Memphis have any interest in paying a 1st to move KCP who is a perfect fit for us if he returns to his Denver days? Sure he had a bad year in a disfunction Orlando backcourt, and playing next to Cory Joseph in the playoffs who doesn't even have a contract and might not get one. But KCP has a long history of positive impact when he is slotted into a role that fits him well like he will in Memphis this year. He is likely opening the year as our starter, while Simons would find a hard time finding enough playing time here between his bad fit with Ja and Jerome already here to play that sixth man role for us. And trading KCP really doesn't do much for our cap sheet next year beyond just opening up the ability to use the full MLE. I think it easy choice between KCP/1st versus Simons and then maybe using the MLE next season when he walks.

And if last season's KCP is what he is now, then we can trade him in the offseason as an expiring versus likely letting Simons walk as a too expensive 6th man while losing a pick. This trade rumor makes no sense from Memphis POV.

[ddb]

Boston linked to Simmons. I mentioned the possibility last week. I don’t hate it if he’s willing to play Center. If he screws with chemistry he’s gone. But having a 6’10 guy that can rebound, guard all 5 positions and push tempo is worth a science experiment. If anyone needs an opportunity and a good culture around him it’s Simmons. If they bring him in and let him play he can help.

[djFan71]

Then Boston will attach a pick or picks to get rid of KCP at the deadline?

Ideally you 3-team it and we never have him. MEM pays a 3rd team to eat KCP. Something like this would be ideal:

BOS: Clarke
MEM: Simons and Tillman (optional)
BKN: KCP and 1st from MEM

MEM clears a ton of future money for when JJJ extension kicks in. Gets a look at Simons, maybe resign him cheap.
BOS saves a ton of this year money, takes on a little future salary, but also a good player.
BKN gets a first for salary they need to spend anyway to get to the salary floor.

BOS might actually need to kick in a 2nd or something here as well back to MEM since they're sending us Clarke.

3-way with Lakers where we get Vandy, Vincent is another option. We probably keep the first there. Maaaybe send LAL a 2nd.

If it's BOS taking back KCP, then it depends on when we flip him. This summer, yeah, the pick probably goes right back out, but we get lesser salary back. Deadline, we've already paid a lot of his salary and it's just an expiring+ at that point, so should cost a lesser pick to move.

I don't really see a KCP move unless we truly plan to duck the tax this summer though, or at least get within an easier deadline move at it. So, I doubt there's much chance we both trade for him and keep him beyond the summer.

That's a better deal.

But this is just about Simons for KCP and not a 3-team deal.

What Celts17 is saying is Simons for KCP then Cs flip KCP at deadline.

That is something that doesn't make sense because Simons has better value and the Cs will just end up attaching a pick or picks to KCP.

Think of it as just multiple stages to the same move. The goal isn’t to trade for KCP. It’s to clear money in stages. As I mentioned,I don’t think you can go all the way to the deadline and expect to dump that much money, so I doubt we keep him that long. But you can get KCP now and then flip him again before the season.

I still don’t really see it for MEM either tbh, other than financially, maybe.

[Fierce1]

Ideally you 3-team it and we never have him. MEM pays a 3rd team to eat KCP. Something like this would be ideal:

BOS: Clarke
MEM: Simons and Tillman (optional)
BKN: KCP and 1st from MEM

MEM clears a ton of future money for when JJJ extension kicks in. Gets a look at Simons, maybe resign him cheap.
BOS saves a ton of this year money, takes on a little future salary, but also a good player.
BKN gets a first for salary they need to spend anyway to get to the salary floor.

BOS might actually need to kick in a 2nd or something here as well back to MEM since they're sending us Clarke.

3-way with Lakers where we get Vandy, Vincent is another option. We probably keep the first there. Maaaybe send LAL a 2nd.

If it's BOS taking back KCP, then it depends on when we flip him. This summer, yeah, the pick probably goes right back out, but we get lesser salary back. Deadline, we've already paid a lot of his salary and it's just an expiring+ at that point, so should cost a lesser pick to move.

I don't really see a KCP move unless we truly plan to duck the tax this summer though, or at least get within an easier deadline move at it. So, I doubt there's much chance we both trade for him and keep him beyond the summer.

That's a better deal.

But this is just about Simons for KCP and not a 3-team deal.

What Celts17 is saying is Simons for KCP then Cs flip KCP at deadline.

That is something that doesn't make sense because Simons has better value and the Cs will just end up attaching a pick or picks to KCP.

Why would they do this? Whether you like it or not?

Exactly!

Cs will not do that.

So why swap Simons for KCP?

[Fierce1]

Ideally you 3-team it and we never have him. MEM pays a 3rd team to eat KCP. Something like this would be ideal:

BOS: Clarke
MEM: Simons and Tillman (optional)
BKN: KCP and 1st from MEM

MEM clears a ton of future money for when JJJ extension kicks in. Gets a look at Simons, maybe resign him cheap.
BOS saves a ton of this year money, takes on a little future salary, but also a good player.
BKN gets a first for salary they need to spend anyway to get to the salary floor.

BOS might actually need to kick in a 2nd or something here as well back to MEM since they're sending us Clarke.

3-way with Lakers where we get Vandy, Vincent is another option. We probably keep the first there. Maaaybe send LAL a 2nd.

If it's BOS taking back KCP, then it depends on when we flip him. This summer, yeah, the pick probably goes right back out, but we get lesser salary back. Deadline, we've already paid a lot of his salary and it's just an expiring+ at that point, so should cost a lesser pick to move.

I don't really see a KCP move unless we truly plan to duck the tax this summer though, or at least get within an easier deadline move at it. So, I doubt there's much chance we both trade for him and keep him beyond the summer.

That's a better deal.

But this is just about Simons for KCP and not a 3-team deal.

What Celts17 is saying is Simons for KCP then Cs flip KCP at deadline.

That is something that doesn't make sense because Simons has better value and the Cs will just end up attaching a pick or picks to KCP.

Think of it as just multiple stages to the same move. The goal isn’t to trade for KCP. It’s to clear money in stages. As I mentioned,I don’t think you can go all the way to the deadline and expect to dump that much money, so I doubt we keep him that long. But you can get KCP now and then flip him again before the season.

I still don’t really see it for MEM either tbh, other than financially, maybe.

I understand the dump all that money part.

But KCP is not the guy to do it.

Your brother Rui for Simons trade proposal is better.

[colincb]

Boston linked to Simmons. I mentioned the possibility last week. I don’t hate it if he’s willing to play Center. If he screws with chemistry he’s gone. But having a 6’10 guy that can rebound, guard all 5 positions and push tempo is worth a science experiment. If anyone needs an opportunity and a good culture around him it’s Simmons. If they bring him in and let him play he can help.

Marc Stein has linked him with the Cs and a few other clubs. A small deal for the back of the rotation would be fine with me. Needs to replace somebody.

[jirrit]

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.

I like & understand your points but still it doesn’t sit right at all.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

This, in the unlikely event it happened, would make up for not acquiring the 9th Pick in the Draft ...

Read on Twitter

[31to6]

This, in the unlikely event it happened, would make up for not acquiring the 9th Pick in the Draft ...

Read on Twitter

Kings are just stupid enough to make me (a guy who has floated JB for Sabonis as recently as .. this summer) read this:)
Bring Neemias home, SacTown!

[Fierce1]

Domas at 42m while Vuc at 21m.

Both not defensive bigs.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Domas at 42m while Vuc at 21m.

Both not defensive bigs.

But Tatum is, and whomever else you acquire in the next two years, so theoretically it could work out in 2027 with Sabonis.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

This, in the unlikely event it happened, would make up for not acquiring the 9th Pick in the Draft ...

Read on Twitter

Kings are just stupid enough to make me (a guy who has floated JB for Sabonis as recently as .. this summer) read this:)
Bring Neemias home, SacTown!

Seems very far fetched, but it's the Kings, so some hope.

[Fierce1]

Domas at 42m while Vuc at 21m.

Both not defensive bigs.

But Tatum is, and whomever else you acquire in the next two years, so theoretically it could work out in 2027 with Sabonis.

I'm not against getting Domas.

Just too good to be true.