Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Fierce1]

Simon says...

I suck defensively, but I rock offensively.

[Hal14]

If the premise of your argument is that AS is a good defender, I say you're wrong. As does basically everyone in the league.

I didn't say that he is a good defender. You're arguing a point I didn't make.

Fair enough. That said, I do feel like you're trying to talk everyone else into a player by minimizing his legitimate flaws. I don't think it matters either way as there's about a 1% chance this guy is on our roster a year from now. But he sucks defensively.

I think he's better defensively than you're giving him credit for.

He's got a 6'9" wingspan, he's quick and athletic. So has the tools to be a decent defender.

I think there's a good chance he gets better defensively being on a better team with better coaching that is actually playing for something meaningful. Plus it's common for young players to struggle defensively and then get better as they get more experience and development.

We've had guys improve defensively here like Hauser, Pritchard, Kornet, etc.

Plus he could get better on D, going to a team where he won't be relied on to carry as heavy of an offensive load, like he had to do in Portland.

And there's like 20 guards I just mentioned who were poor defenders yet still very good NBA players..and he'll be surrounded here by good defenders like JT, JB, white, etc. to help insulate him and cover up any gaps.

All stuff I just said..I thought what I said was pretty clear. And much more nuanced than just saying "he sucks defensively".

Lastly, there's a YouTuber called AVC who does lots of video breakdown on the NBA and the NBA draft. He seems to really know his stuff (he says he does freelance scouting for NBA teams) and he also seems to think Simons could be a good fit here and he thinks his defense could improve:

Watch on YouTube

He seems to imply that because Simons (and other Blazers players, possibly Jerami Grant) have wanted out of Portland for awhile, that may have impacted his defense effort..and now that he's finally out of Portland, his defensive effort could pick up.

[jfs1000d]

Simon says...

I suck defensively, but I rock offensively.

And Simmons is the exact opposite. Put them on the floor.

Angel/Devil
Hot/Cold
Ting/Yang
Pasta/Antipasta
Simons/Simmons


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fierce1]

Simon says...

I suck defensively, but I rock offensively.

And Simmons is the exact opposite. Put them on the floor.

Angel/Devil
Hot/Cold
Ting/Yang
Pasta/Antipasta
Simons/Simmons


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Boom!

[bucknersrevenge]

That would put us back over the 2nd apron though.

We're currently at 14 guys on standard contracts, 3 2-ways. And we're under 2nd apron.

I expect it to stay this way..unless there's a trade of someone like Simons/Niang/Hauser but unless that happens, I wouldn't think anyone else gets signed - other than a couple more exhibit 10 guys to round out the training camp roster.

At the 5 we have Queta, Garza, Tillman, Williams. And Niang can play some small ball 5..that's enough bodies. It's obviously not a great C rotation but it's a bridge year so doesn't matter that much..

I think we should move Tillman and sign Bassy. Tillman hasn't shown that much since we signed him.

I'm going to likely sound ridiculous saying this, but, I'm in favor of keeping a spot open in case Hayden Gray happens to have a strong shooting performance in the G-league and leaves a clean route to promote one of the 2-ways and sign Gray to keep him away from buzzards.

Not opposed to this

[return2glory]

Read on Twitter

What are they talking about? signed nobody proven? Simons is a proven 20 point a game scorer. Also, going into this season, Boston wasn't trying to sign anyone really good. Their goal was to shed salary and we, that follow the Celtics knew Jrue and KP were gone. We also knew there was a good chance Kornet and Al there gone. So why are these pessimists talking about there will be no optimism?

This team should be around a .500 team this year. Maybe a little better, maybe a little worse depending on if they want to "rest" Brown and White a lot of games for a soft tank.

What team can lose a top 5-10 player in the league and still be dominant? None. That's what happened when Tatum wasn't going to be available this coming season. So where is the surprise?

[cloverleaf]

Sammy doesn't deserve at least a mention? He's of course one of the contracts they could move, but at least initially they've obviously tried to keep him.

[Fierce1]

I'd rather have low expectations for the season than like what happened in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Two times in a row... The Celtics are hot.

Read on Twitter

[cl2117]

Read on Twitter

What are they talking about? signed nobody proven? Simons is a proven 20 point a game scorer. Also, going into this season, Boston wasn't trying to sign anyone really good. Their goal was to shed salary and we, that follow the Celtics knew Jrue and KP were gone. We also knew there was a good chance Kornet and Al there gone. So why are these pessimists talking about there will be no optimism?

This team should be around a .500 team this year. Maybe a little better, maybe a little worse depending on if they want to "rest" Brown and White a lot of games for a soft tank.

What team can lose a top 5-10 player in the league and still be dominant? None. That's what happened when Tatum wasn't going to be available this coming season. So where is the surprise?

I thought it was a pretty fair assessment. Didn't sound like they were surprised at all but just acknowledging the reality of the situation that we're kind of waiving the white flag on next year and taking that "gap year". As evidenced by the fact that we made salary dump trades and didn't seemingly get into the mix for many/any players even our own FA's.

There's optimism for the long-term future with us but for next year we're hobbled and we didn't make any (panic) moves to try to rectify that or give us a realistic chance at a Cinderella type run. They agree that's the right choice for us but it still is a pretty dire outlook for our position in the standings next year (but much better for our lottery odds, which is great).

The only thing they seemed surprised about was how thin our front court is now and I'm honestly right there with them. 100% get letting Kornet walk and why Horford wouldn't bother sticking around for a lost year but Queta, Garza, the ghost of Tillman and a mid-2nd round pick rookie is a bit of a wild frontcourt to run out there. I'm still disappointed we didn't make getting a higher upside big-man a priority in the draft. I like the Hugo pick on value but just really would have preferred a developmental big with more upside than Amari than another wing.

[Fierce1]

No case for optimism?

If Cs declare Tatum will be out for the 2026 season then I would agree.

But the Cs could have an average regular season and a great playoffs.

Not saying it's guaranteed, but as long as the door is open for a Tatum return in March then I wouldn't rule anything out.

[klemen44]

We should all be optimistic because Boston just needs two things:

A) one trade for good C (does not have to be a great one, a good solid one)

Can be easily done with:
- porzingis tpe or
- simmons expiring trade
- all 1st available for trade

B) Tatum back

Caould all happen in feb/march... If not bext summer

[cl2117]

No case for optimism?

If Cs declare Tatum will be out for the 2026 season then I would agree.

But the Cs could have an average regular season and a great playoffs.

Not saying it's guaranteed, but as long as the door is open for a Tatum return in March then I wouldn't rule anything out.

Optimism for what? To win anything signficant next year? There really shouldn't be any based on the current roster, even if Tatum were to come back.

We've got one of the worst frontcourts in the league. Outside of Brown/Hauser we've got a ton of wings with upside but who will go through more than their fair share of growing pains. Our backcourt is solid with White/PP/Simons but has serious defensive concerns outside of Derrick.

We're set up to have a below average regular season and, hopefully, miss the playoffs entirely. I don't see where the optimism is. Not saying it's doom and gloom either. Got some interesting pieces to develop via the draft, FA and what's already on the roster but even with how weak the East is we should be bottom feeders.

That can change if Brad makes moves in season, but right now we are a play-in team at best.

[brackdan70]

Two times in a row... The Celtics are hot.

Read on Twitter

F that!!!!
They better have a trade lined up for Niang if they are.
Also sweepstakes is not the appropriate word.

[Celts17Pride]

Some people still don't get it. More moves are coming. Celtics payroll is going to continue to decrease. Could be a trade in the next month but the key date is Sep 7th when Simons and Niang can be combined with other players in a trade. Opening night roster is going to look very different than the July 25th roster.

[Bad-Thoma]

No case for optimism?

If Cs declare Tatum will be out for the 2026 season then I would agree.

But the Cs could have an average regular season and a great playoffs.

Not saying it's guaranteed, but as long as the door is open for a Tatum return in March then I wouldn't rule anything out.

Optimism for what? To win anything signficant next year? There really shouldn't be any based on the current roster, even if Tatum were to come back.

We've got one of the worst frontcourts in the league. Outside of Brown/Hauser we've got a ton of wings with upside but who will go through more than their fair share of growing pains. Our backcourt is solid with White/PP/Simons but has serious defensive concerns outside of Derrick.

We're set up to have a below average regular season and, hopefully, miss the playoffs entirely. I don't see where the optimism is. Not saying it's doom and gloom either. Got some interesting pieces to develop via the draft, FA and what's already on the roster but even with how weak the East is we should be bottom feeders.

That can change if Brad makes moves in season, but right now we are a play-in team at best.

Weak front court?! IT'S QUETA TIME BRO! 82-0



For real though I think we're a little better than a play in team mainly because the east is tepid at best, I'm feeling somewhere between 4 and 6 in the East healthy. I guess the nice thing about that is if we're better I'll be happily surprised and if we are worse I'll be happily surprised just for the draft odds.

[brackdan70]

We should all be optimistic because Boston just needs two things:

A) one trade for good C (does not have to be a great one, a good solid one)

Can be easily done with:
- porzingis tpe or
- simmons expiring trade
- all 1st available for trade

B) Tatum back

Caould all happen in feb/march... If not bext summer

Yep. I don’t expect it this year, but should be the plan for next.
Some other reasons for optimism…this season provides a really good opportunity to develop some young guys…Walsh, Minott, Gonzales, maybe Williams. Some of those dudes could be key rotation guys for cheap when Tatum is back.
Also 2026 is a great draft, and picking in the teens appears to be like top 10 in many drafts.
If they over exceed and make a playoff run great…if they are mediocre then we can add a great prospect via draft….or that pick becomes a valuable trade piece.

[brackdan70]

Might be too early to think about, but who are those players we might target with the Porzingis TPE.
Must make less than 22.5 million in 26/27.
Quick Look At bigs and I see Gafford, Portis, Avdija, Okongwu, Stewart, Aldema, Poeltl…probably a couple others.
Zubac!!!! Doesn’t seem realistic.
Maybe Queta and Garza rock the world, so we don’t need a big either.

[Hal14]

Some people still don't get it. More moves are coming. Celtics payroll is going to continue to decrease. Could be a trade in the next month but the key date is Sep 7th when Simons and Niang can be combined with other players in a trade. Opening night roster is going to look very different than the July 25th roster.

Maybe, maybe not.

I don't see anyone saying that this is the final roster and I don't see anyone saying that we won't make anymore trades. I think we all know there's still a possibility of more trades.

Not sure why Sept 7 is significant. Seems highly doubtful we would combine Simons and Niang's salaries in a trade. Simons makes $27mil. Niang makes $8mil. So you think we're gonna combine them to trade for a guy making $35mil? That puts a $35mil guy in Simons' salary slot. Then even if you put a minimum guy in Niang's salary slot you still end up with higher payroll than we have now.

[ThePigeon]

Jaden Springer also waived
That's 3 sunken 2nd round picks
Shulga is the 4th (we could have had Penda or Raynoud...)

I don't get why you promise guys a two-way in the late 2nd round. We are now missing on real talent (like the unconscious shooter from SA, Bassey maybe, Lofton) for this bum