Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[flintsky21]

I feel it's enough incentive to go after Vooch if he gets bought out just to keep him away from the freaking Lakers. Because you know the Lakers are gonna get him. They already scooped up Ayton and Smart. I don't wanna give them a third player off the buyout market. I know nobody's taking them seriously as contenders yet but that doesn't mean the league can just keep gifting them starting-caliber players. They've got Luka now. It'd really suck if they win a title on a Celtics gap year.

[CelticFaninLBC]

I think y’all are underestimating the defense a fair bit. Queta, Minott, White, Brown are all solid defenders.
Walsh and Gonzales have high defensive potential.
Depends ultimately who Joe plays and how much but there are plenty of guys on this team capable of playing at a high level.

Bottom 10 defense at best. Being real.

Pritchard, Hauer, Simons, Niang, Scheierman etc. will be a turnstile on the perimeter with Queta, Garza, Tillman offering rim protection? Please.

How many wins are you predicting? Zero?

[Celts17Pride]

I think y’all are underestimating the defense a fair bit. Queta, Minott, White, Brown are all solid defenders.
Walsh and Gonzales have high defensive potential.
Depends ultimately who Joe plays and how much but there are plenty of guys on this team capable of playing at a high level.

Bottom 10 defense at best. Being real.

Pritchard, Hauer, Simons, Niang, Scheierman etc. will be a turnstile on the perimeter with Queta, Garza, Tillman offering rim protection? Please.

How many wins are you predicting? Zero?

38 wins, 9th seed. Celtics will win some of the games with scores of 140 to 135 games.

[GreenBlooded]

Bottom 10 defense at best. Being real.

Pritchard, Hauer, Simons, Niang, Scheierman etc. will be a turnstile on the perimeter with Queta, Garza, Tillman offering rim protection? Please.

How many wins are you predicting? Zero?

38 wins, 9th seed. Celtics will win some of the games with scores of 140 to 135 games.

FanDuel has the win total over-under set at 43.5 for the Celtics. If you're confident in your assessment, go cash in. It would be more rewarding than trying to convince ppl here you're right!

[Celts17Pride]

How many wins are you predicting? Zero?

38 wins, 9th seed. Celtics will win some of the games with scores of 140 to 135 games.

FanDuel has the win total over-under set at 43.5 for the Celtics. If you're confident in your assessment, go cash in. It would be more rewarding than trying to convince ppl here you're right!

I'm not trying to convince anyone, just being real.

[GreenBlooded]

38 wins, 9th seed. Celtics will win some of the games with scores of 140 to 135 games.

FanDuel has the win total over-under set at 43.5 for the Celtics. If you're confident in your assessment, go cash in. It would be more rewarding than trying to convince ppl here you're right!

I'm not trying to convince anyone, just being real.

Oh, I didn't realize you were stating what's "real". In that case, sell everything you own and place the bet...it's free money

[165bows]

38 wins, 9th seed. Celtics will win some of the games with scores of 140 to 135 games.

FanDuel has the win total over-under set at 43.5 for the Celtics. If you're confident in your assessment, go cash in. It would be more rewarding than trying to convince ppl here you're right!

I'm not trying to convince anyone, just being real.

I don't even think 38 is that low of an assessment.

If the JB/DW/Simons (if he's around)/PP group gets guys that play solid stretches at their upper bands of performance they can bring a lot of firepower.

Nothing says that happens though and if a bunch of those guys kind of sink to the level of the team (or are out for longer stretches) they could easily hit low 30s. I'd say if I had a range the most likely tight range is 36-44.

[165bows]

Speaking of, can we coin "Simons (if he's around)" as an official nickname??

Someone file the paperwork.

[redslastlaugh]

what nickname you takin:

Simons (if he's around)
or
Simons (if he's on the roster)

lol

Speaking of, can we coin "Simons (if he's around)" as an official nickname??

Someone file the paperwork.

[Hal14]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/predicting-jonathan-kuminga-josh-giddey-best-remaining-nba-free-agents

Bret Siegel makes a prediction on where the top remaining free agents will sign.

TL/DR he picks:
-Horford to Warriors
-Ben Simmons to Celtics
-Achiuwa to Heat (recently purchased a condo in south beach)

Let's go..let's sign him! Give him a 2 year deal, cheap $..team option for the 2nd year. Excited to see how he can fit in here..and if he can be a small ball 5 for us.

If so, I think a lineup (once Tatum returns) of Simmons at the 5 with Tatum at the 4, JB at the 3, white + simons (or Pritchard) in the back court could do some serious damage.

That's a lineup with 5 guys who can all handle the basketball. 4 plus defenders and 4 shooters.

If Simmons isn't a good fit, no big deal, you let him walk after this season, decline the 2nd year option. Find someone else to play center next summer. And if he's bad for us this season, it means we get a better draft pick.

Plus, even if he's good for us, we're gonna load manage the crap out of him..play him only like 40 games, maybe 50 at the most. So that A) we get a better draft pick and B) we're not putting too much wear and tear on Simmons, in case we do want to keep him around for the 26-27 season, he's more likely to stay healthy come playoff time if we load manage him..

Simmons is not a perfect player. And there's a chance that it turns out bad if we sign him. But it's a low risk, high reward move.

Low risk, since it'd be a minimum contract and it's a bridge year.

High reward because there have not been many players like Simmons who have good size, elite defense, elite passing but questionable scoring/shooting, former all-star and all-NBA player. Pretty much the only guys who meet that description are like Simmons and Draymond Green. Draymond has 4 rings. I think Simmons could win 1 ring if he teams up with the Jays and D-white.

[cloverleaf]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/predicting-jonathan-kuminga-josh-giddey-best-remaining-nba-free-agents

Bret Siegel makes a prediction on where the top remaining free agents will sign.

TL/DR he picks:
-Horford to Warriors
-Ben Simmons to Celtics
-Achiuwa to Heat (recently purchased a condo in south beach)

Let's go..let's sign him! Give him a 2 year deal, cheap $..team option for the 2nd year. Excited to see how he can fit in here..and if he can be a small ball 5 for us.

If so, I think a lineup (once Tatum returns) of Simmons at the 5 with Tatum at the 4, JB at the 3, white + simons (or Pritchard) in the back court could do some serious damage.

That's a lineup with 5 guys who can all handle the basketball. 4 plus defenders and 4 shooters.

So we can add, "Simmons, if he's around".

[fallguy]

FanDuel has the win total over-under set at 43.5 for the Celtics. If you're confident in your assessment, go cash in. It would be more rewarding than trying to convince ppl here you're right!

I'm not trying to convince anyone, just being real.

I don't even think 38 is that low of an assessment.

If the JB/DW/Simons (if he's around)/PP group gets guys that play solid stretches at their upper bands of performance they can bring a lot of firepower.

Nothing says that happens though and if a bunch of those guys kind of sink to the level of the team (or are out for longer stretches) they could easily hit low 30s. I'd say if I had a range the most likely tight range is 36-44.

Expecting JB and DW will both miss lots of time with injuries and 'injuries'.

[playa-hater]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/predicting-jonathan-kuminga-josh-giddey-best-remaining-nba-free-agents

Bret Siegel makes a prediction on where the top remaining free agents will sign.

TL/DR he picks:
-Horford to Warriors
-Ben Simmons to Celtics
-Achiuwa to Heat (recently purchased a condo in south beach)

Let's go..let's sign him! Give him a 2 year deal, cheap $..team option for the 2nd year. Excited to see how he can fit in here..and if he can be a small ball 5 for us.

If so, I think a lineup (once Tatum returns) of Simmons at the 5 with Tatum at the 4, JB at the 3, white + simons (or Pritchard) in the back court could do some serious damage.

That's a lineup with 5 guys who can all handle the basketball. 4 plus defenders and 4 shooters.

If Simmons isn't a good fit. No big deal, you let him walk after this season, decline the 2nd year option. Find someone else to play center next summer. And if he's bad for us this season, it means we get a better draft pick.

Plus, even if he's good for us, we're gonna load manage the crap out of him..play him only like 40 games, maybe 50 at the most. So that A) we get a better draft pick and B) we're not putting too much wear and tear on Simmons, in case we do want to keep him around for the 26-27 season, he's more likely to stay healthy come playoff time if we load manage him..

Agree on all points.

[Parliament10]

Does anyone remember what the 2 x 2nd Round picks, that we were supposed to get for the Jrue/Simons Trade?
It's still a good deal. But, the addition of 2 x 2nds was golden.

[CelticFaninLBC]

Bottom 10 defense at best. Being real.

Pritchard, Hauer, Simons, Niang, Scheierman etc. will be a turnstile on the perimeter with Queta, Garza, Tillman offering rim protection? Please.

How many wins are you predicting? Zero?

38 wins, 9th seed. Celtics will win some of the games with scores of 140 to 135 games.

Ok. That's reasonable. They look like a .500 team at this point...

[brackdan70]

Does anyone remember what the 2 x 2nd Round picks, that we were supposed to get for the Jrue/Simons Trade?
It's still a good deal. But, the addition of 2 x 2nds was golden.

I don’t remember exactly….both were far future…one was Portland’s own I think and one a worst of a few teams…that’s what my fading memory recalls lol.
Edit: seems like Knicks were one of the teams

[165bows]

what nickname you takin:

Simons (if he's around)
or
Simons (if he's on the roster)

lol

Speaking of, can we coin "Simons (if he's around)" as an official nickname??

Someone file the paperwork.

Make two camps and argue about it of course!!

[CelticFaninLBC]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/predicting-jonathan-kuminga-josh-giddey-best-remaining-nba-free-agents

Bret Siegel makes a prediction on where the top remaining free agents will sign.

TL/DR he picks:
-Horford to Warriors
-Ben Simmons to Celtics
-Achiuwa to Heat (recently purchased a condo in south beach)

Let's go..let's sign him! Give him a 2 year deal, cheap $..team option for the 2nd year. Excited to see how he can fit in here..and if he can be a small ball 5 for us.

If so, I think a lineup (once Tatum returns) of Simmons at the 5 with Tatum at the 4, JB at the 3, white + simons (or Pritchard) in the back court could do some serious damage.

That's a lineup with 5 guys who can all handle the basketball. 4 plus defenders and 4 shooters.

If Simmons isn't a good fit, no big deal, you let him walk after this season, decline the 2nd year option. Find someone else to play center next summer. And if he's bad for us this season, it means we get a better draft pick.

Plus, even if he's good for us, we're gonna load manage the crap out of him..play him only like 40 games, maybe 50 at the most. So that A) we get a better draft pick and B) we're not putting too much wear and tear on Simmons, in case we do want to keep him around for the 26-27 season, he's more likely to stay healthy come playoff time if we load manage him..

Simmons is not a perfect player. And there's a chance that it turns out bad if we sign him. But it's a low risk, high reward move.

Low risk, since it'd be a minimum contract and it's a bridge year.

High reward because there have not been many players like Simmons who have good size, elite defense, elite passing but questionable scoring/shooting, former all-star and all-NBA player. Pretty much the only guys who meet that description are like Simmons and Draymond Green. Draymond has 4 rings. I think Simmons could win 1 ring if he teams up with the Jays and D-white.

Yeah, not much to lose with Simmons at the deal you mention above. If he's hurt most of the year, no big deal, since they're not paying him much adn they're not contending... If he stays healthy, he could be a good future fit, as a small ball 5.

[darrendaye]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/predicting-jonathan-kuminga-josh-giddey-best-remaining-nba-free-agents

Bret Siegel makes a prediction on where the top remaining free agents will sign.

TL/DR he picks:
-Horford to Warriors
-Ben Simmons to Celtics
-Achiuwa to Heat (recently purchased a condo in south beach)

Let's go..let's sign him! Give him a 2 year deal, cheap $..team option for the 2nd year. Excited to see how he can fit in here..and if he can be a small ball 5 for us.

If so, I think a lineup (once Tatum returns) of Simmons at the 5 with Tatum at the 4, JB at the 3, white + simons (or Pritchard) in the back court could do some serious damage.

That's a lineup with 5 guys who can all handle the basketball. 4 plus defenders and 4 shooters.

If Simmons isn't a good fit, no big deal, you let him walk after this season, decline the 2nd year option. Find someone else to play center next summer. And if he's bad for us this season, it means we get a better draft pick.

Plus, even if he's good for us, we're gonna load manage the crap out of him..play him only like 40 games, maybe 50 at the most. So that A) we get a better draft pick and B) we're not putting too much wear and tear on Simmons, in case we do want to keep him around for the 26-27 season, he's more likely to stay healthy come playoff time if we load manage him..

Simmons is not a perfect player. And there's a chance that it turns out bad if we sign him. But it's a low risk, high reward move.

Low risk, since it'd be a minimum contract and it's a bridge year.

High reward because there have not been many players like Simmons who have good size, elite defense, elite passing but questionable scoring/shooting, former all-star and all-NBA player. Pretty much the only guys who meet that description are like Simmons and Draymond Green. Draymond has 4 rings. I think Simmons could win 1 ring if he teams up with the Jays and D-white.

I'm on record being ok on this potential move, but I'd be curious how you and others (like me) who are open to Simmons, see the trickle down related to lineups. For me, while there will be rest days as you mention, I basically split the center minutes between the 3 evenly if I bring in Simmons. I wouldn't want him to bump Minott as I really want to see where his defense can go.

[Parliament10]

Does anyone remember what the 2 x 2nd Round picks, that we were supposed to get for the Jrue/Simons Trade?
It's still a good deal. But, the addition of 2 x 2nds was golden.

I don’t remember exactly….both were far future…one was Portland’s own I think and one a worst of a few teams…that’s what my fading memory recalls lol.
Edit: seems like Knicks were one of the teams

OK. Good info.
That seems like it was a pretty good deal. It's still a good deal, without the picks.


Edit:
I tracked down some more details.

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/jrue-holiday-celtics-blazers-trade-amendment-draft-picks-nba/

The Celtics and the Blazers reportedly agreed to a trade back on June 23, with Boston landing Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks for sending Holiday to Portland. Those draft picks -- which were supposed to be a 2030 second-round pick from the Knicks and Portland's own 2031 second-round selection -- are no longer part of the deal due to concerns over Holiday's health....

"According to the source, a recent review of Holiday's medicals revealed nothing substantial enough to warrant the trade being negated. However, there was enough there to lead the Blazers to slightly alter the terms of the deal," Fentress reported Monday. "Holiday, the source said, is considered to be healthy and will be working out this summer in preparation for the start of training camp near the end of September."