Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Celts17Pride]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Last year we were wishing for back to back Championships, the year wishing for Ben Simmons? Boy how the mighty have fallen.

[canman1971]

Defense wins games, and if given the minutes, Pritchard will play at an all star level.

Who is going to defend on this team? Looks like a major weakness.

Since Mazzulla has been traveling the world to learn and grow, the Celtics have decided to use red alternate uniforms next year and try an matador defense.
[youtube]

Watch on YouTube

[/youtube]

[darrendaye]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Kornet.

Might need an avatar:

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Last year we were wishing for back to back Championships, the year wishing for Ben Simmons? Boy how the mighty have fallen.

I guess this is what happens when Stevens plan is trotting out 2 bigs in the rotation that collectively average 8/4/1 plus one rookie.

[165bows]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Last year we were wishing for back to back Championships, the year wishing for Ben Simmons? Boy how the mighty have fallen.

I want to sign Vuc and Ben Simmons then trade them both at the trade deadline for the Jae Crowder special of 5 second rounders.

Little different offseason for sure.

[playa-hater]

Okay, with so many people. Predicting Ben Simmons to sign with us. What the hell is the hole up??

Vet min. and 2nd apron.

I thought we were under. Does this mean we have to make another transaction first to sign ben simmons?

[Hal14]

Okay, with so many people. Predicting Ben Simmons to sign with us. What the hell is the hole up??

Vet min. and 2nd apron.

I thought we were under. Does this mean we have to make another transaction first to sign ben simmons?

Waiving JD got us under.

So if we sign Simmons, he'd be making more $ than JD made..so we'd be back over the 2nd apron if we signed him.

So one thing possibly holding this up if they might be trying to trade Tillman, free up some cash and then sign Simmons so we can sign him and still be under the 2nd apron.

[darrendaye]

Vet min. and 2nd apron.

I thought we were under. Does this mean we have to make another transaction first to sign ben simmons?

Waiving JD got us under.

So if we sign Simmons, he'd be making more $ than JD made..so we'd be back over the 2nd apron if we signed him.

So one thing possibly holding this up if they might be trying to trade Tillman, free up some cash and then sign Simmons so we can sign him and still be under the 2nd apron.

Guessing it wouldn't be enough to work, but, curious where the waive and stretch option on Tillman would put them if Simmons was signed to minimum.

[Hal14]

From January 12 onward, Tillman shot 4/24 (16%) from 3. And his defense wasn't that good either last season.

We're not gonna waive him because his contract is guaranteed.

Really hope we can find a team that will take him in a trade/dump..they can then just waive him after the trade goes through.

TRade/dump Tillman, then sign Simmons.

Then sign 1 more exhibit 10 guy, maybe Loften. Then call it an offseason.

Then again, if Tillman is still really bad again this season, I guess the plus side of that is it helps us to tank lol.

[flintsky21]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

[Hal14]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

Mostly agree but I think he could play the 4 if he's on the floor with Garza..especially if Garza continues to develop as a shooter.

I also could see us possibly experiment with him playing at the 4, alongside Queta at the 5. Sure, it's 2 non-shooters but the Warriors made it work at times with Draymond and Looney on the the floor together..they just made sure to have enough shooting at the other 3 positions between Steph, Klay, Poole, Wiggins, Porter Jr, etc.

We could have Simmons play the Draymond role and Queta play the Looney role..with enough shooting at the other 3 positions between Pritchard, Simons, JB, white, Hauser/Niang, Tatum when he comes back, etc.

[cloverleaf]

So has there been a shred of news since SL? Is the Simmons rumor it?

[Gant]

I am not very enthusiastic about Ben Simmons, but it is sort of cool that you can currently find articles that say:

1. The #Celtics need a center. How about Ben Simmons?

2. The #Pacers need a point guard. How about Ben Simmons?

[Curmudgeon]

IMHO some team will offer Simmons more than the minimum and he will take it. Plus he doesn't want to be in the limelight. He'll go to a team like Charlotte or New Orleans if he can.

[redslastlaugh]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

I don't want him. He came over to the Clips played 18 games for them, averaged 3/4/3 on 43%/0/86% in 16 minutes, they were 3.4 points worse with him on versus off and they let him walk once the season ended. Plus he's 29 yrs old. I don't see a future in it. Guys like Jay Huff get moved for 1 or 2 future seconds all the time, I'd rather get a lesser name but younger big man and on a better development curve and not let a likely dead end like Ben Simmons have those development minutes

[Celts17Pride]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

I don't want him. He came over to the Clips played 18 games for them, averaged 3/4/3 on 43%/0/86% in 16 minutes, they were 3.4 points worse with him on versus off and they let him walk once the season ended. Plus he's 29 yrs old. I don't see a future in it. Guys like Jay Huff get moved for 1 or 2 future seconds all the time, I'd rather get a lesser name but younger big man and on a better development curve and not let a likely dead end like Ben Simmons have those development minutes

Brian Robb put the Celtics chances of signing Ben Simmons at 10-20%. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Dogen]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

solid defender and ball handler. Joeys going to have to earn his money now. C's will have to adjust to the chuck as many 3's as you can next year. Simons can get to the rack, it will be a solid group..... Lets see how good of a coach he really is!?

And if Simmons has the fire left to remake himself, having a passing, rebounding large body on the offensive end who can make crisp passes out to White, Brown, Hauser, Pritchard, and (maybe) Simons is a definite plus. He may not be a great rebounder, but if that becomes a role for him, he'll be better than KP at that at least.

[djFan71]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

I don't want him. He came over to the Clips played 18 games for them, averaged 3/4/3 on 43%/0/86% in 16 minutes, they were 3.4 points worse with him on versus off and they let him walk once the season ended. Plus he's 29 yrs old. I don't see a future in it. Guys like Jay Huff get moved for 1 or 2 future seconds all the time, I'd rather get a lesser name but younger big man and on a better development curve and not let a likely dead end like Ben Simmons have those development minutes

Same. The bold is what I think when people say it's no risk/cost. There's always opportunity cost with every roster spot. You only get 15. The guy that is "no risk" is competing against every possible other person that could be in that spot. The risk is someone else would be a much better use of the spot.

And the upside with Simmons just doesn't seem that high based on his post-PHI days. If we do sign him, I'll hope for full health and a return to his PHI days level of play, but it'll be much more hoping than expecting.

[Dogen]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

Mostly agree but I think he could play the 4 if he's on the floor with Garza..especially if Garza continues to develop as a shooter.

I also could see us possibly experiment with him playing at the 4, alongside Queta at the 5. Sure, it's 2 non-shooters but the Warriors made it work at times with Draymond and Looney on the the floor together..they just made sure to have enough shooting at the other 3 positions between Steph, Klay, Poole, Wiggins, Porter Jr, etc.

We could have Simmons play the Draymond role and Queta play the Looney role..with enough shooting at the other 3 positions between Pritchard, Simons, JB, white, Hauser/Niang, Tatum when he comes back, etc.

Yeah, I could see Simmons getting minutes at the 4 with Garza at the 5, or Vuc at 5 if we trade for him, or Hauser at the 4 with Ben at the 5.

But Simmons with Queta, or Tillman, or Williams is too far off the beaten path for Joe. He's going to need plenty of scorers and shooters with him in order to fit in the offense.

Simmons/Hauser/Brown/White/Pritchard is not going to light the league on fire, but be competitive.

I'm also of the opinion that JT will be back earlier than many expect.

[flintsky21]

I don't see the fit of Ben Simmons.

Only way I'll be okay with it is if he strictly plays the 5, focus on rebounds and being a switch defender. On offense, he could be pushing the ball upon grabbing the rebound but he needs to be quick and decisive upon reaching the halfcourt to either attack or move the ball. No interest in seeing him stand around the 3 point line looking for someone to pass to while his defender is backed all the way up the free throw line. Otherwise, he should be sticking around the paint.

I don't want him. He came over to the Clips played 18 games for them, averaged 3/4/3 on 43%/0/86% in 16 minutes, they were 3.4 points worse with him on versus off and they let him walk once the season ended. Plus he's 29 yrs old. I don't see a future in it. Guys like Jay Huff get moved for 1 or 2 future seconds all the time, I'd rather get a lesser name but younger big man and on a better development curve and not let a likely dead end like Ben Simmons have those development minutes

Yeah I agree. Frankly, having Simmons means you're likely playing 4 v 5 on offense. You'd really have to adjust your offensive schemes and flows to accomodate him and his deficiencies. It's just not worth it.