Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[fallguy]

I don't know about that. Bulpett's source is just sayin Celts aren't about to trade him right now.

Look at Myles Turner. For at least five full years, it was accepted around the league that Turner was on the trading block. Even when Indy extended him a few yrs ago, the pundits were saying the extension was just to buy more time until the eventual trade. And then, after being in all those trade rumors, Turner never got traded... and he just left in free agency after ten years as a Pacer.

so who knows, lol

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/boston-celtics/nba-exec-celtics-anfernee-simons-situation/

Welp, guess I should just accept that Simons is not part of the long term plan and that it's inevitable he'll be traded - it's just a matter of when.

It's been obvious since the day of the trade they weren't in the Simons business long term. The first thing they passed to the Globe was that they were shopping him.

[Celts17Pride]

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/boston-celtics/nba-exec-celtics-anfernee-simons-situation/

Welp, guess I should just accept that Simons is not part of the long term plan and that it's inevitable he'll be traded - it's just a matter of when.

The belief around the NBA is that the Celtics will look to deal away Simons, that he is not part of the long-term plan for the Celtics when they get Jayson Tatum back after he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon next season.

But the belief, too, is that Boston is in no hurry to make a deal happen. “You never know, but the team they have now is probably the team they’ll start the year with,” one GM said. “They could get themselves involved in some blockbuster. But they’re not in a hurry to make that move (on Simons).”

Of course, the Celtics are just below the NBA’s second apron on the luxury tax, and they’d like to be much more comfortably below it. But the fact is, they do not need to get below it before the season starts–they can make it happen during the season, too.

The belief is that Simons can boost his trade value in the coming months. Portland has been trying to trade Simons for the better part of the past year and a half, despite having committed $100 million to him. Portland was disappointed in Simons’ inability to bolster other parts of his game beyond scoring.

Maybe that can happen with the Celtics.

“He is going to a team with a different coaching staff, a different front office, a whole different system of teaching,” the GM said. “Sometimes a situation changes and the light bulb goes on for a guy. That could be the case with him (Simons). He is still a young guy, and if he is willing to learn, he could come out a better player.

“So you wait to trade him to see if that happens.”

If another team has an injury or finds itself a scorer away from contending, the Celtics can step in with a player at the ready via trade.

“We’ve known for a long time that hard decisions were coming,” Stevens said Tuesday on the decisions to trade both Holiday and Porzingis, which both became official this week. “The second apron is why those trades happened. I think that is pretty obvious. And the basketball penalties associated with those are real. …

“So that was part of making the decision to push and put our chips on the table and go for the last two years.”

Simons figures to be next, eventually. But it is not likely to happen until the season is rolling.

So who is part of the long term plan? Tatum, Brown, White of course. Then Pritchard and Hauser makes 5 guys who were in our rotation when we just won banner 18..after that maybe Niang, maybe Queta could possibly be rotation guys when we are competing for a title again in 2027.

After that, you hope someone pops between Garza, Minott, Hugo, Walsh, Scheierman, Amari..maybe you bring in Ben Simmons. And maybe you get a solid player in return for Simons..

It’s about time

[165bows]

I don't know about that. Bulpett's source is just sayin Celts aren't about to trade him right now.

Look at Myles Turner. For at least five full years, it was accepted around the league that Turner was on the trading block. Even when Indy extended him a few yrs ago, the pundits were saying the extension was just to buy more time until the eventual trade. And then, after being in all those trade rumors, Turner never got traded... and he just left in free agency after ten years as a Pacer.

so who knows, lol

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/boston-celtics/nba-exec-celtics-anfernee-simons-situation/

Welp, guess I should just accept that Simons is not part of the long term plan and that it's inevitable he'll be traded - it's just a matter of when.

It's been obvious since the day of the trade they weren't in the Simons business long term. The first thing they passed to the Globe was that they were shopping him.

It’s the same issue with lots of guys right now - if they perform well enough they aren’t affordable enough when it matters. Oh plus he’s not that big or that good a defender.

[Hal14]

I am thinking that the Celtics not seeing Simons as a long term piece here is probably a combination of:

a) he's a high usage guy. Needs the ball in his hands a lot. And they don't want more high usage guys..the Jays are both high 20's/low 30's in usage. After that is White. And for additional ball handling we have Pritchard. So I get how they might not love the fit with Simons

b) the defense. When we won the title, every guy in our rotation was at least a neutral defender..and all 5 starters were plus defenders. OKC, all their rotation guys can defend.

c) the contract..$27 mil this season, and probably at least $15 mil a year beyond that if we wanted to extend him..they probably don't want to pay that kind of $ for him, given a and b above

So I get it. It's the Jays and White. Everyone else should be low usage on offense..have something they can bring to the table on offense (whether it's shooting, cutting, passing..) and you've gotta be at least a neutral defender. And ideally, everyone else besides the Jays, white and Hauser is making less than $10mil a year.

Unless maybe we end up acquiring a center at some point making like $11 - $20 mil? Hmm..seems like that probably won't happen till next summer though..this season is about cutting costs, develop our younger guys, load manage our vets, try and get a good draft pick and figure out what the roster will look like when we'll hopefully be back in title contention in 26-27..

[Parliament10]

I don't know about that. Bulpett's source is just sayin Celts aren't about to trade him right now.

Look at Myles Turner. For at least five full years, it was accepted around the league that Turner was on the trading block. Even when Indy extended him a few yrs ago, the pundits were saying the extension was just to buy more time until the eventual trade. And then, after being in all those trade rumors, Turner never got traded... and he just left in free agency after ten years as a Pacer.

so who knows, lol

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/boston-celtics/nba-exec-celtics-anfernee-simons-situation/

Welp, guess I should just accept that Simons is not part of the long term plan and that it's inevitable he'll be traded - it's just a matter of when.

It's been obvious since the day of the trade they weren't in the Simons business long term. The first thing they passed to the Globe was that they were shopping him.

I think that it's telling that they haven't introduced Simons, nor Niang, for that matter.

[fallguy]

I don't know about that. Bulpett's source is just sayin Celts aren't about to trade him right now.

Look at Myles Turner. For at least five full years, it was accepted around the league that Turner was on the trading block. Even when Indy extended him a few yrs ago, the pundits were saying the extension was just to buy more time until the eventual trade. And then, after being in all those trade rumors, Turner never got traded... and he just left in free agency after ten years as a Pacer.

so who knows, lol

It's been obvious since the day of the trade they weren't in the Simons business long term. The first thing they passed to the Globe was that they were shopping him.

I think that it's telling that they haven't introduced Simons, nor Niang, for that matter.

I made the same point a couple of weeks ago. If they can't move him before the season they'll do it, but I doubt that's before September.

[Fierce1]

It's obvious Brad traded for Simons just to get out of the Jrue contract.

But don't rush in trading Simons for guys like Okogie, Mann, or Slo-Mo.

Simons is playing for his next contract.
That means he's most likely going to have a great season.

Let him play until trade deadline.

If he plays great then the Cs will get more value for him on or before trade deadline.

[Celts17Pride]

It's been obvious since the day of the trade they weren't in the Simons business long term. The first thing they passed to the Globe was that they were shopping him.

I think that it's telling that they haven't introduced Simons, nor Niang, for that matter.

I made the same point a couple of weeks ago. If they can't move him before the season they'll do it, but I doubt that's before September.

Celtics next big flurry of activity will be after Sep 7th when you can combine salaries with Simons and Niang. Simons may survive the trades before the season but he will be gone by the mid-season trade deadline.

[Celts17Pride]

It's obvious Brad traded for Simons just to get out of the Jrue contract.

and Portland initially traded Simons (on an expiring contract) and two 2nd round picks for a 35 year old vet who really didn't play well all season and in the playoffs and is due $104 million over the next 3 years. Says a few things about Simons in my opinion or Portland management is smoking some really funny things over there.

[165bows]

I think that it's telling that they haven't introduced Simons, nor Niang, for that matter.

I made the same point a couple of weeks ago. If they can't move him before the season they'll do it, but I doubt that's before September.

Celtics next big flurry of activity will be after Sep 7th when you can combine salaries with Simons and Niang. Simons may survive the trades before the season but he will be gone by the mid-season trade deadline.

What would they do that for?

[Celts17Pride]

I made the same point a couple of weeks ago. If they can't move him before the season they'll do it, but I doubt that's before September.

Celtics next big flurry of activity will be after Sep 7th when you can combine salaries with Simons and Niang. Simons may survive the trades before the season but he will be gone by the mid-season trade deadline.

What would they do that for?

To get something for him, lower their tax bill, future draft capital.........

[Fierce1]

Guess it's Team Trade Simons vs. Team Keep Simons.

[Celts17Pride]

Guess it's Team Trade Simons vs. Team Keep Simons.

I know which team is going to win

[Hal14]

Celtics next big flurry of activity will be after Sep 7th when you can combine salaries with Simons and Niang. Simons may survive the trades before the season but he will be gone by the mid-season trade deadline.

What would they do that for?

To get something for him, lower their tax bill, future draft capital.........

But combining simons and niang's salaries together..that's $27 mil salary + $8 mil salary = $35mil salary..if we trade them for a $35 mil salary guy, wouldn't that raise our tax bill?

[Celts17Pride]

What would they do that for?

To get something for him, lower their tax bill, future draft capital.........

But combining simons and niang's salaries together..that's $27 mil salary + $8 mil salary = $35mil salary..if we trade them for a $35 mil salary guy, wouldn't that raise our tax bill?

That is not what I am saying, could be Niang, Walsh, Tillman for .......... or some other combination. Could be Simons and Tillman for a lower salary etc. Celtics right now can't add players to Simons or Niang until after Sep 7th.

[Fierce1]

What would they do that for?

To get something for him, lower their tax bill, future draft capital.........

But combining simons and niang's salaries together..that's $27 mil salary + $8 mil salary = $35mil salary..if we trade them for a $35 mil salary guy, wouldn't that raise our tax bill?

Or maybe Simons and Niang for Vuc and Coby.

[colincb]

1. It's strange that they haven't been introduced.
2. The Cs are restricted from trading Niang or Simons until late in the first week of September.
3. There appears to be a possibility of some useful players being available.

[Fierce1]

1. It's strange that they haven't been introduced.
2. The Cs are restricted from trading Niang or Simons until late in the first week of September.
3. There appears to be a possibility of some useful players being available.

Cs can trade Simons and Niang individually.

Sep. 7 they can be combined or packaged with other players.

[celtxman]

Stevens putting together a Championship Contender...

Read on Twitter

I just don't see it in this guy. He did nothing in Summer League. I was looking forward to seeing more of Drew Peterson, but Peterson leaves because of getting PT on a shell shocked roster with minutes galore? I understand Hauser is still here (for now)and Peterson was worried. But it feels like we took another step back in talent, but this time with no financial gain

[Fierce1]

Stevens putting together a Championship Contender...

Read on Twitter

I just don't see it in this guy. He did nothing in Summer League. I was looking forward to seeing more of Drew Peterson, but Peterson leaves because of getting PT on a shell shocked roster with minutes galore? I understand Hauser is still here (for now)and Peterson was worried. But it feels like we took another step back in talent, but this time with no financial gain

His name is Max.

Last time Cs discarded a "Max" they regretted it.