Shams: Niang to Jazz with SRPs, Celts also sign Boucher

[zimpy27]

How close to the tax line will Celtics continue to push for?

They just signed Boucher to $3.3m

Is this it or will we see Celtics try to duck the tax?

[HornetJail]

well they signed Boucher so they are still about $13M from ducking the tax. they should do something drastic with the Simons contract, such as breaking it into two smaller contracts and stretching one

[Mavrelous]

Any idea why theJazz didn't use the MLE here?

Read on Twitter

?t=bAnFeqvgzcCJXofdNjZnHA&s=19

[Scoot McGroot]

How close to the tax line will Celtics continue to push for?

They just signed Boucher to $3.3m

Is this it or will we see Celtics try to duck the tax?

Boucher is the vet minimum, so it should be compensated down to the 2 year vet minimum salary.

I think if they could deal Simons to get under the tax, or substantially closer, they probably will? Either way, this saves a ton of tax, too.

[Scoot McGroot]

Any idea why theJazz didn't use the MLE here?

Read on Twitter

?t=bAnFeqvgzcCJXofdNjZnHA&s=19

They used most of it to take In SloMo, and used their bae to bring in Love, so that they could create the Collins TPE to begin with.

[Mavrelous]

Any idea why theJazz didn't use the MLE here?

Read on Twitter

?t=bAnFeqvgzcCJXofdNjZnHA&s=19

They used most of it to take In SloMo, and used their bae to bring in Love, so that they could create the Collins TPE to begin with.

Forgot about that...
I think Jazz sold low, I would've kept that TPE untouched.

[BlazersBroncos]

How close to the tax line will Celtics continue to push for?

They just signed Boucher to $3.3m

Is this it or will we see Celtics try to duck the tax?

Boucher is the vet minimum, so it should be compensated down to the 2 year vet minimum salary.

I think if they could deal Simons to get under the tax, or substantially closer, they probably will? Either way, this saves a ton of tax, too.

Not sure if its been thrown around, and not sure BOS and LAL would deal together - but Simons for Vincent + Kleber + maybe SRP?

BOS shaves 5M and Maxi can help with their big man depth.
LAL gets a big roster upgrade while moving basically little to no value. They can run w/ -

G - Marcus Smart / Anfernee Simons / Bronny James
G - Austin Reaves / Anfernee Simons / Dalton Knetch
F - Luka Doncic / Jake LaRavia / Dalton Knetch
F - LeBron James / Rui Hachimura / Adou Thiero
C - DeAndre Ayton / Jarred Vanderbilt / Jaxson Hayes

[Mavrelous]

How close to the tax line will Celtics continue to push for?

They just signed Boucher to $3.3m

Is this it or will we see Celtics try to duck the tax?

Boucher is the vet minimum, so it should be compensated down to the 2 year vet minimum salary.

I think if they could deal Simons to get under the tax, or substantially closer, they probably will? Either way, this saves a ton of tax, too.

Not sure if its been thrown around, and not sure BOS and LAL would deal together - but Simons for Vincent + Kleber + maybe SRP?

BOS shaves 5M and Maxi can help with their big man depth.
LAL gets a big roster upgrade while moving basically little to no value. They can run w/ -

G - Marcus Smart / Anfernee Simons / Bronny James
G - Austin Reaves / Anfernee Simons / Dalton Knetch
F - Luka Doncic / Jake LaRavia / Dalton Knetch
F - LeBron James / Rui Hachimura / Adou Thiero
C - DeAndre Ayton / Jarred Vanderbilt / Jaxson Hayes

Lakers are hardcapped and have no space below the Apron.

[zimpy27]

I really thought Bucks should have done this:

Celtics get Kuzma, AJJ
Bucks get Simons, Niang (Room)

Celtics could have ducked tax with Hauser in to someone's exception or capspace.

[oldncreaky]

I'm a bit surprised that it was Boston who got Boucher on a vet min deal. Thought he'd be a much better fit as a depth piece (9th man) on a contender.

He's been inconsistent his entire career, and you don't want to have to rely on him in your top 7. However, if he comes in and hits a couple shots, he can get hot, play impact D, block shots, and tilt a game. On Boston, he just might win them a few games they'd rather lose -- as he did in TOR before he was benched to help the tank.

[Devilanche]

Love this for Boston . Just keep making trades trying to get below the tax.

Picks are picks for Utah.

[Snakebites]

Given the circumstances the Celtics have done a decent job.

Can’t imagine too many Celtics fans are excited about this offseason, but these incremental cuts to minimize the cost of cutting salary were the right move.

[djFan71]

I really thought Bucks should have done this:

Celtics get Kuzma, AJJ
Bucks get Simons, Niang (Room)

Celtics could have ducked tax with Hauser in to someone's exception or capspace.

Same. But, I think MIL ate up enough of their room exception that it wasn't possible for Niang, iirc.
But, I still do it now with Tillman instead of Niang.

[Celts17Pride]

Given the circumstances the Celtics have done a decent job.

Can’t imagine too many Celtics fans are excited about this offseason, but these incremental cuts to minimize the cost of cutting salary were the right move.

Celtics fans are excited about 2026/2027. High draft pick, two big TPEs, big spending again. 2025/2026 necessary gap year.

[giberish]

I'm a bit surprised that it was Boston who got Boucher on a vet min deal. Thought he'd be a much better fit as a depth piece (9th man) on a contender.

He's been inconsistent his entire career, and you don't want to have to rely on him in your top 7. However, if he comes in and hits a couple shots, he can get hot, play impact D, block shots, and tilt a game. On Boston, he just might win them a few games they'd rather lose -- as he did in TOR before he was benched to help the tank.

I was hoping the Warriors could sign him when they eventually sign guys this offseason.

[giberish]

I really thought Bucks should have done this:

Celtics get Kuzma, AJJ
Bucks get Simons, Niang (Room)

Celtics could have ducked tax with Hauser in to someone's exception or capspace.

Same. But, I think MIL ate up enough of their room exception that it wasn't possible for Niang, iirc.
But, I still do it now with Tillman instead of Niang.

I figure that's pretty terrible for Boston having Kuzma on the books for 26-7 when they'll be back trying to win.

[parsnips33]

Is Niang gettable or is he probably staying in Utah? He seems Kerr-y

[djFan71]

I really thought Bucks should have done this:

Celtics get Kuzma, AJJ
Bucks get Simons, Niang (Room)

Celtics could have ducked tax with Hauser in to someone's exception or capspace.

Same. But, I think MIL ate up enough of their room exception that it wasn't possible for Niang, iirc.
But, I still do it now with Tillman instead of Niang.

I figure that's pretty terrible for Boston having Kuzma on the books for 26-7 when they'll be back trying to win.

Yeah, we'd deal him later this year, or incorporate a 3rd team right now. I just didn't wanna complicate things.

Something like LAL or CHA make sense to me as Kuz destinations. CHA send out Green and Jeffries and BOS ducks the tax completely. LAL doesn't help financially, but splits the burden in 2 (Vincent, Maxi) and either is easier to move, or even waive/stretch if it comes to it.

[giberish]

Same. But, I think MIL ate up enough of their room exception that it wasn't possible for Niang, iirc.
But, I still do it now with Tillman instead of Niang.

I figure that's pretty terrible for Boston having Kuzma on the books for 26-7 when they'll be back trying to win.

Yeah, we'd deal him later this year, or incorporate a 3rd team right now. I just didn't wanna complicate things.

Something like LAL or CHA make sense to me as Kuz destinations. CHA send out Green and Jeffries and BOS ducks the tax completely. LAL doesn't help financially, but splits the burden in 2 (Vincent, Maxi) and either is easier to move, or even waive/stretch if it comes to it.

I figure that avoiding the tax completely is very minor for Boston. Just getting from paying $200-300M in luxury taxes down to $20-30M is fine.

More important for Boston is not having bad money on the books for 26-7 when they're trying again.

[djFan71]

I figure that's pretty terrible for Boston having Kuzma on the books for 26-7 when they'll be back trying to win.

Yeah, we'd deal him later this year, or incorporate a 3rd team right now. I just didn't wanna complicate things.

Something like LAL or CHA make sense to me as Kuz destinations. CHA send out Green and Jeffries and BOS ducks the tax completely. LAL doesn't help financially, but splits the burden in 2 (Vincent, Maxi) and either is easier to move, or even waive/stretch if it comes to it.

I figure that avoiding the tax completely is very minor for Boston. Just getting from paying $200-300M in luxury taxes down to $20-30M is fine.

More important for Boston is not having bad money on the books for 26-7 when they're trying again.

I think there is the "you can't duck it twice if you don't duck it once" pro of ducking this year. Gives them options for 26-27 if bad stuff happens.

I don't mind a year of expiring bad money, esp when you have tradeable picks. Main downside is the year of Kuz for 25-26.