Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[dortmunder]

Trade tillman, cut walsh, sign Bassey

[Hal14]

The rim protection alone from Boucher is a big boost.

"big" boost seems like hyperbole. His BLK% has been declining each year for awhile now..was just 2.8 last year..decent but not much to write home about.

Niang is a more consistent shooter, better passer, better at handling the ball, creating off the bounce..is tougher, more physical..

Niang is the better offensive player, no doubt about that.

But it's about need.

Cs needed frontcourt help and Brad just did that.

You get nothing fron Niang when it comes to rim protection.

This about need and fit, not who the better player is.

Niang is a front court player. You're really reaching here.

Boucher doesn't provide much rim protection..his BLK % has been declining each year over the past few years, as I just said..only 2.8 BLK% last year is decent but not much to write home about. And he's only getting older so his BLK% and the rest of his numbers will likely keep going down.

You could easily argue that Niang fits better since he's a better, more consistent 3 pt shooter. And we shoot more 3's than any team in NBA history.

They're both decent 8th men in a rotation. This does nothing in terms of changing how many wins we'll get this season..all it does is save us some $..

[hugepatsfan]

Niang is a better player than Boucher, but I think Boucher might be a bit better fit. Not as much of a spacer but he can play the PF spot and give you some secondary rim protection to compensate for our C problems in ways Niang can't and it's not like he's a TOTAL zero as a shooter either. Can also play the 5 himself in smaller lineups if the depth chart there is just total garbage. And then of course it saves over over $45M in tax and salary that hopefully ownership pockets away to use in future years where Tatum is playing.

I'm totally cool with bottoming the budget out this year if it means more money to invest in teams for years we actually have a shot.

[Fierce1]

Does trading Hauser get us under the lux tax? Keeping Simons over Hauser is a no brainer

No.

Cs need to get below 187.9m for the Cs to avoid being a repeater.

Right now the Cs are under the 2nd apron, but still over the 1st apron.

[165bows]

Now they have to make another trade. Niang could imitate a power forward. They don't have one 4 on the roster other than Tillman who was nonfunctional last season.

Nah they are tanking.

[165bows]

Read on Twitter

Now that's a surprise!

This has been pre-destined for a year or two for sure.

Just can't believe he's not being paired with Niang and that we are being deprived of the Boucher-Niang front court.

[Fierce1]

"big" boost seems like hyperbole. His BLK% has been declining each year for awhile now..was just 2.8 last year..decent but not much to write home about.

Niang is a more consistent shooter, better passer, better at handling the ball, creating off the bounce..is tougher, more physical..

Niang is the better offensive player, no doubt about that.

But it's about need.

Cs needed frontcourt help and Brad just did that.

You get nothing fron Niang when it comes to rim protection.

This about need and fit, not who the better player is.

Niang is a front court player. You're really reaching here.

Boucher doesn't provide much rim protection..his BLK % has been declining each year over the past few years, as I just said..only 2.8 BLK% last year is decent but not much to write home about. And he's only getting older so his BLK% and the rest of his numbers will likely keep going down.

You could easily argue that Niang fits better since he's a better, more consistent 3 pt shooter. And we shoot more 3's than any team in NBA history.

Gant posted an article about Boucher from the Raps media.

It's on the off-season thread.

That answers a lot of questions about what happened to Boucher last season.

Niang doesn't have Boucher's length.

That alone is a big difference.

No need to debate because it's already been done, Niang is gone and Boucher is a Celtic.

[31to6]

Good moves today. Got possibly a bit better and got safely below the 2nd apron.
Next move: find a taker for Simons by the trade deadline -- or let him walk for nothing.

[165bows]

You're missing the point.

Boucher is an upgrade over Niang.

Cs needed frontcourt help and Brad just did that.

Yeah Boucher isn’t amazing but he’s also not the guy you sign if you’re bottoming out.

Bingo!

This is 5 more wins in the regular season.

Boucher is a proven NBA veteran player.

Last season Boucher was limited to 17 minutes per game because the Raps were auditioning the young players.

Boucher will be more productive with more playing time with the Cs.

Boucher in no way shape or form is a +5 win player, even as bad as the front court has been.

He just played in Toronto where they only won 30, he accounts for 20% of their win total?!?

[ParticleMan]

i think we are a tillman away from being under the 1st apron. do we have enough 2RPs left to shuttle him off?

[redslastlaugh]

Bobby Marks run-down after the trade:

Read on Twitter

[Hal14]

Niang is a better player than Boucher, but I think Boucher might be a bit better fit. Not as much of a spacer but he can play the PF spot and give you some secondary rim protection to compensate for our C problems in ways Niang can't and it's not like he's a TOTAL zero as a shooter either. Can also play the 5 himself in smaller lineups if the depth chart there is just total garbage. And then of course it saves over over $45M in tax and salary that hopefully ownership pockets away to use in future years where Tatum is playing.

I'm totally cool with bottoming the budget out this year if it means more money to invest in teams for years we actually have a shot.

Niang can play the PF spot too, though. That's the primary position for both of them. And they're both 32 years old.

Let's not overthink it. All that really matters with today's moves is the bold part.

[The Corey's]

Cut 12 mil and get under the tax completely.

Just do it. Thank me later.

[Celts17Pride]

i think we are a tillman away from being under the 1st apron. do we have enough 2RPs left to shuttle him off?

Celtics now can get below the tax if the right Simons and Tillman trade comes along. They are about $12 million away.

[Fierce1]

Yeah Boucher isn’t amazing but he’s also not the guy you sign if you’re bottoming out.

Bingo!

This is 5 more wins in the regular season.

Boucher is a proven NBA veteran player.

Last season Boucher was limited to 17 minutes per game because the Raps were auditioning the young players.

Boucher will be more productive with more playing time with the Cs.

Boucher in no way shape or form is a +5 win player, even as bad as the front court has been.

He just played in Toronto where they only won 30, he accounts for 20% of their win total?!?

Read Gant's post on the off-season thread.

Boucher was out of the rotation last season because the Raps were auditioning the young players.

That's why Boucher just averaged 17 minutes per game.

Boucher will at least get 27 minutes per game with the Cs.

[Homerclease]

Boucher and Niang both suck, Boucher is half the price. Here we are.

[Fierce1]

This is not rocket science.

If you're an opposing player driving in the lane, who do you think makes it more difficult to get a shot off, Niang or Boucher?

[31to6]

Cut 12 mil and get under the tax completely.

Just do it. Thank me later.

Why, though?
Owners said they had to get below the 2nd apron to avoid team-building penalties. Lost four rotation players to do so.
They haven't said they need to duck the tax, and all that does is saves them money. So I'm in no rush to root for them to make that the new goal.

[Fierce1]

Cut 12 mil and get under the tax completely.

Just do it. Thank me later.

Why, though?
Owners said they had to get below the 2nd apron to avoid team-building penalties. Lost four rotation players to do so.
They haven't said they need to duck the tax, and all that does is saves them money. So I'm in no rush to root for them to make that the new goal.

Bingo!

[31to6]

This is not rocket science.

If you're an opposing player driving in the lane, who do you think makes it more difficult to get a shot off, Niang or Boucher?

I know you're fixated on length here, but Niang weighs 20 more pounds, and I personally like trying to finish over twigs even if I get blocked some times:)