Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[djFan71]

Cut 12 mil and get under the tax completely.

Just do it. Thank me later.

I'll probably forget, so thanks now.

[165bows]

Read on Twitter

My Boy! From Montreal!!!! He is from Saint-Michel area!

Wait, what? A MrGreenRunsDeep approved big man? I'm not sure how to function in this world anymore. What if he gets dunked on?

We will call him Captain Poopie Shoe!!

[165bows]

Basically what just happened is the Celtics "traded" Niang for Boucher.

They probably waited until Boucher agreed, then called up Austin Ainge and pulled the trigger on a deal that had previously been worked out.

Bingo!

Well except for the second rounders which I think at this point they may have tipped into the smallest amount of paying to get out of salary that I was sure they would not do. But it's within rounding errors and irrelevant amounts so it's never to be spoken of again.

[jmr07019]

Boucher blocked shots at the same rate as Derrick White and Al Horford last year. I wouldn’t call him a rim protector but he will contribute more than Niang would have.

[Fierce1]

Joe can now have a starting 5 of:

Queta
Boucher
JB
Simons
White

[The Corey's]

Cut 12 mil and get under the tax completely.

Just do it. Thank me later.

I'll probably forget, so thanks now.

Notice how I didn't use the repeater tax this time?

[jmr07019]

Joe can now have a starting 5 of:

Queta
Boucher
JB
Simons
White

Makes a lot more sense than having Hauser or Niang out there as a starter given the other 4. Celtics still have offense.

There will be some competition for bench minutes at the wing spot between Hugo Rico Hauser Minott and Walsh. Hopefully one of them can be a decent enough backup pf.

[meatball sub]

thank god we don't have to watch niang. he's legit dog ****

[Marvel]

If this is just about money and tanking, the Celtics absolutely DID NOT HAVE TO SIGN Boucher.

After the Niang trade, Brad could just have easily signed Amari to a regular contract.

But Brad didn't do that.

Since 2013-14, Brad has never been a tanker.

Boucher isn 't gonna impact the Ws column at all. Bro is just a filler.

[Celts17Pride]

If I was a betting man, I would say the odds are good that Brad Stevens gets the Celtics below the tax before the season starts. Brad will most definitely get the Celtics below the tax before the end of the season. If people don't see this then I'm sorry but you are just blind.

Now you're hedging.

Before the season starts or before the end of the season?

Which is it?

I don't know because I'm not making the phone calls, but one thing I do know, is I'm not in denial.

[Half-Full]

Boucher was a former teammate of Pritchard's at Oregon. I'm good with the trade. I see Niang and Boucher as pretty equivalent. Role players who have been around, and proven their worth. Each offering a set of skills that have value. The scale tips in favor of Boucher due to the $ savings.

[djFan71]

If I was a betting man, I would say the odds are good that Brad Stevens gets the Celtics below the tax before the season starts. Brad will most definitely get the Celtics below the tax before the end of the season. If people don't see this then I'm sorry but you are just blind.

Now you're hedging.

Before the season starts or before the end of the season?

Which is it?

I don't know because I'm not making the phone calls, but one thing I do know, is I'm not in denial.

It's both. Simons almost has to be before the season in order to save enough money on the deal to make ducking the tax possible. But we could still go into the season slightly above the tax and finish the rest off at the deadline. A few million at most, though. Not $12M.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

Bobby Marks run-down after the trade:

Read on Twitter

What are the odds we'd have two Hugo Gonzalez's on our roster with different spelling?

[djFan71]

Bobby Marks run-down after the trade:

Read on Twitter

What are the odds we'd have two Hugo Gonzalez's on our roster with different spelling?

That messed me up for a bit. Couldn't figure out how he had us at 15 players, lol. Plus, it should be OOOOOOOOOOOOgo.

[jmr07019]

As I understand it NBA teams only need to have 12 players under contract. Teams do not incur a cap hold (that would count against the salary cap) if their 13th, 14th and 15th roster spots are empty. Given this why did the Celtics sign Boucher if the plan was to either tank and/or get below the lux tax line?

[GoCeltics123]

Jay King:

A league source told The Athletic the Jazz are getting the better of Cleveland’s or Boston’s 2031 second-round pick and the better of Boston’s or Orlando’s 2027 second-round pick in the deal.

The addition of Luis could be an ominous sign for the returning Miles Norris, though a team source said his future has yet to be determined.

[Shak_Celts]

As I understand it NBA teams only need to have 12 players under contract. Teams do not incur a cap hold (that would count against the salary cap) if their 13th, 14th and 15th roster spots are empty. Given this why did the Celtics sign Boucher if the plan was to either tank and/or get below the lux tax line?

I thought we had to have 14 and then pay a small amount if we don’t add a 15th by the end of the season?


You know what, bump the cba and its mama!

[Shak_Celts]

I didn’t even follow Niang on socials. I’m prescient!


Yeah, I followed Simons and everyone else.

[djFan71]

As I understand it NBA teams only need to have 12 players under contract. Teams do not incur a cap hold (that would count against the salary cap) if their 13th, 14th and 15th roster spots are empty. Given this why did the Celtics sign Boucher if the plan was to either tank and/or get below the lux tax line?

I thought we had to have 14 and then pay a small amount if we don’t add a 15th by the end of the season?


You know what, bump the cba and its mama!

You need 14 in the season, no requirement to go to 15.

[djFan71]

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure we could now duck the tax AND keep Simons, lol.

1) Send Hauser somewhere for a pick and no player back
2) Sign Amari to the 2nd round min
3) Send Tillman and one other player somewhere with cash at the deadline.
4) Sign 10-day players as long as possible.
5) Sign pro-rated mins for the 13th & 14th spots

Numbers get super-duper close to ducking the tax. Not super plausible, but let it be said I found a way to keep Simons, lol.
Let it also be super-clear I am NOT advocating for that.