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Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1601 » by bisme37 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 4:34 pm

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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1602 » by Hal14 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 4:37 pm

Idk if this guy has any credibility/sources but he did tweet this over an hour after Shams broke the news that we signed Boucher.

Read on Twitter


So I suppose it's somewhat possible we would sign Simmons, even after signing Boucher.

I would assume however that if that happens and we sign Simmons, that would mean Tillman will get dumped via trade..hopefully we only have to part with 1 2nd rounder to make it happen? We can also send cash out in the trade, since we're not longer over the 2nd apron.

But if we do sign simmons, this could possibly be a team that could contend for a championship in 26-27:

C Queta
PF Tatum
SF Brown
SG Simons
PG White

6th man: Pritchard
Bench: Simmons, Hauser, Boucher

That's a very good 9 man rotation imo. If guys stay healthy and everyone gels together.

You'd pretty much just alternate Queta and Simmons at the 5 so we have 4 shooters on the floor at all times..maybe experiment a little bit to see if Simmons/Queta can play together in short bursts like Draymond/Looney played together in GS..

Then you have guys like Garza, Minott, Walsh, Baylor, Hugo, etc. competing for whatever mins are left in terms of spots 10-15 on the roster..

Of course this would be based on bringing Boucher back for another 1 year vet min deal in 26-27, resigning Simons to a team friendly deal and signing Simmons to a 2 year vet min deal with tea option for the 2nd year.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1603 » by tfribs45 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 4:54 pm

bisme37 wrote:Image


def not as bad of a defensive lineup as most have been saying..... People forget White and JB are elite defenders and Queta will come into his own as well. Simons is a work in progress, but Joe and CO. won't let him slack on the defensive end, his offense is exactly what this run and chuck 3's group needs. I expect a 40+ win team and a first rd matchup nobody wants to see if/when JT comes back.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1604 » by He_Got_Game » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:11 pm

Hal14 wrote:
He_Got_Game wrote:On another note, I have no expectations for wins and losses this year which is kind of great. It's good to take a year off from all the worry and anxiety and just watch your favorite team play.

Yup. A nice stress free, 1 year break from expectations.

Then back to chasing titles in 26-27..


Yes, this is much needed. Coming close to winning the title but losing in heartbreak fashion, then coming close again, then winning the thing, then losing again along with your best player all within the last 4 or 5 years is a lot of stress. I'm grateful for the year off from worrying.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1605 » by He_Got_Game » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:32 pm

bucknersrevenge wrote:
He_Got_Game wrote:
Curmudgeon wrote:
He can't defend a traffic cone.


Good grief.


The "pig-piling" on Simons has all gotten to be a lot lately. No argument that he hasn't defended well in Portland. But there's rationale to believe that he could be better than he's shown up to this point in his career:

-Stotts didn't exactly hold his team accountable on defense
-The last 2 years with Ayton as the backstop have been laughable in terms of effort and accountability across the team
-Simons has been asked to do a lot on offense
-Simons is 6'3 with a 6'9 wingspan. He absolutely has the physical traits that Brad likes to be a good defender
-Mazzulla holds his players accountable on D
-The veterans on this team hold each other accountable on D
-Simons has been eager to play in a different market with more exposure and he's playing with something to prove
-Simons will not be asked to do everything on offense for this team

With just a bit more effort consistently, Simons would be leaps and bounds over what he's been. You can actually see the blueprint of what Brad is building staring us in the face here.

PG: White
SG: Simons
SF: JB
PF Boucher
C: Neemy

Add in Minott, and there's a lot more of the kinds of traits Brad likes: size, length, athleticism. We shouldn't be expecting this team to be slave to the offensive philosophy that has existed here the last 2 years because the personnel that made that work is no longer here. They're younger, faster, and more athletic. We should expect far less wind resistance from this year's squad regardless of record. And Simons should be a big part of that. Could he still be moved? Sure, anything's possible but Brad is a guy who always likes to keep his options open and pivot when necessary.


I like your thinking and agree with everything you said. The Celtics have gotten younger and more athletic and probably match up better with the likes of OKC because of it. OKC has a team full of athletes so you need some of your own. I like Simon's athletic ability a lot (As well as Minott and Walsh) and I want to see transition basketball and dunks again instead of threes.

Also I'm very high on Queta, Garza, and Boucher. I like our big man rotation a lot actually. Lots of potential there.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1606 » by He_Got_Game » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:42 pm

bucknersrevenge wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:Joe has been trying to implement a faster pace.

I believe this Cs team will surprise many if the chemistry is good.


We were 29th in pace last year. He ain't been trying too hard. But he better this year. This team is being crafted in Jaylen Brown's image, make no mistake. So it better not be about shooting 50 3's in a game and about getting downhill and getting to the rim early and often.


I can tell you pay attention. You know your stuff.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1607 » by He_Got_Game » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:47 pm

Fierce1 wrote:Celtics top 5 in defense last season but exited in the 2nd rnd because they couldn't generate enough offense in the clutch in Games 1 and 2 against NY.

Cs need a guy like Simons.


You also know your stuff. This is correct. Simons can HOOP and people who want to trade him for cap savings are insane.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1608 » by fallguy » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:54 pm

He_Got_Game wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:Celtics top 5 in defense last season but exited in the 2nd rnd because they couldn't generate enough offense in the clutch in Games 1 and 2 against NY.

Cs need a guy like Simons.


You also know your stuff. This is correct. Simons can HOOP and people who want to trade him for cap savings are insane.


Are you calling Brad Stevens insane?
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1609 » by redslastlaugh » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:58 pm

I hope so. Derrick's help defense, rim protection seems as good as ever but D White just got destroyed as an onball defender in the playoffs. Watching Brunson score on him repeatedly, it was tough.

And then for Jaylen, so much of JB's defensive value is based on his health and explosive athletic ability, and now he's coming off a meniscus surgery... so I want to see how Brown is moving before I comment on his defense. And, lastly, these reports that Neemi just had a knee procedure, what was that? Queta hardly played after March, what kind of knee surgery did he have??

I am hopeful, but there are some clear red flags as we move towards training camp
tfribs45 wrote:def not as bad of a defensive lineup as most have been saying..... People forget White and JB are elite defenders and Queta will come into his own as well. Simons is a work in progress, but Joe and CO. won't let him slack on the defensive end, his offense is exactly what this run and chuck 3's group needs. I expect a 40+ win team and a first rd matchup nobody wants to see if/when JT comes back.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1610 » by fallguy » Wed Aug 6, 2025 5:59 pm

redslastlaugh wrote:I hope so. Derrick's help defense, rim protection seems as good as ever but D White just got destroyed as an onball defender in the playoffs. Watching Brunson score on him repeatedly, it was tough.

And then for Jaylen, so much of JB's defensive value is based on his health and explosive athletic ability, and now he's coming off a meniscus surgery... so I want to see how Brown is moving before I comment on his defense. And, lastly, these reports that Neemi just had a knee procedure, what was that? Queta hardly played after March, what kind of knee surgery did he have??

I am hopeful, but there are some clear red flags as we move towards training camp
tfribs45 wrote:def not as bad of a defensive lineup as most have been saying..... People forget White and JB are elite defenders and Queta will come into his own as well. Simons is a work in progress, but Joe and CO. won't let him slack on the defensive end, his offense is exactly what this run and chuck 3's group needs. I expect a 40+ win team and a first rd matchup nobody wants to see if/when JT comes back.


At his best, JB is a plus defender, especially in single coverage. He it not now nor has he ever been elite.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1611 » by Hal14 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:00 pm

djFan71 wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:
djFan71 wrote:I think the last part is what I don't get. Even if he plays a lot better in BOS than he has the rest of his career and scores more efficiently, shows progress on D, you've used up even more of his contract as an expiring. Any value he's added is offset by that. At the deadline, someone would need to:

a) be so much more enamored with Simons than they are now
b) feel like that's worth giving up something significant rather than wait for FA in the summer - where more teams will have space than this summer.
c) negotiate an extension at the time of the trade, or feel very confident they could resign him.

It's possible but pretty unlikely, imo.

It doesn't have to be February.

Cs can move him in December or January.

Not October or November????

The 2 reasons to trade him are 1) get a better long term player back using the salary and other assets, 2) duck the tax.

For #2, it's just more feasible to get off a large portion of the salary before rosters are set for the year. More teams have room, teams can go over the roster limits as part of the trades and get down to 15 later, etc. It's just flat out easier to do in the summer.

For #1, you have any time until the deadline.

Trades very rarely happen during that time of year. Celtics traded for Jrue on October 1. Nets traded for Harden on January 14.

Between October 2 - January 13 is typically a dead zone for trades where they very rare happen, except maybe some really minor moves.

I think Simons might get traded sometime before October 2. And I think he might get traded sometime in Jan/Feb before the trade deadline..but it's unlikely he gets moved between October 2 - Jan 13..
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1612 » by Celts17Pride » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:01 pm

Next up on the Brad Stevens trade train are Simons and Tillman. Probably mid September and probably traded together.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1613 » by Hal14 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:11 pm

Gant wrote:The Celtics have the three smaller positions pretty well covered. They truly needed help at the 4, in a way that the shorter, slower Niang could not provide.

Boucher
height without shoes: 6' 9.5"
wingspan: 7' 4"
standing reach: 9' 2.5"
standing vertical: 36.5"

Niang
height without shoes: 6' 6.75"
wingspan: 6' 10"
standing reach: 8' 7"
standing vertical: 25"

That's cherry picking and reductive to just say, "oh this guy is better, simply because he's taller."

How about their weight? Is weight not a factor when it comes to a player's size?

Niang is 6'7", with a weight around 230-240 lbs. He's a BIG dude. Big, strong, tough, built like a football player.
Boucher is 6'10", only about 200 lbs, skinny as a twig. As a result, he falls down A LOT, gets knocked down easily by bigger/stronger players who weigh 225+ lbs.

Niang is also a better, more consistent shooter. He is able to get his shot off quicker. Boucher has to bring the ball way high up over his head, brings the ball back behind his head as well which takes time to get the shot off. Niang is stronger, tougher, more physical, better ball handler, better passer, much more playoff experience, etc.

Let's factor everything in, not just cherry pick the stuff that make one guy look better than the other.

Also, they're both 32 yrs old, both bench players who are decent 8th man types..debating which one is better is like splitting hairs.

Bottom line, we did this move to save $.

And lastly, they're both on expiring contracts. So it really doesn't even matter which is better or which is the better fit. Because this is the last season on the contract for both..and this season we aren't competing for a title. It's a bridge year so it doesn't really matter how good our team is, or which of them is better or the better fit. If anything, we should go with the guy who's worse, so we can get a better draft pick.

We're not competing for a title again till the 26-27 season. And odds are, neither Niang nor Boucher will be on the team then.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1614 » by Gant » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:20 pm

Hal14 wrote:
Gant wrote:The Celtics have the three smaller positions pretty well covered. They truly needed help at the 4, in a way that the shorter, slower Niang could not provide.

Boucher
height without shoes: 6' 9.5"
wingspan: 7' 4"
standing reach: 9' 2.5"
standing vertical: 36.5"

Niang
height without shoes: 6' 6.75"
wingspan: 6' 10"
standing reach: 8' 7"
standing vertical: 25"

Oh c'mon now. That's cherry picking and reductive analysis to just say, "oh this guy is better, simply because he's taller."

How about their weight? Is weight not a factor when ti comes to a player's size? Or are we just cherry picking the categories that make Boucher look better?

Niang is 6'7", with a weight around 230-240 lbs. He's a BIG dude. Big, strong, tough, built like a football player.
Boucher is 6'10", only about 200 lbs, skinny as a twig. As a result, he falls down A LOT, gets knocked down easily by bigger/stronger players who weigh 225+ lbs.

Niang is also a better, more consistent shooter. He is able to get his shot off quicker. Boucher has to bring the ball way high up over his head, brings the ball back behind his head as well which takes time to get the shot off. Niang is stronger, tougher, more physical, better ball handler, better passer, much more playoff experience, etc.

Let's factor everything in, not just cherry pick the stuff that make one guy look better than the other.

Also, they're both 32 yrs old, both bench players who are decent 8th man types..debating which one is better is like splitting hairs.

Bottom line, we did this move to save $.

And lastly, they're both on expiring contracts. So it really doesn't even matter which is better or which is the better fit. Because this is the last season on the contract for both..and this season we aren't competing for a title. It's a bridge year so it doesn't really matter how good our team is, or which of them is better or the better fit. If anything, we should go with the guy who's worse, so we can get a better draft pick.

We're not competing for a title again till the 26-27 season. And odds are, neither Niang nor Boucher will be on the team then.


They need length. Boucher has length. He's a better fit.

This seems unnecessarily combative, confrontational, and unSwitzerlandlike.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1615 » by He_Got_Game » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:26 pm

fallguy wrote:
He_Got_Game wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:Celtics top 5 in defense last season but exited in the 2nd rnd because they couldn't generate enough offense in the clutch in Games 1 and 2 against NY.

Cs need a guy like Simons.


You also know your stuff. This is correct. Simons can HOOP and people who want to trade him for cap savings are insane.


Are you calling Brad Stevens insane?


YES. If he trades the guy for cap savings.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1616 » by Hal14 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:39 pm

fallguy wrote:
He_Got_Game wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:Celtics top 5 in defense last season but exited in the 2nd rnd because they couldn't generate enough offense in the clutch in Games 1 and 2 against NY.

Cs need a guy like Simons.


You also know your stuff. This is correct. Simons can HOOP and people who want to trade him for cap savings are insane.


Are you calling Brad Stevens insane?

He hasn't traded Simons yet.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1617 » by Hal14 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 6:42 pm

Gant wrote:
Hal14 wrote:
Gant wrote:The Celtics have the three smaller positions pretty well covered. They truly needed help at the 4, in a way that the shorter, slower Niang could not provide.

Boucher
height without shoes: 6' 9.5"
wingspan: 7' 4"
standing reach: 9' 2.5"
standing vertical: 36.5"

Niang
height without shoes: 6' 6.75"
wingspan: 6' 10"
standing reach: 8' 7"
standing vertical: 25"

Oh c'mon now. That's cherry picking and reductive analysis to just say, "oh this guy is better, simply because he's taller."

How about their weight? Is weight not a factor when ti comes to a player's size? Or are we just cherry picking the categories that make Boucher look better?

Niang is 6'7", with a weight around 230-240 lbs. He's a BIG dude. Big, strong, tough, built like a football player.
Boucher is 6'10", only about 200 lbs, skinny as a twig. As a result, he falls down A LOT, gets knocked down easily by bigger/stronger players who weigh 225+ lbs.

Niang is also a better, more consistent shooter. He is able to get his shot off quicker. Boucher has to bring the ball way high up over his head, brings the ball back behind his head as well which takes time to get the shot off. Niang is stronger, tougher, more physical, better ball handler, better passer, much more playoff experience, etc.

Let's factor everything in, not just cherry pick the stuff that make one guy look better than the other.

Also, they're both 32 yrs old, both bench players who are decent 8th man types..debating which one is better is like splitting hairs.

Bottom line, we did this move to save $.

And lastly, they're both on expiring contracts. So it really doesn't even matter which is better or which is the better fit. Because this is the last season on the contract for both..and this season we aren't competing for a title. It's a bridge year so it doesn't really matter how good our team is, or which of them is better or the better fit. If anything, we should go with the guy who's worse, so we can get a better draft pick.

We're not competing for a title again till the 26-27 season. And odds are, neither Niang nor Boucher will be on the team then.


They need length. Boucher has length. He's a better fit.

This seems unnecessarily combative, confrontational, and unSwitzerlandlike.

Not at all. Just talking basketball..I disagreed with your post and offered a counterpoint in a manner that was well thought out, articulate, detailed and respectful. :)

If you think I said something derogatory or was really out of line, feel free to let me know but please do so via PM so it doesn't derail the thread.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1618 » by fallguy » Wed Aug 6, 2025 7:20 pm

Hal14 wrote:
fallguy wrote:
He_Got_Game wrote:
You also know your stuff. This is correct. Simons can HOOP and people who want to trade him for cap savings are insane.


Are you calling Brad Stevens insane?

He hasn't traded Simons yet.


Thanks for the update.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1619 » by djFan71 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 7:26 pm

Hal14 wrote:
djFan71 wrote:
Fierce1 wrote:It doesn't have to be February.

Cs can move him in December or January.

Not October or November????

The 2 reasons to trade him are 1) get a better long term player back using the salary and other assets, 2) duck the tax.

For #2, it's just more feasible to get off a large portion of the salary before rosters are set for the year. More teams have room, teams can go over the roster limits as part of the trades and get down to 15 later, etc. It's just flat out easier to do in the summer.

For #1, you have any time until the deadline.

Trades very rarely happen during that time of year. Celtics traded for Jrue on October 1. Nets traded for Harden on January 14.

Between October 2 - January 13 is typically a dead zone for trades where they very rare happen, except maybe some really minor moves.

I think Simons might get traded sometime before October 2. And I think he might get traded sometime in Jan/Feb before the trade deadline..but it's unlikely he gets moved between October 2 - Jan 13..

Sarcasm, man.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26 

Post#1620 » by Hal14 » Wed Aug 6, 2025 7:33 pm

djFan71 wrote:
Hal14 wrote:
djFan71 wrote:Not October or November????

The 2 reasons to trade him are 1) get a better long term player back using the salary and other assets, 2) duck the tax.

For #2, it's just more feasible to get off a large portion of the salary before rosters are set for the year. More teams have room, teams can go over the roster limits as part of the trades and get down to 15 later, etc. It's just flat out easier to do in the summer.

For #1, you have any time until the deadline.

Trades very rarely happen during that time of year. Celtics traded for Jrue on October 1. Nets traded for Harden on January 14.

Between October 2 - January 13 is typically a dead zone for trades where they very rare happen, except maybe some really minor moves.

I think Simons might get traded sometime before October 2. And I think he might get traded sometime in Jan/Feb before the trade deadline..but it's unlikely he gets moved between October 2 - Jan 13..

Sarcasm, man.

Hard to tell with words on a screen, especially when talking to strangers.

My bad :)
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