Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26

[Curmudgeon]

If you are wishing for 50 losses it will be a disappointing season for you. The Eastern Conference isn't as weak as some of the pundits make it out to be, but it isn't a powerhouse conference either.

[jmr07019]

It's mind boggling to me there are people that feel otherwise. Celtics have been telling everyone in the world that they don't want Simons and they are trying to move him, right from the instant they traded for him. The only reason they traded for Simons was to get off of Jrue Holiday's long term money.

I get that people want to keep him. By all means, argue the C's should keep him.

But it's so clear they aren't into him.

Don't know how much clearer it can get.

Maybe if they actually traded him it would be clearer. Simons was supposed to be off this team a month ago according to some on this board. What happened? The goal posts moved is what happened.

Fact of the matter is you two are guessing just like everybody else. The team hasn’t said anything about not wanting Simons. It’s exactly like Smart to Nesmith said… this all started because media members needed to generate clicks.

[Fierce1]

Aggregating Simons + Tillman wouldn't be for taking back more money, it'd probably just be for opening a roster spot without having to pay second rnd draft capital to dump Xman, we'd take back the same money either way.

If we wanted to trade Simons and take back $25 million, we could also trade Simons and Tillman and take back $25 million.

I understand the part where you aggregate Simons and Niang or Niang and someone like Tillman.

But Niang is already gone and the Cs got ZERO dollars in return for Niang.

So aggregating Simons does not make sense anymore.

I mean are the Celtics going after a 30m+ player for a package of Simons and Tillman?

If that's the goal then no need to aggregate, just make 2 separate trades.

Simons for the 25m player and Tillman for a pick.

The main purpose of aggregating salary is to take back a player with a bigger salary.

Opening up a roster spot can easily be done by sending out a pick.

[Fierce1]

Are you guys open to a sign and trade for Cam Thomas?

If the Cs trade Simons in a sign and trade for Cam Thomas then the Cs can go below the 1st apron.

Cam Thomas' 1st year salary would have to be 18m.

[redslastlaugh]

Aggregating Simons + Tillman wouldn't be for taking back more money, it'd probably just be for opening a roster spot without having to pay second rnd draft capital to dump Xman, we'd take back the same money either way.

If we wanted to trade Simons and take back $25 million, we could also trade Simons and Tillman and take back $25 million.

If that's the goal then no need to aggregate, just make 2 separate trades.

Simons for the 25m player and Tillman for a pick.

The main purpose of aggregating salary is to take back a player with a bigger salary.

Opening up a roster spot can easily be done by sending out a pick.

Nah man, the point is the inclusion of Tillman would be a part of the price of acquiring team receiving Simons, so that we are getting off of Tillman without having to pay a pick. We could trade Tillman and a 2nd tomorrow to 10 different teams but we've given up enough 2nds so we don't want to lose anymore picks

[Fierce1]

Aggregating Simons + Tillman wouldn't be for taking back more money, it'd probably just be for opening a roster spot without having to pay second rnd draft capital to dump Xman, we'd take back the same money either way.

If we wanted to trade Simons and take back $25 million, we could also trade Simons and Tillman and take back $25 million.

If that's the goal then no need to aggregate, just make 2 separate trades.

Simons for the 25m player and Tillman for a pick.

The main purpose of aggregating salary is to take back a player with a bigger salary.

Opening up a roster spot can easily be done by sending out a pick.

Nah man, the point is the inclusion of Tillman would be a part of the price of acquiring team receiving Simons, so that we are getting off of Tillman without having to pay a pick. We could trade Tillman and a 2nd tomorrow to 10 different teams but we've given up enough 2nds so we don't want to lose anymore picks

We'll see.

But like I told another poster, if Simons is still a Celtic by Sep. 8 then Simons has passed the 2nd checkpoint.

[CelticFaninLBC]

Tatum, Brown, White and PP cost nearly $154 mil. in 2026-27 and the luxury tax is $200 mil. So they're $46 mil. from the luxury tax with 10 spots to fill and no solid big man. Can't see them keeping Simons considering next year's biggest need.

[Fierce1]

Tatum, Brown, White and PP cost nearly $154 mil. in 2026-27 and the luxury tax is $200 mil. So they're $46 mil. from the luxury tax with 10 spots to fill and no solid big man. Can't see them keeping Simons considering next year's biggest need.

What if Simons agrees to an 18m per year contract?

[fallguy]

I get that people want to keep him. By all means, argue the C's should keep him.

But it's so clear they aren't into him.

Don't know how much clearer it can get.

Maybe if they actually traded him it would be clearer. Simons was supposed to be off this team a month ago according to some on this board. What happened? The goal posts moved is what happened.

Fact of the matter is you two are guessing just like everybody else. The team hasn’t said anything about not wanting Simons. It’s exactly like Smart to Nesmith said… this all started because media members needed to generate clicks.

You believe whatever you want to believe.

[fallguy]

Tatum, Brown, White and PP cost nearly $154 mil. in 2026-27 and the luxury tax is $200 mil. So they're $46 mil. from the luxury tax with 10 spots to fill and no solid big man. Can't see them keeping Simons considering next year's biggest need.

What if Simons agrees to an 18m per year contract?

Then he should take it because the Celtics aren't going to offer him that.

[Fierce1]

Tatum, Brown, White and PP cost nearly $154 mil. in 2026-27 and the luxury tax is $200 mil. So they're $46 mil. from the luxury tax with 10 spots to fill and no solid big man. Can't see them keeping Simons considering next year's biggest need.

What if Simons agrees to an 18m per year contract?

Then he should take it because the Celtics aren't going to offer him that.

You like Cam Thomas for Simons?

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Those media members are talking to other front office personnel from other teams who told them the Celtics asked if they were interested in Simons. What more do you need?

Same press conference where Brad Stevens said "this is the team we likely will start the season with". Tell that to Niang and Boucher.

Is your point that Brad Stevens is a liar but other NBA executives are inherently trustworthy ?

You didn't direct that at me but this is NBA media literacy 101.

Stevens speaking on the record must be parsed differently than sources speaking to reporters off of it.

I agree. First hand accounts tend to be a lot more reliable than third hand accounts.

[fallguy]

Is your point that Brad Stevens is a liar but other NBA executives are inherently trustworthy ?

You didn't direct that at me but this is NBA media literacy 101.

Stevens speaking on the record must be parsed differently than sources speaking to reporters off of it.

I agree. First hand accounts tend to be a lot more reliable than third hand accounts.

No, that's not true in the NBA. It's not the opposite either but context matters.

[fallguy]

What if Simons agrees to an 18m per year contract?

Then he should take it because the Celtics aren't going to offer him that.

You like Cam Thomas for Simons?

No, I don't like his game. I don't really see Simons as a guy who will get us much back we want to keep.

The salary slot after JT, JB, DW and PP really has to go to a big (maybe a guy on his rookie deal who we extend in the 15-20 range).

[fallguy]

If you really believed in Simons, and there's reason to do so on offense, you might look at moving DW or JB for a haul and keeping him. I don't think that's where we are at all but at least I'd get that logic.

[CelticFaninLBC]

Tatum, Brown, White and PP cost nearly $154 mil. in 2026-27 and the luxury tax is $200 mil. So they're $46 mil. from the luxury tax with 10 spots to fill and no solid big man. Can't see them keeping Simons considering next year's biggest need.

What if Simons agrees to an 18m per year contract?

They'd likely invest that for a big.

[CelticFaninLBC]

With 12 guys, they're at nearly $184 mil. in 2026-2027 when assuming the #20 pick and guys with club options. Just can't see Simons returning next year and Hauser might get dealt too.

Jaylen Brown $57,078,728
Jayson Tatum $58,456,566
Derrick White $30,348,000
Sam Hauser $10,848,215
Payton Pritchard $7,767,857
Hugo Gonzalez $2,923,560
Baylor Scheierman $2,744,040
Luka Garza $2,801,345
Neemias Queta $2,584,539
Josh Minott $2,667,944
Jordan Walsh $2,406,205
20th Pick $3,000,000
Team Totals $183,626,999

[fallguy]

With 12 guys, they're at nearly $184 mil. in 2026-2027 when assuming the #20 pick and guys with club options. Just can't see Simons returning next year and Hauser might get dealt too.

Jaylen Brown $57,078,728
Jayson Tatum $58,456,566
Derrick White $30,348,000
Sam Hauser $10,848,215
Payton Pritchard $7,767,857
Hugo Gonzalez $2,923,560
Baylor Scheierman $2,744,040
Luka Garza $2,801,345
Neemias Queta $2,584,539
Josh Minott $2,667,944
Jordan Walsh $2,406,205
20th Pick $3,000,000
Team Totals $183,626,999

This is the challenge of building a team with two supermax guys (who are not going to be top-5 players in 26-27 or probably ever again).

[CelticFaninLBC]

With 12 guys, they're at nearly $184 mil. in 2026-2027 when assuming the #20 pick and guys with club options. Just can't see Simons returning next year and Hauser might get dealt too.

Jaylen Brown $57,078,728
Jayson Tatum $58,456,566
Derrick White $30,348,000
Sam Hauser $10,848,215
Payton Pritchard $7,767,857
Hugo Gonzalez $2,923,560
Baylor Scheierman $2,744,040
Luka Garza $2,801,345
Neemias Queta $2,584,539
Josh Minott $2,667,944
Jordan Walsh $2,406,205
20th Pick $3,000,000
Team Totals $183,626,999

This is the challenge of building a team with two supermax guys (who are not going to be top-5 players in 26-27 or probably ever again).

Some of these recent draft picks need to become rotation guys.

[Shak_Celts]

With 12 guys, they're at nearly $184 mil. in 2026-2027 when assuming the #20 pick and guys with club options. Just can't see Simons returning next year and Hauser might get dealt too.

Jaylen Brown $57,078,728
Jayson Tatum $58,456,566
Derrick White $30,348,000
Sam Hauser $10,848,215
Payton Pritchard $7,767,857
Hugo Gonzalez $2,923,560
Baylor Scheierman $2,744,040
Luka Garza $2,801,345
Neemias Queta $2,584,539
Josh Minott $2,667,944
Jordan Walsh $2,406,205
20th Pick $3,000,000
Team Totals $183,626,999

This is the challenge of building a team with two supermax guys (who are not going to be top-5 players in 26-27 or probably ever again).

Some of these recent draft picks need to become rotation guys.

Watch em cook.