Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, part 2

[jmr07019]

Simons walking would be bad for the Celtics. Celtics need that salary slot whether the money is paid to Anfernee or someone else. If Simons walks the Celtics do not have other salaries to aggregate for a trade. They would have Pritchard, Hauser and rookie contract guys. Thats not enough.

Cs have a 22m TPE from the KP trade.

Point still stands. Many of the desirable big men are over 22 million.

[Glenn McDonald]

It would be nuts to sign Simons at anything near his current salary.

I think there is close to 0% chance Celtics would ever resign Simons, but you already know that I suspect.

If you're in the mood for odds making, what are the odds that by the August 29 deadline that Celts just waive/stretch Simons or trade him for a smaller $ figure contract and immediately waive/stretch that contract.

I wonder if Chicago would package Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter and Isaac Okoro for Simons and Celtics waive and stretch both Terry and Carter over 3 yrs and carry Okoro forward. That type of deal puts us under the tax, I believe...

But really it just seems like, if we are not trading first round pick(s) to dump Simons, the likeliest option for dropping under the tax line is some sort of money stretching before the 29th.

I was thinking along these lines as well. Waiving and stretching Simons would take them $6 million under the tax this season allowing room to sign a veteran 3rd guard and fill the 15th roster spot. They would be $11 million under the tax in 26-27 allowing for 2-3 minimum veterans signed for depth along with maybe a contributing FRP and staying under the tax threshold and resetting the repeater tax for the next 3 seasons.

[redslastlaugh]

I think there is close to 0% chance Celtics would ever resign Simons, but you already know that I suspect.

If you're in the mood for odds making, what are the odds that by the August 29 deadline that Celts just waive/stretch Simons or trade him for a smaller $ figure contract and immediately waive/stretch that contract.

I wonder if Chicago would package Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter and Isaac Okoro for Simons and Celtics waive and stretch both Terry and Carter over 3 yrs and carry Okoro forward. That type of deal puts us under the tax, I believe...

But really it just seems like, if we are not trading first round pick(s) to dump Simons, the likeliest option for dropping under the tax line is some sort of money stretching before the 29th.

I don't believe you can waive/stretch more than one player per season. But I do not remove the possibility they could pursue that option on larger (say Vuc) contract guy.

Honestly, the new trade rules are so complicated with the apron restrictions and then teams getting hard capped at the aprons, it's hard for me to even keep up with all of minutia. I'm a regular RealGM poster on forums with die hard fans who are in the top 1-10% of NBA knowledge and I'm not even close to on top of it all, lol

After I posted the above idea I posted with Chicago, I saw your comment that a team can't stretch two contracts. I also realized that okoro wouldn't be eligible to be aggregated in a trade until Sep 6 which would defeat the point since the waive/stretch deadline is aug 29.

It's kind of a bummer how deep are the layers of regulations on NBA trades now, it somewhat takes the fun out of thinking up fake trades because I feel like Im wasting my time if half my trade ideas end up being illegal based on some arcania in the CBA I am not familiar with

[Larry_Russell]

Does Brooklyn want simoms for Claxton?

[jmr07019]

If you're in the mood for odds making, what are the odds that by the August 29 deadline that Celts just waive/stretch Simons or trade him for a smaller $ figure contract and immediately waive/stretch that contract.

I wonder if Chicago would package Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter and Isaac Okoro for Simons and Celtics waive and stretch both Terry and Carter over 3 yrs and carry Okoro forward. That type of deal puts us under the tax, I believe...

But really it just seems like, if we are not trading first round pick(s) to dump Simons, the likeliest option for dropping under the tax line is some sort of money stretching before the 29th.

I don't believe you can waive/stretch more than one player per season. But I do not remove the possibility they could pursue that option on larger (say Vuc) contract guy.

Honestly, the new trade rules are so complicated with the apron restrictions and then teams getting hard capped at the aprons, it's hard for me to even keep up with all of minutia. I'm a regular RealGM poster on forums with die hard fans who are in the top 1-10% of NBA knowledge and I'm not even close to on top of it all, lol

After I posted the above idea I posted with Chicago, I saw your comment that a team can't stretch two contracts. I also realized that okoro wouldn't be eligible to be aggregated in a trade until Sep 6 which would defeat the point since the waive/stretch deadline is aug 29.

It's kind of a bummer how deep are the layers of regulations on NBA trades now, it somewhat takes the fun out of thinking up fake trades because I feel like Im wasting my time if half my trade ideas end up being illegal based on some arcania in the CBA I am not familiar with

Well said. I don’t want to have to do 1/2 hour of research and checking to make sure my fake trade proposal is “legit”.

[brackdan70]

Does Brooklyn want simoms for Claxton?

We probably have to send asset/s

[Curmudgeon]

I have no interest in Claxton. He's overpaid and can't make a free throw.

[Hal14]

Does Brooklyn want simoms for Claxton?

If Boston and Brooklyn were interested in doing that, I'm sure it would have happened by now.

[brackdan70]

Does Brooklyn want simoms for Claxton?

If Boston and Brooklyn were interested in doing that, I'm sure it would have happened by now.

Yeah. I’d guess Brooklyn wants a first and Boston won’t pay.
Claxton last year was not good.
I’d love 2023 Claxton though

[Fierce1]

Simons walking would be bad for the Celtics. Celtics need that salary slot whether the money is paid to Anfernee or someone else. If Simons walks the Celtics do not have other salaries to aggregate for a trade. They would have Pritchard, Hauser and rookie contract guys. Thats not enough.

Cs have a 22m TPE from the KP trade.

Point still stands. Many of the desirable big men are over 22 million.

Here's the thing, as long as this current CBA is in effect, the Celtics can't afford a big man that will cost more than 20m per year.

Why?

Because the Celtics are the only team to have 2 supermax guys on the roster.

JT, JB, and White are already 87% of the salary cap.

So if the Celtics are going for a big man that will cost more than 22m, the Cs would have to sacrifice JB or White.

Having the Jays, White, and a big who will cost more than 22m will put the Celtics in the same situation they were last season and that's being a 2nd apron team.

Using Simons to get a big man is not practical.

[Fierce1]

The Cavs will be a 2nd apron team if they don't trade Garland or Allen.

How about Simons and 2 1st round picks for Allen.

Cavs get Simons' expiring deal.
That ensures the Cavs avoid the 2nd apron for 2026-27.

Cs will get some cap relief for 2026 because Allen's salary is only 20m.
But 2026-27 will once again get tricky.

[brackdan70]

Cs have a 22m TPE from the KP trade.

Point still stands. Many of the desirable big men are over 22 million.

Here's the thing, as long as this current CBA is in effect, the Celtics can't afford a big man that will cost more than 20m per year.

Why?

Because the Celtics are the only team to have 2 supermax guys on the roster.

JT, JB, and White are already 87% of the salary cap.

So if the Celtics are going for a big man that will cost more than 22m, the Cs would have to sacrifice JB or White.

Having the Jays, White, and a big who will cost more than 22m will put the Celtics in the same situation they were last season and that's being a 2nd apron team.

Using Simons to get a big man is not practical.

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

[redslastlaugh]

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

Plus the difference between a lottery team winning the first pick and a play-in team getting an 8th seed in the eastern conference, is an unknown we need to take into account, if ducking the tax is a goal. The 1st pick in this past (2025) draft makes $11.6 million in yr one, while the 15th pick gets $3.9 million first year's salary

[brackdan70]

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

Plus the difference between a lottery team winning the first pick and a play-in team getting an 8th seed in the eastern conference, is an unknown we need to take into account, if ducking the tax is a goal. The 1st pick in this past (2025) draft makes $11.6 million in yr one, while the 15th pick gets $3.9 million first year's salary

Yeah they aren’t winning the lottery. The player picked will be somewhere from 3-5 million. But if by some miracle they do get a high pick that costs more than 8 million…then yeah, that factors in.

[redslastlaugh]

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

Plus the difference between a lottery team winning the first pick and a play-in team getting an 8th seed in the eastern conference, is an unknown we need to take into account, if ducking the tax is a goal. The 1st pick in this past (2025) draft makes $11.6 million in yr one, while the 15th pick gets $3.9 million first year's salary

Yeah they aren’t winning the lottery. The player picked will be somewhere from 3-5 million. But if by some miracle they do get a high pick that costs more than 8 million…then yeah, that factors in.

who knows, Dallas (1.8% chance) and Atlanta (3%) just jumped up to get #1 in each of the last two years... it'd sure be nice

[bucknersrevenge]

Point still stands. Many of the desirable big men are over 22 million.

Here's the thing, as long as this current CBA is in effect, the Celtics can't afford a big man that will cost more than 20m per year.

Why?

Because the Celtics are the only team to have 2 supermax guys on the roster.

JT, JB, and White are already 87% of the salary cap.

So if the Celtics are going for a big man that will cost more than 22m, the Cs would have to sacrifice JB or White.

Having the Jays, White, and a big who will cost more than 22m will put the Celtics in the same situation they were last season and that's being a 2nd apron team.

Using Simons to get a big man is not practical.

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

This is exactly why it makes more sense to hold Simons' salary slot rather than let it expire. Any trade for him right now is gonna require at least one FRP and I feel pretty certain Brad has known this from his checking around early after the Jrue trade. And up to this point, he has flat out refused to part with FRPs to move guys. He won't say it outright but barring an unforeseen deal falling into his lap, Simons is probably here for 2 years.

I couldn't care less about the money or saving of it. I'm good with being a 2nd apron team so long as that team is a title contender. I'll contend that in any year that we have a healthy Jay's DWHite, and maybe even PP, we're a title contender in the East. This year, we don't have that so we're not. Next year, we will be so if bringing in another "final piece of the puzzle" tips us back over that apron, so be it. Not my money.

[brackdan70]

Here's the thing, as long as this current CBA is in effect, the Celtics can't afford a big man that will cost more than 20m per year.

Why?

Because the Celtics are the only team to have 2 supermax guys on the roster.

JT, JB, and White are already 87% of the salary cap.

So if the Celtics are going for a big man that will cost more than 22m, the Cs would have to sacrifice JB or White.

Having the Jays, White, and a big who will cost more than 22m will put the Celtics in the same situation they were last season and that's being a 2nd apron team.

Using Simons to get a big man is not practical.

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

This is exactly why it makes more sense to hold Simons' salary slot rather than let it expire. Any trade for him right now is gonna require at least one FRP and I feel pretty certain Brad has known this from his checking around early after the Jrue trade. And up to this point, he has flat out refused to part with FRPs to move guys. He won't say it outright but barring an unforeseen deal falling into his lap, Simons is probably here for 2 years.

I couldn't care less about the money or saving of it. I'm good with being a 2nd apron team so long as that team is a title contender. I'll contend that in any year that we have a healthy Jay's DWHite, and maybe even PP, we're a title contender in the East. This year, we don't have that so we're not. Next year, we will be so if bringing in another "final piece of the puzzle" tips us back over that apron, so be it. Not my money.

Yeah not our money, but being over or close to the second Apron is not sustainable while on the repeater tax. The Cs can afford a 50 million or even 80 million dollar tax bill but can’t 200 million. There is also the frozen first round pick penalty to worry about.
I think the need to stay well under the Apron, which they can do quite easily and keep Simons….if that the direction they want to go.

[Fierce1]

Point still stands. Many of the desirable big men are over 22 million.

Here's the thing, as long as this current CBA is in effect, the Celtics can't afford a big man that will cost more than 20m per year.

Why?

Because the Celtics are the only team to have 2 supermax guys on the roster.

JT, JB, and White are already 87% of the salary cap.

So if the Celtics are going for a big man that will cost more than 22m, the Cs would have to sacrifice JB or White.

Having the Jays, White, and a big who will cost more than 22m will put the Celtics in the same situation they were last season and that's being a 2nd apron team.

Using Simons to get a big man is not practical.

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

Like I said, Simons and 1st round picks for Jarrett Allen.

Solves the big man problem.

Allen will be around 30m per year from 2026-27 to 2028-29.

So if your estimate of 35-38 million is correct, Jarrett Allen is a good option.

[jmr07019]

The Cs currently have 11 guys signed and are 42 million under the second Apron for 26/27. Depending where they draft they’ll still have 35-38 million. They can use Simons salary slot and stay under the second Apron no problem. They have to stay under the first apron to use a TPE though, they have about 24 million of space there depending on the draft position. So they could use most of the TPE or Simons salary slot but probably not both. Assuming they want to get under the tax, things are much tighter. Only about 15 million under after the draft pick.

This is exactly why it makes more sense to hold Simons' salary slot rather than let it expire. Any trade for him right now is gonna require at least one FRP and I feel pretty certain Brad has known this from his checking around early after the Jrue trade. And up to this point, he has flat out refused to part with FRPs to move guys. He won't say it outright but barring an unforeseen deal falling into his lap, Simons is probably here for 2 years.

I couldn't care less about the money or saving of it. I'm good with being a 2nd apron team so long as that team is a title contender. I'll contend that in any year that we have a healthy Jay's DWHite, and maybe even PP, we're a title contender in the East. This year, we don't have that so we're not. Next year, we will be so if bringing in another "final piece of the puzzle" tips us back over that apron, so be it. Not my money.

Yeah not our money, but being over or close to the second Apron is not sustainable while on the repeater tax. The Cs can afford a 50 million or even 80 million dollar tax bill but can’t 200 million. There is also the frozen first round pick penalty to worry about.
I think the need to stay well under the Apron, which they can do quite easily and keep Simons….if that the direction they want to go.

I’m not sure there will be sustainable title contenders with the current cba. A 2-3 year window might be the best you can hope for. OKC is going to have to pay Chet and J Dub soon which likely means they’re are trading major piece(s).

The other angle to consider is that Tatum’s not getting any younger and you want to take your best shot at winning the title when he’s 30 not 33.

[GoCeltics123]

This is exactly why it makes more sense to hold Simons' salary slot rather than let it expire. Any trade for him right now is gonna require at least one FRP and I feel pretty certain Brad has known this from his checking around early after the Jrue trade. And up to this point, he has flat out refused to part with FRPs to move guys. He won't say it outright but barring an unforeseen deal falling into his lap, Simons is probably here for 2 years.

I couldn't care less about the money or saving of it. I'm good with being a 2nd apron team so long as that team is a title contender. I'll contend that in any year that we have a healthy Jay's DWHite, and maybe even PP, we're a title contender in the East. This year, we don't have that so we're not. Next year, we will be so if bringing in another "final piece of the puzzle" tips us back over that apron, so be it. Not my money.

Yeah not our money, but being over or close to the second Apron is not sustainable while on the repeater tax. The Cs can afford a 50 million or even 80 million dollar tax bill but can’t 200 million. There is also the frozen first round pick penalty to worry about.
I think the need to stay well under the Apron, which they can do quite easily and keep Simons….if that the direction they want to go.

I’m not sure there will be sustainable title contenders with the current cba. A 2-3 year window might be the best you can hope for. OKC is going to have to pay Chet and J Dub soon which likely means they’re are trading major piece(s).

The other angle to consider is that Tatum’s not getting any younger and you want to take your best shot at winning the title when he’s 30 not 33.

The only reason too that OKC could feasibly win multiple is that 1. they're young and 2. they have a million draft picks to replace the IHart's and Dort's of the world.

But yeah, most teams have a 2 year window now thanks to this stupid CBA. It sucks