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

[Fierce1]

Celts will only keep Simons for the entire season if Cs are at around the #2 or #3 seed.

If Cs are a team on pace for 45 to 50 wins, there's a strong possibility Cs are holding on to Simons.

[brackdan70]

Celts will only keep Simons for the entire season if Cs are at around the #2 or #3 seed.

If Cs are a team on pace for 45 to 50 wins, there's a strong possibility Cs are holding on to Simons.

Yeah I could see that being the case.
Let’s play ball!!

[165bows]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

[Fierce1]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

[Larry_Russell]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

1) Simons would have to magically turn into a great player for that to happen

or

2) The team would be on pace to win 69 if he wasn't a part of the team.

[165bows]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

[Fierce1]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

[Larry_Russell]

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

Tatum is NOT returning in March.

Not happening
Wont happen
Shouldnt happen

This year is about subtle losing, they are not rushing JT back and risking his career for AT BEST a 2nd round exit.

[Fierce1]

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

Tatum is NOT returning in March.

Not happening
Wont happen
Shouldnt happen

This year is about subtle losing, they are not rushing JT back and risking his career for AT BEST a 2nd round exit.

Didn't you also say Jaylen Brown will be traded?

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

Yeah, JT is not coming back this upcoming season and why would he? This is likely a play-in team so I am not seeing the point of him returning when the team has zero shot at a title. Better to start him off fresh in 2026 when he can get plenty of regular season games to get his footing back.

[Fierce1]

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

Yeah, JT is not coming back this upcoming season and why would he? This is likely a play-in team so I am not seeing the point of him returning when the team has zero shot at a title. Better to start him off fresh in 2026 when he can get plenty of regular season games to get his footing back.

JT is ahead of schedule on his recovery.

If the Cs are just a play-in team then JT will not be returning.

We'll know more by December.

[jmr07019]

Basketball players play basketball. Tatum is not going to sit on his hands and wrap himself in bubble wrap because some fans are dreaming of tanking. Vets don’t care about rookies and draft picks.

[Hal14]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

1) Simons would have to magically turn into a great player for that to happen

or

2) The team would be on pace to win 69 if he wasn't a part of the team.

Nothing magical would need to happen for a consistent 18-20 PPG scorer to average 18-20 PPG.

And as for your 2nd point, that's perhaps the most ridiculous thing I'ver ever read on here. A team with a rotation of Brown, pritchard, white, queta, hauser, boucher, Garza and Walsh is not coming anywhere close to 69 wins. C'mon now.

[Hal14]

Basketball players play basketball. Tatum is not going to sit on his hands and wrap himself in bubble wrap because some fans are dreaming of tanking. Vets don’t care about rookies and draft picks.

Then why did Jamal Murray sit the entire season out after his torn ACL?

Why did the Spurs shut down Fox and Wemby last season?

Why did the Hornets shut down Lamelo?

Why did the Blazers shut down Dame?

Why did the Mavs tank late in the season in both 2023 and 2025 so they could draft Lively and Flagg?

Why didn't the Thunder bring Chet back late in the season his rookie year when he was healthy enough to play in March?

Why is there basically zero precedence for a guy coming back after the all-star break from a torn ACL or torn achilles?

Because it's better to not bring a guy back that late in the season from such a serious injury, when:
a) all the other players on the floor have been playing all season, so they are playing at a different speed, with a different level of intensity. You're throwing Tatum out there with no ramp up time..usually all players ramp up gradually to be able to play March basketball..it starts with offseaosn, then preseason..then oct/Nov games, etc. gradually ramping up so their bodies can handle it. You don't just throw a guy out there in March who hasn't played in a year..especially a guy coming off a torn achilles

b) if you just wait, play it safe and aim for a opening night of the 26-27 season return, that gives him an extra 5 months to be extra cautious to really make sure he is ready

[jmr07019]

They'll move him if anyone wants him for something half decent and cheaper imo. Idk if it has anything to do with future wins and losses.

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

1) Simons would have to magically turn into a great player for that to happen

or

2) The team would be on pace to win 69 if he wasn't a part of the team.

You would think Simons spends all 82 games shooting at the wrong basket the way Larry posts

[Larry_Russell]

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

Tatum is NOT returning in March.

Not happening
Wont happen
Shouldnt happen

This year is about subtle losing, they are not rushing JT back and risking his career for AT BEST a 2nd round exit.

Didn't you also say Jaylen Brown will be traded?

No.

I said they should really, STRONGLY consider it, and that it would have been the smartest move this past offseason from a team building and business standpoint.

[Larry_Russell]

If the Cs are winning and on pace to win 45-50 games and Simons is averaging 18-20 ppg, you really believe losing Simons and his production will not affect the team's winning %?

1) Simons would have to magically turn into a great player for that to happen

or

2) The team would be on pace to win 69 if he wasn't a part of the team.

Nothing magical would need to happen for a consistent 18-20 PPG scorer to average 18-20 PPG.

And as for your 2nd point, that's perhaps the most ridiculous thing I'ver ever read on here. A team with a rotation of Brown, pritchard, white, queta, hauser, boucher, Garza and Walsh is not coming anywhere clsoe to 69 wins. Give me a break.

I am saying that a team WITH simons on pace to win 50 is on pace to win much more without him.

[hugepatsfan]

Celts will only keep Simons for the entire season if Cs are at around the #2 or #3 seed.

If Cs are a team on pace for 45 to 50 wins, there's a strong possibility Cs are holding on to Simons.

Simons isn't really much of a good player though. You left out the part about them being on 45-50 win pace and him being a positive part of that. That's important. if they're 45-50 win pace and he's an ancillary or even negative contributing piece, I'd expect them to still dump him to avoid the tax because that's simply good business. Tatum's recovery timeline also plays into it.

Assuming they found a Simons deal that sheds $12.1M to avoid the tax, the financial implications would be:

1) $12.1M salary saved
2) $39.5M tax bill erased
3) get payout from tax paying teams of about $10-15M as a non-taxpaying team
4) pay regular rates instead of repeater rates next year - for comparison, at the $12.1M we're in the tax now the tax bill would be $9.1M instead of $39.5M if we were at regular rates vs. repeater rates, so net savings of $30.4M

All together, that could be close to $100M of savings that come from trading Simons to duck the tax this year (assuming they go back over it to about the 1st apron next year). I doubt they're going to forego that kind of savings to keep Simons as a "meh" contributor on a 1st or 2nd round playoff team.

[Larry_Russell]

That's not what I am saying, what I am saying is what the teams record is is not a big impact on whether Simons gets traded or not. Rather what they get offered is the x-factor, ie, anything of potential value at a cheaper salary.

I'm not discounting what you are saying but I just think the threshold is pretty darn high. Ie, on pace for 45 wins is essentially a game over .500 at mid-season, that's not going to do it imo, it has to be a threshold of seriously competing for home court in the first round (ie, top 4 seed) at least.

Tatum returns in March and the Cs will have 3 scorers.

It will be like what Jordan Poole was to GSW in 2022.

Yeah, JT is not coming back this upcoming season and why would he? This is likely a play-in team so I am not seeing the point of him returning when the team has zero shot at a title. Better to start him off fresh in 2026 when he can get plenty of regular season games to get his footing back.

People acting like its all JTs decision too.

JT just signed a MASSIVE contract, team just sold, team has ZERO chances of winning a title this upcoming season (especially with no front court and simons on the team)

JT is NOT coming back this season. Would be a terrible professional choice for JT and a terrible business choice for the Celtics.


Anyone who doesnt see that are just delusional at this point.

[Hal14]

Celts will only keep Simons for the entire season if Cs are at around the #2 or #3 seed.

If Cs are a team on pace for 45 to 50 wins, there's a strong possibility Cs are holding on to Simons.

Simons isn't really much of a good player though. You left out the part about them being on 45-50 win pace and him being a positive part of that. That's important. if they're 45-50 win pace and he's an ancillary or even negative contributing piece, I'd expect them to still dump him to avoid the tax because that's simply good business. Tatum's recovery timeline also plays into it.

Assuming they found a Simons deal that sheds $12.1M to avoid the tax, the financial implications would be:

1) $12.1M salary saved
2) $39.5M tax bill erased
3) get payout from tax paying teams of about $10-15M as a non-taxpaying team
4) pay regular rates instead of repeater rates next year - for comparison, at the $12.1M we're in the tax now the tax bill would be $9.1M instead of $39.5M if we were at regular rates vs. repeater rates, so net savings of $30.4M

All together, that could be close to $100M of savings that come from trading Simons to duck the tax this year (assuming they go back over it to about the 1st apron next year). I doubt they're going to forego that kind of savings to keep Simons as a "meh" contributor on a 1st or 2nd round playoff team.

Odds makers have us at about 42 wins, as of now. If we're on a 45-50 win pace, it's safe to assume that means Simons has been playing well.

Simons is a good player. Guys who make $27mil a year, who are consistent 18-20 PPG scorers, who consistently shoot 36-40% from 3, who were the no. 1 option on their team at age 25, whose career high assist % is higher than every other player on the current Celtics roster's career high assist % are not bad players.

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