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

[Curmudgeon]

If you don't trade Simons, in a year he will be the next Kuminga or Cam Thomas and if you are not willing to pay, you lose him for nothing.

[redslastlaugh]

Wouldn't Brad just trade Simons into cap space for nothing right now, if that option was available to him?

If we could somehow lop off Ant's $27 million from our capsheet, we'd be $15 million under the tax and our money problems would be solved. So I don't think 'lose him for nothing' is any kind of bad outcome from the front office's point of view.

If you don't trade Simons, in a year he will be the next Kuminga or Cam Thomas and if you are not willing to pay, you lose him for nothing.

[bucknersrevenge]

Just because an article says a team is willing to talk about a player doesn't mean

1) they are actively engaging other teams on a deal

nor

2) that other teams have changed their asking price.

If you needed to give up draft comp to get rid of a player at the beginning of July, you're still gonna need to do that in September. All the "Celtics are willing to talk about Simons" mean absolutely jack and **** because Brad already knows what has to happen to move him. All these articles are doing is just regurgitating old talking points from the beginning of the summer for clicks.There's literally nothing new on this topic. And if you believe Brad, unless the trade brings in an upgrade over Simons, over Pritchard, or over Neemy, he's not really interested in moving him at all.

[Fierce1]

Wouldn't Brad just trade Simons into cap space for nothing right now, if that option was available to him?

If we could somehow lop off Ant's $27 million from our capsheet, we'd be $15 million under the tax and our money problems would be solved. So I don't think 'lose him for nothing' is any kind of bad outcome from the front office's point of view.

If you don't trade Simons, in a year he will be the next Kuminga or Cam Thomas and if you are not willing to pay, you lose him for nothing.

Exactly!

[Green89]

Ryen Russillo rumor on Ben Simmons:

https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/3x-nba-all-star-could-be-leaving-clippers-for-boston-celtics

A new remark by Ryen Russillo of The Ringer made it seem like he knows where Simmons is signing already.

"He's in Boston now," Russillo said after his name came up in a conversation with rapper Freddie Gibbs.

Russillo has ties to the Boston area and previously worked for Comcast Sportsnet New England, so he could be on to something regarding the former Clippers point-center.

It's quite plausible that Ben Simmons is waiting to sign here until after a Simons move.

[Jammer]

Only 10 more days until September 7. That's the day Anfernee Simons can be traded.

[Fierce1]

Only 10 more days until September 7. That's the day Anfernee Simons can be traded.

Simons can be traded now.

Sep. 7 is the day Simons can be aggregated in a trade.

[Jammer]

Only 10 more days until September 7. That's the day Anfernee Simons can be traded.

Simons can be traded now.

Sep. 7 is the day Simons can be aggregated in a trade.

Thanks for the clarification.

I keep thinking that the Nets are a possible destination since they only have:

11 Players with $111,221,362 in Guaranteed Contracts
$100,000 in Dead Money
4 Players with $8,718,529 in Unguaranteed Contracts
Qualifying Offer Hold to Cam Thomas of $5,993,172 vs a 2 Year Contract Offer at $14M per year with 2nd Year a Team Option

And the Team Salary Floor is $139,182,000 by the first day of the season or a Cap Hold is put on for the Difference plus the Nets would forfeit their right to any Luxury Tax Distribution at the end of the season (would be around $8 Million per team EVEN IF THE CELTICS MANAGE TO GET UNDER THE Luxury Tax and don't pay any tax). Right now they are looking at $39 Million in Luxury Tax but the Celtics will likely get that # lower, maybe completely gone and then they can share in the Lux Tax distribution to teams under the Tax.

[Fierce1]

Only 10 more days until September 7. That's the day Anfernee Simons can be traded.

Simons can be traded now.

Sep. 7 is the day Simons can be aggregated in a trade.

Thanks for the clarification.

I keep thinking that the Nets are a possible destination since they only have:

11 Players with $111,221,362 in Guaranteed Contracts
$100,000 in Dead Money
4 Players with $8,718,529 in Unguaranteed Contracts
Qualifying Offer Hold to Cam Thomas of $5,993,172 vs a 2 Year Contract Offer at $14M per year with 2nd Year a Team Option

And the Team Salary Floor is $139,182,000 by the first day of the season or a Cap Hold is put on for the Difference plus the Nets would forfeit their right to any Luxury Tax Distribution at the end of the season (would be around $8 Million per team EVEN IF THE CELTICS MANAGE TO GET UNDER THE Luxury Tax and don't pay any tax). Right now they are looking at $39 Million in Luxury Tax but the Celtics will likely get that # lower, maybe completely gone and then they can share in the Lux Tax distribution to teams under the Tax.

That's why I proposed a sign and trade for Cam Thomas.

There is talk that Thomas is considering 14m per year for 2 years.

Simons for Cam Thomas puts the Cs under the repeater.

[dortmunder]

Ben simmons and charles bassey are waiting for us.

[Jammer]

Simons can be traded now.

Sep. 7 is the day Simons can be aggregated in a trade.

Thanks for the clarification.

I keep thinking that the Nets are a possible destination since they only have:

11 Players with $111,221,362 in Guaranteed Contracts
$100,000 in Dead Money
4 Players with $8,718,529 in Unguaranteed Contracts
Qualifying Offer Hold to Cam Thomas of $5,993,172 vs a 2 Year Contract Offer at $14M per year with 2nd Year a Team Option

And the Team Salary Floor is $139,182,000 by the first day of the season or a Cap Hold is put on for the Difference plus the Nets would forfeit their right to any Luxury Tax Distribution at the end of the season (would be around $8 Million per team EVEN IF THE CELTICS MANAGE TO GET UNDER THE Luxury Tax and don't pay any tax). Right now they are looking at $39 Million in Luxury Tax but the Celtics will likely get that # lower, maybe completely gone and then they can share in the Lux Tax distribution to teams under the Tax.

That's why I proposed a sign and trade for Cam Thomas.

There is talk that Thomas is considering 14m per year for 2 years.

Simons for Cam Thomas puts the Cs under the repeater.

1. Sign & Trades have to be 3 year contract, although only the 1rst year needs to be guaranteed
2. Cam Thomas is a High Volume Scorer, and not as Efficient as I'd like. He would press the Celtics for dollars in a sign & Trade that he won't get anywhere else. The key is to avoid an overpay, although if he signed for $14M they do duck under the lux tax, but I doubt that he'd only take 1 year guaranteed, which is what the Nets have offered. But if he took that, sure.

[Jammer]

Simons can be traded now.

Sep. 7 is the day Simons can be aggregated in a trade.

Thanks for the clarification.

I keep thinking that the Nets are a possible destination since they only have:

11 Players with $111,221,362 in Guaranteed Contracts
$100,000 in Dead Money
4 Players with $8,718,529 in Unguaranteed Contracts
Qualifying Offer Hold to Cam Thomas of $5,993,172 vs a 2 Year Contract Offer at $14M per year with 2nd Year a Team Option

And the Team Salary Floor is $139,182,000 by the first day of the season or a Cap Hold is put on for the Difference plus the Nets would forfeit their right to any Luxury Tax Distribution at the end of the season (would be around $8 Million per team EVEN IF THE CELTICS MANAGE TO GET UNDER THE Luxury Tax and don't pay any tax). Right now they are looking at $39 Million in Luxury Tax but the Celtics will likely get that # lower, maybe completely gone and then they can share in the Lux Tax distribution to teams under the Tax.

That's why I proposed a sign and trade for Cam Thomas.

There is talk that Thomas is considering 14m per year for 2 years.

Simons for Cam Thomas puts the Cs under the repeater.

Are you sure about that? The Luxury Tax Line is $187,895,000. The Celtics are at $199,981,489 for 14 Players including Queta and Walsh's unguaranteed salaries. Swapping Simons $26,678,571 for Thomas at $14 Million drops them to $187,301,918 which squeaks them by by $592,000 for 14 guys but they could theoretically cut Walsh (only 2k guaranteed) which would free up another $2,021,677 on top of $593,082 which would give them $2,614,758 to sign other players if they wanted to carry a 14th player OTHER THAN Walsh.

[Jammer]

Although if the Nets are willing to take Simons (even if 1 2027 1rst Round Pick has to be included), I don't see why the Celtics have to take Simons on rather than someone less expensive from their roster). I don't care for his style, he's a ball hog.

[Fierce1]

Thanks for the clarification.

I keep thinking that the Nets are a possible destination since they only have:

11 Players with $111,221,362 in Guaranteed Contracts
$100,000 in Dead Money
4 Players with $8,718,529 in Unguaranteed Contracts
Qualifying Offer Hold to Cam Thomas of $5,993,172 vs a 2 Year Contract Offer at $14M per year with 2nd Year a Team Option

And the Team Salary Floor is $139,182,000 by the first day of the season or a Cap Hold is put on for the Difference plus the Nets would forfeit their right to any Luxury Tax Distribution at the end of the season (would be around $8 Million per team EVEN IF THE CELTICS MANAGE TO GET UNDER THE Luxury Tax and don't pay any tax). Right now they are looking at $39 Million in Luxury Tax but the Celtics will likely get that # lower, maybe completely gone and then they can share in the Lux Tax distribution to teams under the Tax.

That's why I proposed a sign and trade for Cam Thomas.

There is talk that Thomas is considering 14m per year for 2 years.

Simons for Cam Thomas puts the Cs under the repeater.

Are you sure about that? The Luxury Tax Line is $187,895,000. The Celtics are at $199,981,489 for 14 Players including Queta and Walsh's unguaranteed salaries. Swapping Simons $26,678,571 for Thomas at $14 Million drops them to $187,301,918 which squeaks them by by $592,000 for 14 guys but they could theoretically cut Walsh (only 2k guaranteed) which would free up another $2,021,677 on top of $593,082 which would give them $2,614,758 to sign other players if they wanted to carry a 14th player OTHER THAN Walsh.

Simons' cap hit is 27.6m for 2025-26.

[jmr07019]

Was it the offense or defense that failed the Celtics last year in the playoffs? I would say it was the offense that failed.

Team PPG - Playoffs


Opponent PPG Allowed - Playoffs



Game 1 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 16 points in Q4 on 4/21 shooting. 5 points in OT on 2/8 shooting.

Game 2 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 17 points in Q4 on 5/24 shooting.

[Fierce1]

Was it the offense or defense that failed the Celtics last year in the playoffs? I would say it was the offense that failed.

Team PPG - Playoffs


Opponent PPG Allowed - Playoffs



Game 1 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 16 points in Q4 on 4/21 shooting. 5 points in OT on 2/8 shooting.

Game 2 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 17 points in Q4 on 5/24 shooting.

True.

Cs can't get easy buckets because they're not good in fast breaks.

And the Cs are missing a guy like Simons, a dynamic scoring guard.

So yeah, offense became a problem against NY.

It was just shooting 3s and the Jays going 1 on 1.

They became very predictable.

[bucknersrevenge]

Was it the offense or defense that failed the Celtics last year in the playoffs? I would say it was the offense that failed.

Team PPG - Playoffs


Opponent PPG Allowed - Playoffs



Game 1 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 16 points in Q4 on 4/21 shooting. 5 points in OT on 2/8 shooting.

Game 2 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 17 points in Q4 on 5/24 shooting.

True.

Cs can't get easy buckets because they're not good in fast breaks.

And the Cs are missing a guy like Simons, a dynamic scoring guard.

So yeah, offense became a problem against NY.

It was just shooting 3s and the Jays going 1 on 1.

They became very predictable.

100%

And Brad spoke to this very idea after the season ended. Since then, the moves he's made seem to illustrate a strong desire to diversify the offense in different ways with less reliance on the 3. The personnel on this team no longer supports putting up 50 3's a game. No Al, no KP, and no JT, the engine of the offense that generated so many of our open looks. In addition, the bigs we now have play differently. When KP, Al, or Luke crashed the offensive glass and got a rebound, their first inclination was to kickout and look for someone open around the arc for an open 3. But we've replaced those guys for better or for worse with Neemy, Garza, Chris Boucher, and Josh Minott. These guys crash the glass to but when they get a rebound, they look to go right back up with it; not kick it out. Look at their tape. We got so many open looks off offensive rebounds. Now our bigs are gonna be looking to convert at the rim because they have the ability to do so. Add in any increase in transition layups and we should see 3 point numbers going down.

[Bad-Thoma]

These guys crash the glass to but when they get a rebound, they look to go right back up with it; not kick it out. Look at their tape. We got so many open looks off offensive rebounds. Now our bigs are gonna be looking to convert at the rim because they have the ability to do so. Add in any increase in transition layups and we should see 3 point numbers going down.

I hope so. The offense being the way it was made sense for many reasons and overall it worked but I get bored as F watching a 3pt contest every night, even more so on the nights they aren't falling. I know I'm old, curmudgeonly, and had to walk uphill though snow to school and all that but 50 3's a night is the valium of basketball strategies.

[Shak_Celts]

Was it the offense or defense that failed the Celtics last year in the playoffs? I would say it was the offense that failed.

Team PPG - Playoffs


Opponent PPG Allowed - Playoffs



Game 1 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 16 points in Q4 on 4/21 shooting. 5 points in OT on 2/8 shooting.

Game 2 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 17 points in Q4 on 5/24 shooting.

We were up 20! Both things can be true, we couldn’t score, but play some defense, and we could have staved off a comeback even with the low scoring. Just let dude cook us when it mattered. I’m not even talking about Brunson. Every run seemed to start with Bridges, he was scoring at will when they needed it, he looked like a star versus us at times.

[Jammer]

Was it the offense or defense that failed the Celtics last year in the playoffs? I would say it was the offense that failed.

Team PPG - Playoffs


Opponent PPG Allowed - Playoffs



Game 1 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 16 points in Q4 on 4/21 shooting. 5 points in OT on 2/8 shooting.

Game 2 against the Knicks - the Celtics scored 17 points in Q4 on 5/24 shooting.

True.

Cs can't get easy buckets because they're not good in fast breaks.

And the Cs are missing a guy like Simons, a dynamic scoring guard.

So yeah, offense became a problem against NY.

It was just shooting 3s and the Jays going 1 on 1.

They became very predictable.

NOT TRUE. The Celtics were VERY PREDICTABLE FROM JANUARY FORWARD. Stand around 3's. Lacked a bruising pick setter (only Horford and Holiday could read the floor well enough to be able to time a well placed screen (location, body angle), and neither one is a bruiser).

I don't know if the Celtics simply lack a great cutter or if they had a great pick setter (Dave Cowens was their Best EVER), maybe they'd have more guys cutting to the hoop.