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

[Celts17Pride]

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.

Who doesn't play a lick of defense.

[djFan71]

The team overall was just gassed, imo. That led to the stagnation and getting cooked on D. KP, Jrue, JB were the obviously injured come playoff time. Tatum and White not specifically hurt, but just had a ton of minutes on them from 23-24 title, Olympics and full 24-25 season. Al was older. Hauser was banged up a little as well.

That team fresh and healthy cruises to the Finals and shows OKC that experience matters. It just wasn't close to healthy.

[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.

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.

Queta can set a good pick, it just seems he only knows how to do the basics. It’s nothing like he instinctively knows when he could set a brush screen or something. If it’s not an obvious action, he’s not going to get it. I mean, none of the other guys either, but I feel Queta could be a real impediment if he knew when/what to do.


I likely can’t word it the way I’m thinking it, but I’m just saying screening doesn’t seem to be instinctual for him, he has the ability to separate the defense with his body, but the screens are just like pnr, what he’s “supposed to do.” If he had the knowledge of angles and when you need one, on top of how he sets with that wide immovable base, he’d be golden.


One thing you can count on, I talk about basketball but I can’t talk basketball.

[Shak_Celts]

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.

Who doesn't play a lick of defense.

I’ll be pissed if we have to use a first to get off Simons. He’s not nearly as bad as the complaints! Just wasted assets!!

I get that we’d lose that money slot if he walks but let him go!! We still have a KP sized TPE, use that, it’s not like we can keep stacking excellent players anyway! We need the draft eventually.

Since many people think we’re going to suck, we need those potential lottery picks! If Simons is as terrible as people say, why don’t they want to keep him and ride that train into the top 5?

[Celts17Pride]

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.

Who doesn't play a lick of defense.

I’ll be pissed if we have to use a first to get off Simons. He’s not nearly as bad as the complaints! Just wasted assets!!

I get that we’d lose that money slot if he walks but let him go!! We still have a KP sized TPE, use that, it’s not like we can keep stacking excellent players anyway! We need the draft eventually.

Since many people think we’re going to suck, we need those potential lottery picks! If Simons is as terrible as people say, why don’t they want to keep him and ride that train into the top 5?

We'll see what happens after Sep 7th. If Simons makes it to Sep 15th then he is most likely staying on the Celtics roster.

[Shak_Celts]

Who doesn't play a lick of defense.

I’ll be pissed if we have to use a first to get off Simons. He’s not nearly as bad as the complaints! Just wasted assets!!

I get that we’d lose that money slot if he walks but let him go!! We still have a KP sized TPE, use that, it’s not like we can keep stacking excellent players anyway! We need the draft eventually.

Since many people think we’re going to suck, we need those potential lottery picks! If Simons is as terrible as people say, why don’t they want to keep him and ride that train into the top 5?

We'll see what happens after Sep 7th. If Simons makes it to Sep 15th then he is most likely staying on the Celtics roster.

Stay or go, it better not cost a first!

[Curmudgeon]

Who knows? He may be better trade bait at the deadline when injuries have happened and/or some teams have lost hope.
What I will say is that the standards of NBA journalism have sunk to a new low. Most of the mock trade proposals I see on the web are ludicrous and were probably generated by AI that was programmed by bad programmers.

[Celts17Pride]

I’ll be pissed if we have to use a first to get off Simons. He’s not nearly as bad as the complaints! Just wasted assets!!

I get that we’d lose that money slot if he walks but let him go!! We still have a KP sized TPE, use that, it’s not like we can keep stacking excellent players anyway! We need the draft eventually.

Since many people think we’re going to suck, we need those potential lottery picks! If Simons is as terrible as people say, why don’t they want to keep him and ride that train into the top 5?

We'll see what happens after Sep 7th. If Simons makes it to Sep 15th then he is most likely staying on the Celtics roster.

Stay or go, it better not cost a first!

I trust Brad Stevens.

[redslastlaugh]

Dallas is waiving/stretching O-Max Prosper. I think this is the only stretch before today's deadline to waive and stretch

Some draft reporters, Jeremy Woo if I recall, reported that Brad Stevens was interested in taking Prosper with the Celtics 1st round pick, that was 25th that year. But O-Max went 24th and Brad decided to step down, trading back several times and ending up with Jordan Walsh and future 2nds. I don't think Stevens would be interested in Prosper now that he has been waived, but you never know, Celts may still see something in him. I also think Prosper is eligible to sign a 2-way with a team's G-league affiliate, though Celts do not have a 2-way to offer

Read on Twitter

[djFan71]

I’ll be pissed if we have to use a first to get off Simons. He’s not nearly as bad as the complaints! Just wasted assets!!

I get that we’d lose that money slot if he walks but let him go!! We still have a KP sized TPE, use that, it’s not like we can keep stacking excellent players anyway! We need the draft eventually.

Since many people think we’re going to suck, we need those potential lottery picks! If Simons is as terrible as people say, why don’t they want to keep him and ride that train into the top 5?

We'll see what happens after Sep 7th. If Simons makes it to Sep 15th then he is most likely staying on the Celtics roster.

Stay or go, it better not cost a first!

I don't see Brad doing that. Nor have I seen people even propose it. It's usually lesser players back, maybe a 2nd to dump enough to duck the tax. Or, add a 1st to get a better player / long term fit back.

[Celts17Pride]

Dallas is waiving/stretching O-Max Prosper. I think this is the only stretch before today's deadline to waive and stretch

Some draft reporters, Jeremy Woo if I recall, reported that Brad Stevens was interested in taking Prosper with the Celtics 1st round pick, that was 25th that year. But O-Max went 24th and Brad decided to step down, trading back several times and ending up with Jordan Walsh and future 2nds. I don't think Stevens would be interested in Prosper now that he has been waived, but you never know, Celts may still see something in him. I also think Prosper is eligible to sign a 2-way with a team's G-league affiliate, though Celts do not have a 2-way to offer

Read on Twitter

Who knows, maybe he can come to Boston and prosper

[djFan71]

Dallas is waiving/stretching O-Max Prosper. I think this is the only stretch before today's deadline to waive and stretch

Some draft reporters, Jeremy Woo if I recall, reported that Brad Stevens was interested in taking Prosper with the Celtics 1st round pick, that was 25th that year. But O-Max went 24th and Brad decided to step down, trading back several times and ending up with Jordan Walsh and future 2nds. I don't think Stevens would be interested in Prosper now that he has been waived, but you never know, Celts may still see something in him. I also think Prosper is eligible to sign a 2-way with a team's G-league affiliate, though Celts do not have a 2-way to offer

Read on Twitter

Who knows, maybe he can come to Boston and prosper

Ugh... I don't want him now - just for that.
I'm still scarred from Langford "puns".

[Curmudgeon]

Volume shooting, weak D guards might not be in vogue but a guy that can get you 20 has value still and your suggested 25M contract is pretty fair.

Yup..guys who can get you 20 PPG don't grow on trees.

Here's the list of players to average 19+ PPG and 36% or higher from deep in each of the last 3 seasons:

Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving
Donovan Mitchell
Jalen Brunson
Jamal Murray
CJ McCollum
Desmond Bane
Tyrese Maxey
Paul George
Kawhi Leonard
Anfernee Simons
Tyler Herro

If we lower the PPG threshold to 18 PPG, we also get Darius Garland. That's 14 players. All of them are good players. Most of them make way more $ than Simons.

Out of 14 players, the only elite defender here is Kawhi. PG and Bane are good defenders. The rest are all pretty suspect defenders. That just comes with the territory with guys who are volume scorers and efficiency 3 pt shooters. You can't have it all - gotta take the good with the bad.

How many of the guys on your list were still playing in last year's conference finals"?

[playa-hater]

Dallas is waiving/stretching O-Max Prosper. I think this is the only stretch before today's deadline to waive and stretch

Some draft reporters, Jeremy Woo if I recall, reported that Brad Stevens was interested in taking Prosper with the Celtics 1st round pick, that was 25th that year. But O-Max went 24th and Brad decided to step down, trading back several times and ending up with Jordan Walsh and future 2nds. I don't think Stevens would be interested in Prosper now that he has been waived, but you never know, Celts may still see something in him. I also think Prosper is eligible to sign a 2-way with a team's G-league affiliate, though Celts do not have a 2-way to offer

Read on Twitter

Who knows, maybe he can come to Boston and prosper

Ugh... I don't want him now - just for that.
I'm still scarred from Langford "puns".

I liked Prosper.. More than Walsh. Of course he went much earlier. Wonder why he didn't work out.. Lazy?? But Stevens needs another Wing so why not??

[phincsfan]

Stevens got off of Jrue's contract for a pricey rental.

I'm pretty sure if any of the 74 owners understand math they should know that was a good thing for the next couple of years tax wise.

[Bad-Thoma]

Volume shooting, weak D guards might not be in vogue but a guy that can get you 20 has value still and your suggested 25M contract is pretty fair.

Yup..guys who can get you 20 PPG don't grow on trees.

Here's the list of players to average 19+ PPG and 36% or higher from deep in each of the last 3 seasons:

Stephen Curry
Kevin Durant
Kyrie Irving
Donovan Mitchell
Jalen Brunson
Jamal Murray
CJ McCollum
Desmond Bane
Tyrese Maxey
Paul George
Kawhi Leonard
Anfernee Simons
Tyler Herro

If we lower the PPG threshold to 18 PPG, we also get Darius Garland. That's 14 players. All of them are good players. Most of them make way more $ than Simons.

Out of 14 players, the only elite defender here is Kawhi. PG and Bane are good defenders. The rest are all pretty suspect defenders. That just comes with the territory with guys who are volume scorers and efficiency 3 pt shooters. You can't have it all - gotta take the good with the bad.

How many of the guys on your list were still playing in last year's conference finals"?

5 of the guys on that list have titles, another has been in the finals, 3 more have been to the conference finals, most of the rest the semifinals. A guy who missed that list by .4 pts in one season was Tyrese Haliburton who did happen to be in last years finals. I don't think you are making the point you think you are making.

[Curmudgeon]

But not last year. Shooting numbers don't impress me. Winning does. And only two of those players-- Curry and Leonard--have been the no. 1 guy on a championship team.

[Fierce1]

But not last year. Shooting numbers don't impress me. Winning does. And only two of those players-- Curry and Leonard--have been the no. 1 guy on a championship team.

Simons is not just about shooting.

He can get in the lane and score in a variety of ways.

The Cs only had that when Kyrie was a Celtic.

A guard like Simons will make the Celtic offense less predictable.

Adding what Simons brings to the table will result in winning.

[jmr07019]

But not last year. Shooting numbers don't impress me. Winning does. And only two of those players-- Curry and Leonard--have been the no. 1 guy on a championship team.

Nobody wants Simons to be the number 1 guy in Boston. That's Tatum's job

[phincsfan]

There's no way Stevens attaches a pick in a Simons trade.

They're in no rush to move him IMO.

They cut their projected tax bill for this season in half with all the trades. 200mil to 90+mil.