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

[Curmudgeon]

I'd be happy with Simons for Haywood Highsmith and a future protected first.

[djFan71]

I'd be happy with Simons for Haywood Highsmith and a future protected first.

I’d be elated. Not sure what’s in it for BKN, though.

[djFan71]

Another one from T&T

BOS: Zach Collins, Julian Phillips
CHI: Simons, Tillman, cash?

Saves $10M. Gets you within easy move of getting under the tax. Chi motivation is iffy to me, but if they get a good separate deal for White it could make sense.

[Dogen]

I'd be happy with Simons for Haywood Highsmith and a future protected first.

I’d be elated. Not sure what’s in it for BKN, though.

Nets have enough wings, young unproven talent from all the picks. They could benefit from some proven offensive talent like Simons and won't miss a future first. All in theory of course, that team is so all over the place that it's going to be a year of experiment, and maybe they'd rather see what they have and not bring in another scorer that needs the ball.

For Boston obviously it helps with immediate cap relief and clarifies the backcourt rotation with Pritchard being the defacto starter along with White, but does increase uncertainty among the wing positions. Highsmith is a nice role player, sort of a small 3/4, so could play back up at the 3 or maybe slide into the 4. But there are other guys to develop, and at 28 he'd be a veteran in a young core that includes Walsh, Minott, Scheierman and Gonzalez.

But that's all OK by me if it resolves the Simons situation. Highsmith seems like a dependable, solid choice who can step in and 3-D without needing a lot of touches. And as Brooklyn likely isn't making many waves in the next few seasons, a protected first will still be a fairly high value pick.

[darrendaye]

Another one from T&T

BOS: Zach Collins, Julian Phillips
CHI: Simons, Tillman, cash?

Saves $10M. Gets you within easy move of getting under the tax. Chi motivation is iffy to me, but if they get a good separate deal for White it could make sense.

Phillips an interesting athlete. I would consider this but it's a mixed bag. Puts the backcourt in better shape defensively. but most certainly makes things harder offensively.

As you said, Bulls would need to have someone get hot for White in a consolidating trade to open the interest in Simons.

[djFan71]

Another one from T&T

BOS: Zach Collins, Julian Phillips
CHI: Simons, Tillman, cash?

Saves $10M. Gets you within easy move of getting under the tax. Chi motivation is iffy to me, but if they get a good separate deal for White it could make sense.

Phillips an interesting athlete. I would consider this but it's a mixed bag. Puts the backcourt in better shape defensively. but most certainly makes things harder offensively.

As you said, Bulls would need to have someone get hot for White in a consolidating trade to open the interest in Simons.

Yeah, it's really all about the tax not the guys coming back. And, at least nothing else going out. I liked Phillips in his draft, but can't say I've followed since. Collins is interesting, and more available than I thought - 63, 69, 64 games the last 3 years. But also shoots worse than I thought - 37%, 32%, 30% from 3. But lower minutes as well.

I definitely get the keep Simons so we can score this year aspect, and am sympathetic to it myself at times.

[Hal14]

I'd be happy with Simons for Haywood Highsmith and a future protected first.

I’d be elated. Not sure what’s in it for BKN, though.

Nets have enough wings, young unproven talent from all the picks. They could benefit from some proven offensive talent like Simons and won't miss a future first.

Nets are a young, rebuilding team. They have no franchise player. Are far, far away from title contention. They need all the 1st round picks they can find. Trading a 1st round pick for a 26 year old with 7 years of NBA experience who could be just a 1 year rental is the opposite of what young rebuilding teams do.

Not to mention the overlap with him and Cam Thomas.

If a team is gonna trade a 1st round pick for a player like Anfernee Simons - on that contract it would have to be a contender...or at least a team that can talk themselves into being a contender after adding a guy like Simons.

A team like Milwaukee, Detroit, Minnesota, Denver..

Definitely not Brooklyn.

[meatball sub]

why does everybody want to get rid of simons so bad

[redslastlaugh]

If we get under the tax, we can book 1 year non repeater status
if we get another year out of the tax, we book two years out & we get out of the repeater penalty entirely

the years we are out of the tax, we'll receive a slice of the tax pie, which is a payment from the tax revenue pool paid into by all the taxpaying teams

then theoretically, we can go back into the tax, add another couple of bigger contract vets like we did with KP/Jrue and open another title window around a JT/JB core. (I say theoretically because we don't know for sure if this new ownership is gonna do that though)

Trading Simons for players making at least $12 million less, is how we accomplish getting under the tax line

why does everybody want to get rid of simons so bad

[playa-hater]

why does everybody want to get rid of simons so bad

not everyone

[Fierce1]

According to the sportrac trade machine, Simons can now be aggregated.

Simons traded yet?

[phincsfan]

IMO, the Nets will continue to play the tank commander game until they finally hit and get a top 5 pick.

They haven't had a top 5 pick in a long time.

They'll see if one or two of this years 1st's hit so a foundation can start.

I see no reason why they would want to bring in Simons who can give them a few wins and jeopardize a top lottery pick.

Tsai is loaded with cash and he owns the Barclay's Center outright. Can't deny the popularity of that venue and the importance that he owns it.

He's also still young enough to play the long game with the Nets.

Just because they have cap-room doesn't mean they will take on unnecessary salary.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Claxton is moved this year and Porter soon after. They're not foundational pieces.

[Fierce1]

Connaughton and Grant Williams can also be aggregated now.

[celtxman]

The Celtics lost serious talent in the offseason to save money. It forces us all to consider all talent at cheaper prices. Thomas was a guy with talent I thought might be a good fit - maybe giving the Nets a pick to swap Simons for Thomas.

I would do that deal in a heartbeat, so long as it was not the 2026 first rounder. But would Brooklyn? They have so many young guards already.

After their draft, it's hard to say they are building a coherent roster. I think they would do this trade for a 1st round pick. It's who they are.

[phincsfan]

Connaughton and Grant Williams can also be aggregated now.

If you're talking about moving off of Simons expiring, I'd want nothing to do with Grant's 14.2mil salary next season. It'll be another story of how easy it will be to move that salary next season.

No thanks.

Moving Sam's contract will be very easy and a team will give up a draft asset for him.

That gets the C's to just over 160mil next season.

The luxury tax line will probably be just over 200mil and there will be plenty of room to move to stay away from the 2nd apron.

If Simons isn't traded, I hope he plays his averages and the C's can get him for a good contract.

JT, JB, White and Simons at 82-88ppg combined is a very good output to compete in 26/27.

[Fierce1]

Connaughton and Grant Williams can also be aggregated now.

If you're talking about moving off of Simons expiring, I'd want nothing to do with Grant's 14.2mil salary next season. It'll be another story of how easy it will be to move that salary next season.

No thanks.

Moving Sam's contract will be very easy and a team will give up a draft asset for him.

That gets the C's to just over 160mil next season.

The luxury tax line will probably be just over 200mil and there will be plenty of room to move to stay away from the 2nd apron.

If Simons isn't traded, I hope he plays his averages and the C's can get him for a good contract.

JT, JB, White and Simons at 82-88ppg combined is a very good output to compete in 26/27.

I'm not the one who proposed Grant and Connaughton.

[phincsfan]

Connaughton and Grant Williams can also be aggregated now.

If you're talking about moving off of Simons expiring, I'd want nothing to do with Grant's 14.2mil salary next season. It'll be another story of how easy it will be to move that salary next season.

No thanks.

Moving Sam's contract will be very easy and a team will give up a draft asset for him.

That gets the C's to just over 160mil next season.

The luxury tax line will probably be just over 200mil and there will be plenty of room to move to stay away from the 2nd apron.

If Simons isn't traded, I hope he plays his averages and the C's can get him for a good contract.

JT, JB, White and Simons at 82-88ppg combined is a very good output to compete in 26/27.

I'm not the one who proposed Grant and Connaughton.

Whoever proposed it, I'll pass

[Hal14]

According to the sportrac trade machine, Simons can now be aggregated.

Simons traded yet?

Crickets

[Celts17Pride]

No one proposed Grant Williams and Connaughton for Simons trade. Some people in this forum have severe reading comprehension issues.

[Celts17Pride]

If you're talking about moving off of Simons expiring, I'd want nothing to do with Grant's 14.2mil salary next season. It'll be another story of how easy it will be to move that salary next season.

No thanks.

Moving Sam's contract will be very easy and a team will give up a draft asset for him.

That gets the C's to just over 160mil next season.

The luxury tax line will probably be just over 200mil and there will be plenty of room to move to stay away from the 2nd apron.

If Simons isn't traded, I hope he plays his averages and the C's can get him for a good contract.

JT, JB, White and Simons at 82-88ppg combined is a very good output to compete in 26/27.

I'm not the one who proposed Grant and Connaughton.

Whoever proposed it, I'll pass

No one proposed it. Some need help with reading comprehension