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

[Parliament10]

The Celtics letting Bassey go could indicate that Tillman will be able to play this season. Otherwise the roster only has two centers and one power forward, plus a two-way center. That's not enough if there's an injury.

Yeah. I strongly believe that we need another Center.

From what I saw in summer league play, Bassey gives you rebounds and inside scoring.

But his switchability on defense was not good.

He had trouble defending on the perimeter also.

So maybe that's why the Cs opted for Boucher.

Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

[Fierce1]

The Celtics letting Bassey go could indicate that Tillman will be able to play this season. Otherwise the roster only has two centers and one power forward, plus a two-way center. That's not enough if there's an injury.

Yeah. I strongly believe that we need another Center.

From what I saw in summer league play, Bassey gives you rebounds and inside scoring.

But his switchability on defense was not good.

He had trouble defending on the perimeter also.

So maybe that's why the Cs opted for Boucher.

Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

That's why I strongly believe Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White is the way to go.

Right now it's Queta and Garza at Center.

It's not ideal, but it's only the start of the season.

Brad can make a move during the season.

I don't think this is the roster we'll be seeing the entire season.

[Parliament10]

The Celtics letting Bassey go could indicate that Tillman will be able to play this season. Otherwise the roster only has two centers and one power forward, plus a two-way center. That's not enough if there's an injury.

Yeah. I strongly believe that we need another Center.

From what I saw in summer league play, Bassey gives you rebounds and inside scoring.

But his switchability on defense was not good.

He had trouble defending on the perimeter also.

So maybe that's why the Cs opted for Boucher.

Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

That's why I strongly believe Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White is the way to go.

Right now it's Queta and Garza at Center.

It's not ideal, but it's only the start of the season.

Brad can make a move during the season.

I don't think this is the roster we'll be seeing the entire season.

Why would the Bulls do that?
It doesn't seem feasible, at this time?

[brackdan70]

The Celtics letting Bassey go could indicate that Tillman will be able to play this season. Otherwise the roster only has two centers and one power forward, plus a two-way center. That's not enough if there's an injury.

Yeah. I strongly believe that we need another Center.

From what I saw in summer league play, Bassey gives you rebounds and inside scoring.

But his switchability on defense was not good.

He had trouble defending on the perimeter also.

So maybe that's why the Cs opted for Boucher.

Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

That's why I strongly believe Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White is the way to go.

Right now it's Queta and Garza at Center.

It's not ideal, but it's only the start of the season.

Brad can make a move during the season.

I don't think this is the roster we'll be seeing the entire season.

I agree we need another playable center at some point but not necessarily this season even.
We need to be planning for 2026/27 and Vuc doesn’t do us any good .

[Parliament10]

Yeah. I strongly believe that we need another Center.



Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

That's why I strongly believe Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White is the way to go.

Right now it's Queta and Garza at Center.

It's not ideal, but it's only the start of the season.

Brad can make a move during the season.

I don't think this is the roster we'll be seeing the entire season.

I agree we need another playable center at some point but not necessarily this season even.
We need to be planning for 2026/27 and Vuc doesn’t do us any good .

I think that we need to do both.:
1) focus on Development this year.
2) prepare for the Playoffs.

We essentially have to Plan to be without Tatum. While trying to make the Playoffs.
And then, if Tatum does come back, in some reasonable form, then we make a clearer Playoff Push.

[Fierce1]

Yeah. I strongly believe that we need another Center.



Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

That's why I strongly believe Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White is the way to go.

Right now it's Queta and Garza at Center.

It's not ideal, but it's only the start of the season.

Brad can make a move during the season.

I don't think this is the roster we'll be seeing the entire season.

Why would the Bulls do that?
It doesn't seem feasible, at this time?

Cs would have to give up a 1st rnd pick for the Bulls to consider it.

But I think Simons will be playing for the Cs on opening night.

Maybe down the road that trade proposal will become feasible if things don't work out for the Bulls or the Celtics or both.

[Hal14]

That's why I strongly believe Simons and Hauser for Vucevic and Coby White is the way to go.

Right now it's Queta and Garza at Center.

It's not ideal, but it's only the start of the season.

Brad can make a move during the season.

I don't think this is the roster we'll be seeing the entire season.

I agree we need another playable center at some point but not necessarily this season even.
We need to be planning for 2026/27 and Vuc doesn’t do us any good .

I think that we need to do both.:
1) focus on Development this year.
2) prepare for the Playoffs.

We essentially have to Plan to be without Tatum. While trying to make the Playoffs.
And then, if Tatum does come back, in some reasonable form, then we make a clearer Playoff Push.

Tatum has a torn ACL..is likely to miss the entire season.

And we reduced payroll + tax by by nearly $200mil this offseason - there's no record of any team in NBA history reducing their payroll + tax bll by that much in one offseason.

In the words of Jim Mora:

Watch on YouTube

I don't think Brad is very concerned with the playoffs this season. The goal is reduce payroll, develop our young guys, load manage our vets and start figuring out what the roster will look like when we're ready to compete for titles again in the 26-27 season.

[Hal14]

I strongly believe that we need another Center.

Well, we don't really have any roster spots available to sign another one.

We're at the maximum 21 guys on offseason roster. And have 14 guys signed to standard contracts - and are unlikely to go with 15, for $ savings and flexibility reasons.

Queta, Garza, Tillman, Boucher, Amari Williams. That's 5 guys who can play the 5. It'll be alright..especially during a bridge year when we're not really even trying to win..we'll make sure we have enough depth/talent at the 5 for the 26-27 season, when Tatum is healthy and we're chasing titles again.

Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

Tillman is more of a center imo. He's like 250 lbs and has a 7'2" wingspan. Most guys with measurements like that are centers. He started at center in the playoffs for Memphis. Most of his mins in the NBA have been at the 5.

Here's how many games each has started in their NBA careers:

Tillman: 60
Boucher: 23
Bassey: 3

Boucher is more of a 4 but has also proven to be an effective small ball 5 option, especially since he has a 7'4" wingspan along with solid shot blocking ability.

Queta will likely be our starting center though. Garza might start some games as well, if Queta has to sit out.

I think we'll be ok..and if our center rotation isn't great then we get a better draft pick so it's a win-win

[bucknersrevenge]

From what's happening now, it's looking like Brad is open to trading Simons but not really pushing hard to trade Simons.

The end result is Simons still a Celtic.

Or the cost of forcing a Simons trade is not worth it.

Really nothing to do with aggregating players.

Yeah, aggregating was always just one hurdle of several. Kuminga is holding up a few other teams form doing anything. Recently signed and traded guys have timeframes in when they can retraded, etc. plus, it’s just hard to make things work.

I agree he’s open to it but only on his terms - ie no significant picks to dump, or a clear upgrade.

Anyone who is RFA is gonna be a trade candidate at the deadline ahead of Simons. Now that Cam Thomas signed the QO for just 6M, he's absolutely a trade deadline cadidate. There's just gonna be so many people ahead of Simons in the line at the deadline.

[bucknersrevenge]

I strongly believe that we need another Center.

Well, we don't really have any roster spots available to sign another one.

We're at the maximum 21 guys on offseason roster. And have 14 guys signed to standard contracts - and are unlikely to go with 15, for $ savings and flexibility reasons.

Queta, Garza, Tillman, Boucher, Amari Williams. That's 5 guys who can play the 5. It'll be alright..especially during a bridge year when we're not really even trying to win..we'll make sure we have enough depth/talent at the 5 for the 26-27 season, when Tatum is healthy and we're chasing titles again.

Tillman and Boucher are Power Forwards, IMO. I don't think that either is that good at Center.
They definitely can't Start at Center.

Tillman is more of a center imo. He's like 250 lbs and has a 7'2" wingspan. Most guys with measurements like that are centers. He started at center in the playoffs for Memphis. Most of his mins in the NBA have been at the 5.

Here's how many games each has started in their NBA careers:

Tillman: 60
Boucher: 23
Bassey: 3

Boucher is more of a 4 but has also proven to be an effective small ball 5 option, especially since he has a 7'4" wingspan along with solid shot blocking ability.

Queta will likely be our starting center though. Garza might start some games as well, if Queta has to sit out.

I think we'll be ok..and if our center rotation isn't great then we get a better draft pick so it's a win-win :)

This feels like Brad's thinking. At this point, we've sheared 200M from payroll. Money is no longer a concern. Unless the trade produces a CLEAR upgrade at a position, it simply isn't happening regardless of anything else. Every trade scenario from here on out has to be viewed through that lens.

[CelticFaninLBC]

Maybe, but Sarr and Coulibaly are good young players. The problem is that Simons would just take shots away from McCollum. He's not what they need whether they are tanking or not.

Milwaukee is a team that could use Simons. The Giannis at the point experiment is going to last about a month, if that. The Kings could also use Simons.

The Bucks do look like a team that could use Simons. They just need to add a big contract that isn't Kyle Kuzma and that leaves Bobby Portis, who can be dealt in October...

I don't know, they seem to have Gary Trent Jr who had a good year in a simons type role and Trent Jr is like $3.5 million this year vs Ant's $27.7 ... I think Milwaukee badly needs talent, but I don't know if Simons is the guy. I hope so, though, and I wouldn't mind reworking the framework of:
Nurkic to POR
Simons to MIL
Robwill to BOS
Kuzma to Utah (plus picks)

But I just don't see MIL really wanting Simons

Will be tough for Milwaukee to deal Kuzma in 2025-26 given their lack of picks.

[redslastlaugh]

The Bucks do look like a team that could use Simons. They just need to add a big contract that isn't Kyle Kuzma and that leaves Bobby Portis, who can be dealt in October...

I don't know, they seem to have Gary Trent Jr who had a good year in a simons type role and Trent Jr is like $3.5 million this year vs Ant's $27.7 ... I think Milwaukee badly needs talent, but I don't know if Simons is the guy. I hope so, though, and I wouldn't mind reworking the framework of:
Nurkic to POR
Simons to MIL
Robwill to BOS
Kuzma to Utah (plus picks)

But I just don't see MIL really wanting Simons

Will be tough for Milwaukee to deal Kuzma in 2025-26 given their lack of picks.

Yea, for sure. Utah was the only team I thought might stomach Kuz because Kuz was the worst enemy of winning games last year and UTA will only keep its first round draft pick if it falls 1-8. And then, some 2nds and young players (Tyler Smith, Bogi Markovic draft rights, Yam Madar draft rights, etc) or Celtics tossing in Jordan Walsh if Austin Ainge thinks Walsh would have more upside in a different system.

If coming back to UTAH was a Milwaukee 2nd, a "best of" whatver 2nds Boston has in 2026, rights to Markovic and Madar, and Jordan Walsh ... and UTAH gets to play Kuzma 1,000 minutes and really tank those minutes ... could be possible, who knows?

edit: Bucks are out of 2nd round picks