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

[Larry_Russell]

It’s not 5-6 guys better than Tatum in the last 10 drafts, combined.

1) Thats pure hyperbole.
2) "potentially"

If there aren’t 5-6 in 10 then what makes you think there will be in 1?

Edit x2: Name the 5-6 from the last 10 drafts.

I went in the past because when you say potential, I’ll have to be here for the end of those players career or long enough to discern it with facts and that would still take time. When are you giving up in their potential. Then said hyperbole like yours isn’t.

Ant-potentially
Luka
Wemby
Sga
Banchero-potentially
Cade- potentially

[Hal14]

Speaking of tanking, the Cs tanked in 1997 and instead of ending up with the #1 pick, they ended up with the #3 and #6 picks.

1) unluckiest draft lottery in the history of the NBA - outlier

2) They drafted Billups at 3. If they had kept him instead of trading him and drafted T-Mac at 6, that's one of the best drafts in NBA history. That's a dynasty in the making. That proves why tanking is a good idea. You just have to be good at drafting and keeping good talent in house.

[Shak_Celts]

1) Thats pure hyperbole.
2) "potentially"

If there aren’t 5-6 in 10 then what makes you think there will be in 1?

Edit x2: Name the 5-6 from the last 10 drafts.

I went in the past because when you say potential, I’ll have to be here for the end of those players career or long enough to discern it with facts and that would still take time. When are you giving up in their potential. Then said hyperbole like yours isn’t.

Ant-potentially
Luka
Wemby
Sga
Banchero-potentially
Cade- potentially

LMAO. So you literally can pick any good player and say potential, until how long? Because their first years aren’t better than Tatum’s. What are you basing it on if not information provided during the same time period of their career? Tatum has history backed info that said he was better at the time they are in.

Luka is only seen as better because of offense, you already know how I feel about that, but I’ll still give you him. That’s one.

I think Wemby is going to be the greatest ever eventually, but he’s still working on potential. Based on first years, he is better than Tatum was. I’ll give you him.

Then, SGA is really hard for me, because Tatum has the history. SGA was better than Tatum this season tho.

So, 3 in the convo? Lol.


Edit: furthermore, If they don’t reach potential, that you came up with, were you wrong or just failure on their part? Because we can say ANYONE has that potential.

[Fierce1]

Speaking of tanking, the Cs tanked in 1997 and instead of ending up with the #1 pick, they ended up with the #3 and #6 picks.

1) unluckiest draft in the history of the NBA - outlier

2) They drafted Billups at 3. If they had kept him instead of trading him and drafted T-Mac at 6, that's one of the best drafts in NBA history. That's a dynasty in the making. That proves why tanking is a good idea. You just have to be good at drafting and keeping good talent in house.

1) Maybe so, but 1996-97 season the Celtics were blatantly tanking and they weren't rewarded in the end.

2) Billups at 3 and McGrady at 6 didn't happen as Billups was traded after only half a season with the Cs and the Cs opted for Mercer instead of McGrady.

While I generally agree with you about tanking, the point I'm making is it's useless to talk about tanking because Brad and Joe just won't do it.

I learned my lesson back in 2015.

The Cs were just 20-32 before IT played for the Cs after trade deadline.
Cs were on pace for a top 7 to top 10 pick in that 2015 Draft.
But Ainge traded for IT and instead of getting a lottery pick, the Cs ended up 40-42 and a 1st round exit via sweep.

What were the Cs thinking?

After trading KG and Pierce in 2013, the Cs were supposed to be in the lottery for the next 3 years.
But Brad was really good in doing more with less.
It's a good thing the Cs had the Brooklyn picks.
Otherwise we would still be dreaming of Banner 18 right now.

Without the Brooklyn picks, there would be no JB and JT.

So if the Cs are going to tank, it's not in this era of Brad and Joe.

While the argument of tanking is sound, it's just not happening now and in the near future.

[redslastlaugh]

Spurs tanked, got Duncan and became the decades top team, a dynasty team.

Top 5 or 6 in this draft all are potentially better than Tatum.

You take that opportunity to step back a year, let youth have a chance to mature, then come out on Fire next season with a dynasty

It’s not 5-6 guys better than Tatum in the last 10 drafts, combined.

I don't think there's 5 guys in this upcoming draft gonna be better than JT

Of the last TEN drafts, who is better than Tatum was last couple of years?

SGA was about as good or maybe a little better
Halliburton, maybe you could make a case since Indy make 1 Conf Finals and 1 Finals -- but he has achilles now too
Luka, you could make a case, but I'd take JT
Wemby is of a body type that has never held up over time, and he's now 1 blood clot issue from an early DVT retirement like happened to Chris Bosh
Cade, Franz, Paolo, Ant -- these guys are not better than Jayson Tatum

probably one player in this next draft will be as good as JT was in 2023-2024 & 2024-25
maybe, maybe none will be as good as him

[Shak_Celts]

Spurs tanked, got Duncan and became the decades top team, a dynasty team.

Top 5 or 6 in this draft all are potentially better than Tatum.

You take that opportunity to step back a year, let youth have a chance to mature, then come out on Fire next season with a dynasty

It’s not 5-6 guys better than Tatum in the last 10 drafts, combined.

I don't think there's 5 guys in this upcoming draft gonna be better than JT

Of the last TEN drafts, who is better than Tatum was last couple of years?

SGA was about as good or maybe a little better
Halliburton, maybe you could make a case since Indy make 1 Conf Finals and 1 Finals -- but he has achilles now too
Luka, you could make a case, but I'd take JT
Wemby is of a body type that has never held up over time, and he's now 1 blood clot issue from an early DVT retirement like happened to Chris Bosh
Cade, Franz, Paolo, Ant -- these guys are not better than Jayson Tatum

probably one player in this next draft will be as good as JT was in 2023-2024 & 2024-25
maybe, maybe none will be as good as him

My point is, I’m not sure people realize how good Tatum has been in his career. It’s hard to find people who were as good in MULTIPLE drafts let alone 1. We’re talking about potential as if it’s facts. Why cut the next draft at 5-6 weigh more potential, heck why not say 7-8 or 8-9? Next year would have to be historic to even count as 5-6 being better. That’s just how good Tatum is.

I would say the same if we were using SGA, Luka, or Wemby in the place of Tatum. These guys are excellent, there aren’t potentially 5-6 guys in one draft that will be better than either. It’s just a wild claim whether we’re making it up by using potential or not.

Heck, i’d have to look it up, but there may not be 5-6 in that melo, lbj, Wade draft that were better than Tatum and that draft was STACKED!! The guy is underrated, even by me a few times.

[Fierce1]

Reason why Tatum is underrated is because he's a nice guy.

He's perceived as soft.

Barkley and Malone were two of the toughest guys in their era, also considered true superstars, but both guys have no ring.

It's really entitlement.

Sometimes the standards are set too high by Celtic fans.

[jmr07019]

If that’s the case than half this board sucks and they are not Celtics fans, but more drama losers.

Yeah, I can't see what the Tanking Fetish is? = Tatum will be back, if not this Season, then the next.
We also have Brown, White & Pritchard, among others. Why would the Players Tank?

Why would the Team Tank, for that matter? Tanking is a last resort, when you have no hope on the horizon.
We make the Playoffs, even without Tatum. We Tank, and All our good Players will want Out.

Edit:
Some Teams use the Tank option, because they have too; they have no resources.
We're the Celtics. We have 18 Banners. You don't do that by accident.

Mavericks were in WCF, but then the next year tanked, got Lively with 10th pick, then made the NBA finals, then tanked and drafted Flagg no. 1 pick. They're literally on like a cycle where they go DEEP in playoffs 1 year, tank for a high draft pick the next, then content the next year, it's working beautifully so far.

Spurs were in the playoffs, then tanked, got Tim Duncan and won 5 titles.

Sixers made playoffs, tanked and then got VJ with the 3rd pick.

Hawks were in the play-in but missed playoffs, won lottery and got a good young player in Risacher.

Thunder had SGA but tanked, got Jalen Williams..then tanked, got Chet...then won a title and could be on the verge of a dynasty.

Rockets tanked, then got Sengun, Amen and Jabari. also got Jalen Green who they flipped for KD.

Pistons tanked, got Cade, Ausar, Ivey, Duren.

Cavs tanked, got Garland and Mobley..traded for Allen and Mitchell.

Orlando tanked, got Paolo, Franz, Suggs.

Do people still not understand the benefit of tanking?

The best outcome of an NBA season? Winning the title. The 2nd best outcome? Getting a high draft pick to improve your odds of winning the title the next year.

What gives you better odds for a title the following season?
Scenario A: fall short of title, get 18th pick
Scenario B: fall short of title, get 1st pick

Give me scenario B all day long, especially when the 2026 draft has 3 guys at the top who could be top 10 players in the league.

The second best option is to lose in the finals. That means you're damn close to a title. 3rd best option is losing in the conference finals. That means you're pretty close. Getting a top pick means you're complete ass and far, far away from competing. The "if you're not first your finish doesn't matter" is not grounded in reality. What recent champs have seen a short turn around from tanking?

25: Thunder (YES, but they still required 2 full seasons of not tanking and then won a title, 3 years later)
24: Boston (NO)
23: Denver (NO)
22: GSW (NO)
21: Milwaukee (NO)
20: Lakers (NO)
19: Raptors (NO)
18: GSW (NO)
17: GSW (NO)
16: Cleveland (YES)
15: GSW (NO)
14: Spurs (NO)
13: Miami (NO)
12: Miami (NO)
11: Dallas (NO)
10: Lakers (NO)
09: Lakers (NO)
08: Boston (YES)

3/18 recent champs have tanked within 3 years of their title.

The thunder were 3 years removed from the tank by the time it paid off.

Cavs stunk in 14/15, got lucky in the lotto, then got lucky lebron wanted to come home. But they pulled off the 1 year tank to title so credit to them.

07-08 Celts also pulled off the tank to title in 1 year. So 2/18 quick turn arounds in recent memory. And one was based on a FA who wanted to play for his home town. Both teams who went tank to title in 1 season did it by trading away the youth for veterans. The idea that the Celtics can tank, draft a kid and he will lead us to the promised land next year is not based in reality. There is no precedent for it, at least not recently.

[Larry_Russell]

Yeah, I can't see what the Tanking Fetish is? = Tatum will be back, if not this Season, then the next.
We also have Brown, White & Pritchard, among others. Why would the Players Tank?

Why would the Team Tank, for that matter? Tanking is a last resort, when you have no hope on the horizon.
We make the Playoffs, even without Tatum. We Tank, and All our good Players will want Out.

Edit:
Some Teams use the Tank option, because they have too; they have no resources.
We're the Celtics. We have 18 Banners. You don't do that by accident.

Mavericks were in WCF, but then the next year tanked, got Lively with 10th pick, then made the NBA finals, then tanked and drafted Flagg no. 1 pick. They're literally on like a cycle where they go DEEP in playoffs 1 year, tank for a high draft pick the next, then content the next year, it's working beautifully so far.

Spurs were in the playoffs, then tanked, got Tim Duncan and won 5 titles.

Sixers made playoffs, tanked and then got VJ with the 3rd pick.

Hawks were in the play-in but missed playoffs, won lottery and got a good young player in Risacher.

Thunder had SGA but tanked, got Jalen Williams..then tanked, got Chet...then won a title and could be on the verge of a dynasty.

Rockets tanked, then got Sengun, Amen and Jabari. also got Jalen Green who they flipped for KD.

Pistons tanked, got Cade, Ausar, Ivey, Duren.

Cavs tanked, got Garland and Mobley..traded for Allen and Mitchell.

Orlando tanked, got Paolo, Franz, Suggs.

Do people still not understand the benefit of tanking?

The best outcome of an NBA season? Winning the title. The 2nd best outcome? Getting a high draft pick to improve your odds of winning the title the next year.

What gives you better odds for a title the following season?
Scenario A: fall short of title, get 18th pick
Scenario B: fall short of title, get 1st pick

Give me scenario B all day long, especially when the 2026 draft has 3 guys at the top who could be top 10 players in the league.

The second best option is to lose in the finals. That means you're damn close to a title. 3rd best option is losing in the conference finals. That means you're pretty close. Getting a top pick means you're complete ass and far, far away from competing. The "if you're not first your finish doesn't matter" is not grounded in reality. What recent champs have seen a short turn around from tanking?

25: Thunder (YES, but they still required 2 full seasons of not tanking and then won a title, 3 years later)
24: Boston (NO)
23: Denver (NO)
22: GSW (NO)
21: Milwaukee (NO)
20: Lakers (NO)
19: Raptors (NO)
18: GSW (NO)
17: GSW (NO)
16: Cleveland (YES)
15: GSW (NO)
14: Spurs (NO)
13: Miami (NO)
12: Miami (NO)
11: Dallas (NO)
10: Lakers (NO)
09: Lakers (NO)
08: Boston (YES)

3/18 recent champs have tanked within 3 years of their title.

The thunder were 3 years removed from the tank by the time it paid off.

Cavs stunk in 14/15, got lucky in the lotto, then got lucky lebron wanted to come home. But they pulled off the 1 year tank to title so credit to them.

07-08 Celts also pulled off the tank to title in 1 year. So 2/18 quick turn arounds in recent memory. And one was based on a FA who wanted to play for his home town. Both teams who went tank to title in 1 season did it by trading away the youth for veterans. The idea that the Celtics can tank, draft a kid and he will lead us to the promised land next year is not based in reality. There is no precedent for it, at least not recently.

no one is talking about the team full out tanking.

Just for a single season.

Team will STIll have Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard and decent but unspectacular wings.

What the intelligent are posting is that we should rest White and Brown a BUNCH, let all these young guys play bunches to see who is worthy of minutes next year, clear the books, get as good a pick as possible and next season roll out a rested

Tatum
Brown
White
Pritchard
The greatly (hopefully) developed yourth

and either a great pick, or a player acquired from trading the great pick.

Team is NOT going into a multi year tank, it is merely leaning into the hand we have been dealt. That being there is ZERO chance this team wins a title this year.

[jmr07019]

Mavericks were in WCF, but then the next year tanked, got Lively with 10th pick, then made the NBA finals, then tanked and drafted Flagg no. 1 pick. They're literally on like a cycle where they go DEEP in playoffs 1 year, tank for a high draft pick the next, then content the next year, it's working beautifully so far.

Spurs were in the playoffs, then tanked, got Tim Duncan and won 5 titles.

Sixers made playoffs, tanked and then got VJ with the 3rd pick.

Hawks were in the play-in but missed playoffs, won lottery and got a good young player in Risacher.

Thunder had SGA but tanked, got Jalen Williams..then tanked, got Chet...then won a title and could be on the verge of a dynasty.

Rockets tanked, then got Sengun, Amen and Jabari. also got Jalen Green who they flipped for KD.

Pistons tanked, got Cade, Ausar, Ivey, Duren.

Cavs tanked, got Garland and Mobley..traded for Allen and Mitchell.

Orlando tanked, got Paolo, Franz, Suggs.

Do people still not understand the benefit of tanking?

The best outcome of an NBA season? Winning the title. The 2nd best outcome? Getting a high draft pick to improve your odds of winning the title the next year.

What gives you better odds for a title the following season?
Scenario A: fall short of title, get 18th pick
Scenario B: fall short of title, get 1st pick

Give me scenario B all day long, especially when the 2026 draft has 3 guys at the top who could be top 10 players in the league.

The second best option is to lose in the finals. That means you're damn close to a title. 3rd best option is losing in the conference finals. That means you're pretty close. Getting a top pick means you're complete ass and far, far away from competing. The "if you're not first your finish doesn't matter" is not grounded in reality. What recent champs have seen a short turn around from tanking?

25: Thunder (YES, but they still required 2 full seasons of not tanking and then won a title, 3 years later)
24: Boston (NO)
23: Denver (NO)
22: GSW (NO)
21: Milwaukee (NO)
20: Lakers (NO)
19: Raptors (NO)
18: GSW (NO)
17: GSW (NO)
16: Cleveland (YES)
15: GSW (NO)
14: Spurs (NO)
13: Miami (NO)
12: Miami (NO)
11: Dallas (NO)
10: Lakers (NO)
09: Lakers (NO)
08: Boston (YES)

3/18 recent champs have tanked within 3 years of their title.

The thunder were 3 years removed from the tank by the time it paid off.

Cavs stunk in 14/15, got lucky in the lotto, then got lucky lebron wanted to come home. But they pulled off the 1 year tank to title so credit to them.

07-08 Celts also pulled off the tank to title in 1 year. So 2/18 quick turn arounds in recent memory. And one was based on a FA who wanted to play for his home town. Both teams who went tank to title in 1 season did it by trading away the youth for veterans. The idea that the Celtics can tank, draft a kid and he will lead us to the promised land next year is not based in reality. There is no precedent for it, at least not recently.

no one is talking about the team full out tanking.

Just for a single season.

Team will STIll have Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard and decent but unspectacular wings.

What the intelligent are posting is that we should rest White and Brown a BUNCH, let all these young guys play bunches to see who is worthy of minutes next year, clear the books, get as good a pick as possible and next season roll out a rested

Tatum
Brown
White
Pritchard
The greatly (hopefully) developed yourth

and either a great pick, or a player acquired from trading the great pick.

Team is NOT going into a multi year tank, it is merely leaning into the hand we have been dealt. That being there is ZERO chance this team wins a title this year.

What the intelligent are posting. LOL thanks for the laugh Larry

[redslastlaugh]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

[redslastlaugh]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

The other idea is Houston dips into their pick cabinet, they have a couple-three sweet picks from BRK and PHX ... And Houston makes the "Godfather" offer to the Celtics:

Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, MULTIPLE firsts
for
Derrick White & Payton Pritchard

and Houston goes ALL IN on this Durant window

edit: this idea is a moot point because FVV signed an extension this summer and is not trade eligible until 12/15 (or possibly 10/6 depending on the source)

[Dogen]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

I made a trade suggestion a while back here, pitching a Simons for Eason package. BOS gets more tax relief and JT backup/relief, while HOU puts together an offensive juggernaut. Season to taste on the deal.

The idea was sort of shot down, maybe rightfully so, as HOU wouldn't likely want care to add Simons. But as they are a legit contender, they'll need a FVV replacement this year to stay in the hunt. Could be something there.

[colincb]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

It can't happen until mid-December, according to the ESPN trade machine. Udoka is a defensive coach, and Simons is a major defensive liability.
Simon's a UFA next year. Seems to have a low probability of happening with the draft capital you added.

[colincb]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

It can't happen until mid-December, according to the ESPN trade machine. Udoka is a defensive coach, and Simons is a major defensive liability.
Simon's a UFA next year. Seems to have a low probability of happening with the draft capital you added.

HOU would also move above the 1st apron with the deal as constructed.

[djFan71]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

They'd probably prefer Jrue...

[GoCeltics123]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

They'd probably prefer Jrue...

Joe Cronin loves Jrue, he might not want to do it

I don't see the Rockets wanting Simons though, unless he got bought out. Not an Udoka type of guy

[bucknersrevenge]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

They'd probably prefer Jrue...

Hard to imagine Brad trading for another even smaller guard with more money on the books.

[djFan71]

Trade Idea
Due to unfortunate, season ending injury for Van Vleet:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons to Houston for FVV a First Rnd Pick and a 2nd round pick

We just accept that we are gonna be $10 in the tax and bite the bullet for some draft capital and we have FVV next year when we are trying tow in

They'd probably prefer Jrue...

Joe Cronin loves Jrue, he might not want to do it

I don't see the Rockets wanting Simons though, unless he got bought out. Not an Udoka type of guy

Hard to imagine Brad trading for another even smaller guard with more money on the books.

Yeah, it just kinda struck me as funny that Jrue would be a much better fit. But, not enough to make a serious trade proposal out of it. I'm assuming reds was just spitballing as well. That PO on FVV for 26-27 makes it pretty untenable. But fun to float ideas.

[Fierce1]

That's a crazy idea.

The main argument for trading Simons is to get below the repeater threshold.

FVV is 25m this season and 25m next season.

Worst case with Simons is the Cs end up keeping him the whole season but will surely go below the repeater threshold next season.