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

[Jammer]

First, I believe that Al's vet minimum is around $3,888,537 although he only counts for about $2,457,009 against the Cap. So, $6M per is 2.1M more per YEAR.

Second, I think that the Celtics want to give Queta the playing time, and find out what they have in Luke Garza. Didn't want Al getting in the way of Queta's development, especially since they are still in the Repeater Tax so Al's salary would cost like 4 to 5X his actual cap hit.

I also don't think that the Celtics had any intention of trading Sam Hauser, since doing so would cripple their rotations, since he is a multi-positional player.

Think about it. On July 7 trades went thru for Porzingis & Holiday, Kornet signed with San Antonio. At that point plenty of teams with open rosters could have absorbed Sam Hauser for two 2nd Round picks to duck the Celtics under the luxury tax and save them $40M in luxury taxes and get them an $8M tax distribution from tax paying teams for being under the luxury tax line. Celtics didn't do it when they could. Makes sense why. Their rotations would be killed. Look what trading Hauser would do below:

SF Jaylen Brown / Sam Hauser / Baylor Scheierman
PF Chris Boucher / Sam Hauser / Josh Minott

SG Derrick White / Anfernee Simons / Hugo Gonzalez / Jordan Walsh
PG Payton Pritchard / Derrick White / Anfernee Simons

C Neemias Queta / Luke Garza / Xavier "Burnt Toast" Tillman

I believe that the Celtics made a deliberate decision to keep Hauser EARLY on. Now, as for Simons, being in the last year of a contract for $27.6M that he got as starter money when he is no longer viewed as a starter but combo backup guard (probably will get $20M per or less when he re-signs) no team really wanted to pay him $27.6M when he isn't in the mood (yet) to extend for a more reasonable number, well, it's just that Simons had no market at his salary and contract status and his previous life (averaged over 16 shots per game last year, that's a featured starter type of number).

[Fierce1]

Hauser is the only one that really has value among the tradables of the Celtics.

So not trading Hauser in the summer could come in handy if something comes up on Dec. 15 and all the way up to trade deadline.

[bucknersrevenge]

First, I believe that Al's vet minimum is around $3,888,537 although he only counts for about $2,457,009against the Cap. So, $6M per is 2.1M more per YEAR.

Second, I think that the Celtics want to give Queta the playing time, and find out what they have in Luke Garza. Didn't want Al getting in the way of Queta's development, especially since they are still in the Repeater Tax so Al's salary would cost like 4 to 5X his actual cap hit.

I also don't think that the Celtics had any intention of trading Sam Hauser, since doing so would cripple their rotations, since he is a multi-positional player.

Think about it. On July 7 trades went thru for Porzingis & Holiday, Kornet signed with San Antonio. At that point plenty of teams with open rosters could have absorbed Sam Hauser for two 2nd Round picks to duck the Celtics under the luxury tax and save them $40M in luxury taxes. Celtics didn't do it when they could. Makes sense why. Their rotations would be killed. Look what trading Hauser would do below:

SF Jaylen Brown / Sam Hauser / Baylor Scheierman
PF Chris Boucher / Sam Hauser / Josh Minott

SG Derrick White / Anfernee Simons / Hugo Gonzalez / Jordan Walsh
PG Payton Pritchard / Derrick White / Anfernee Simons

C Neemias Queta / Luke Garza / Xavier "Burnt Toast" Tillman

I believe that the Celtics made a deliberate decision to keep Hauser EARLY on. Now, as for Simons, being in the last year of a contract for $27.6M that he got as starter money when he is no longer viewed as a starter but combo backup guard (probably will get $20M per or less when he re-signs) no team really wanted to pay him $27.6M when he isn't in the mood (yet) to extend for a more reasonable number, well, it's just that Simons had no market at his salary and contract status and his previous life (averaged over 16 shots per game last year, that's a featured starter type of number).

Kind of agree with this. I think they only move Sam for a player upgrade at the big spot (ie. Bam, Kessler, etc). Fact of the matter is is Sam is a bench wing and that's really all he will be here. And that's fine. He's been a solid player. That said, when you see Brad bring in wing after wing after wing (Baylor, Minott, Walsh, Hugo), it's only rational to figure that at some point it won't make financial sense to pay a 20 min bench wing what they're paying him. So if this year if 1 or 2 of those guys show that they really can be normal contributors, it's going to make Sam a legit trade asset. All those other guys are less expensive. I don't think it's a matter if if Sam gets traded but a matter of when. There's only one situation in which I could imagine us keeping Sam moving forward...







He becomes a potential starter because we trade Jaylen for a big.

[Fierce1]

First, I believe that Al's vet minimum is around $3,888,537 although he only counts for about $2,457,009against the Cap. So, $6M per is 2.1M more per YEAR.

Second, I think that the Celtics want to give Queta the playing time, and find out what they have in Luke Garza. Didn't want Al getting in the way of Queta's development, especially since they are still in the Repeater Tax so Al's salary would cost like 4 to 5X his actual cap hit.

I also don't think that the Celtics had any intention of trading Sam Hauser, since doing so would cripple their rotations, since he is a multi-positional player.

Think about it. On July 7 trades went thru for Porzingis & Holiday, Kornet signed with San Antonio. At that point plenty of teams with open rosters could have absorbed Sam Hauser for two 2nd Round picks to duck the Celtics under the luxury tax and save them $40M in luxury taxes. Celtics didn't do it when they could. Makes sense why. Their rotations would be killed. Look what trading Hauser would do below:

SF Jaylen Brown / Sam Hauser / Baylor Scheierman
PF Chris Boucher / Sam Hauser / Josh Minott

SG Derrick White / Anfernee Simons / Hugo Gonzalez / Jordan Walsh
PG Payton Pritchard / Derrick White / Anfernee Simons

C Neemias Queta / Luke Garza / Xavier "Burnt Toast" Tillman

I believe that the Celtics made a deliberate decision to keep Hauser EARLY on. Now, as for Simons, being in the last year of a contract for $27.6M that he got as starter money when he is no longer viewed as a starter but combo backup guard (probably will get $20M per or less when he re-signs) no team really wanted to pay him $27.6M when he isn't in the mood (yet) to extend for a more reasonable number, well, it's just that Simons had no market at his salary and contract status and his previous life (averaged over 16 shots per game last year, that's a featured starter type of number).

Kind of agree with this. I think they only move Sam for a player upgrade at the big spot (ie. Bam, Kessler, etc). Fact of the matter is is Sam is a bench wing and that's really all he will be here. And that's fine. He's been a solid player. That said, when you see Brad bring in wing after wing after wing (Baylor, Minott, Walsh, Hugo), it's only rational to figure that at some point it won't make financial sense to pay a 20 min bench wing what they're paying him. So if this year if 1 or 2 of those guys show that they really can be normal contributors, it's going to make Sam a legit trade asset. All those other guys are less expensive. I don't think it's a matter if if Sam gets traded but a matter of when. There's only one situation in which I could imagine us keeping Sam moving forward...







He becomes a potential starter because we trade Jaylen for a big.

Jaylen for Giannis?

[bucknersrevenge]

First, I believe that Al's vet minimum is around $3,888,537 although he only counts for about $2,457,009against the Cap. So, $6M per is 2.1M more per YEAR.

Second, I think that the Celtics want to give Queta the playing time, and find out what they have in Luke Garza. Didn't want Al getting in the way of Queta's development, especially since they are still in the Repeater Tax so Al's salary would cost like 4 to 5X his actual cap hit.

I also don't think that the Celtics had any intention of trading Sam Hauser, since doing so would cripple their rotations, since he is a multi-positional player.

Think about it. On July 7 trades went thru for Porzingis & Holiday, Kornet signed with San Antonio. At that point plenty of teams with open rosters could have absorbed Sam Hauser for two 2nd Round picks to duck the Celtics under the luxury tax and save them $40M in luxury taxes. Celtics didn't do it when they could. Makes sense why. Their rotations would be killed. Look what trading Hauser would do below:

SF Jaylen Brown / Sam Hauser / Baylor Scheierman
PF Chris Boucher / Sam Hauser / Josh Minott

SG Derrick White / Anfernee Simons / Hugo Gonzalez / Jordan Walsh
PG Payton Pritchard / Derrick White / Anfernee Simons

C Neemias Queta / Luke Garza / Xavier "Burnt Toast" Tillman

I believe that the Celtics made a deliberate decision to keep Hauser EARLY on. Now, as for Simons, being in the last year of a contract for $27.6M that he got as starter money when he is no longer viewed as a starter but combo backup guard (probably will get $20M per or less when he re-signs) no team really wanted to pay him $27.6M when he isn't in the mood (yet) to extend for a more reasonable number, well, it's just that Simons had no market at his salary and contract status and his previous life (averaged over 16 shots per game last year, that's a featured starter type of number).

Kind of agree with this. I think they only move Sam for a player upgrade at the big spot (ie. Bam, Kessler, etc). Fact of the matter is is Sam is a bench wing and that's really all he will be here. And that's fine. He's been a solid player. That said, when you see Brad bring in wing after wing after wing (Baylor, Minott, Walsh, Hugo), it's only rational to figure that at some point it won't make financial sense to pay a 20 min bench wing what they're paying him. So if this year if 1 or 2 of those guys show that they really can be normal contributors, it's going to make Sam a legit trade asset. All those other guys are less expensive. I don't think it's a matter if if Sam gets traded but a matter of when. There's only one situation in which I could imagine us keeping Sam moving forward...







He becomes a potential starter because we trade Jaylen for a big.

Jaylen for Giannis?

Bro don't you mess with me.

[redslastlaugh]

Sam has great chemistry with Tatum. I think that bodes well for his long term future with the team

Maybe Sam will move up into a larger role for the next part of his career. The bubble Celtics frequently ran with 1 guard, 3 wing, 1 big lineups with Gordon Haywood basically playing the same minutes as the Jays, maybe that is Sam's best case outcome.

Hauser is the only one that really has value among the tradables of the Celtics.

So not trading Hauser in the summer could come in handy if something comes up on Dec. 15 and all the way up to trade deadline.

[Fierce1]

Sam has great chemistry with Tatum. I think that bodes well for his long term future with the team

Maybe Sam will move up into a larger role for the next part of his career. The bubble Celtics frequently ran with 1 guard, 3 wing, 1 big lineups with Gordon Haywood basically playing the same minutes as the Jays, maybe that is Sam's best case outcome.

Hauser is the only one that really has value among the tradables of the Celtics.

So not trading Hauser in the summer could come in handy if something comes up on Dec. 15 and all the way up to trade deadline.

Yeah, I think Sam only gets traded if something significant comes up.

[Jammer]

First, I believe that Al's vet minimum is around $3,888,537 although he only counts for about $2,457,009against the Cap. So, $6M per is 2.1M more per YEAR.

Second, I think that the Celtics want to give Queta the playing time, and find out what they have in Luke Garza. Didn't want Al getting in the way of Queta's development, especially since they are still in the Repeater Tax so Al's salary would cost like 4 to 5X his actual cap hit.

I also don't think that the Celtics had any intention of trading Sam Hauser, since doing so would cripple their rotations, since he is a multi-positional player.

Think about it. On July 7 trades went thru for Porzingis & Holiday, Kornet signed with San Antonio. At that point plenty of teams with open rosters could have absorbed Sam Hauser for two 2nd Round picks to duck the Celtics under the luxury tax and save them $40M in luxury taxes. Celtics didn't do it when they could. Makes sense why. Their rotations would be killed. Look what trading Hauser would do below:

SF Jaylen Brown / Sam Hauser / Baylor Scheierman
PF Chris Boucher / Sam Hauser / Josh Minott

SG Derrick White / Anfernee Simons / Hugo Gonzalez / Jordan Walsh
PG Payton Pritchard / Derrick White / Anfernee Simons

C Neemias Queta / Luke Garza / Xavier "Burnt Toast" Tillman

I believe that the Celtics made a deliberate decision to keep Hauser EARLY on. Now, as for Simons, being in the last year of a contract for $27.6M that he got as starter money when he is no longer viewed as a starter but combo backup guard (probably will get $20M per or less when he re-signs) no team really wanted to pay him $27.6M when he isn't in the mood (yet) to extend for a more reasonable number, well, it's just that Simons had no market at his salary and contract status and his previous life (averaged over 16 shots per game last year, that's a featured starter type of number).

Kind of agree with this. I think they only move Sam for a player upgrade at the big spot (ie. Bam, Kessler, etc). Fact of the matter is is Sam is a bench wing and that's really all he will be here. And that's fine. He's been a solid player. That said, when you see Brad bring in wing after wing after wing (Baylor, Minott, Walsh, Hugo), it's only rational to figure that at some point it won't make financial sense to pay a 20 min bench wing what they're paying him. So if this year if 1 or 2 of those guys show that they really can be normal contributors, it's going to make Sam a legit trade asset. All those other guys are less expensive. I don't think it's a matter if if Sam gets traded but a matter of when. There's only one situation in which I could imagine us keeping Sam moving forward..

He becomes a potential starter because we trade Jaylen for a big.

Actually, it's possible that the Celtics start Hauser at PF over Chris Boucher. Entirely possible. I think Simons will be off the bench at guard, and Hauser could be the 5th starter with Boucher coming off the bench. This remains to be seen. Depends how many minutes Minott ends up with at PF, and whether Hauser can handle the PF spot against starters.

[Gant]

The Raptors, Celtics and Spurs effectively made a 3 way frontcourt "trade" this offseason.

Sandro Mamukelashvili to Toronto.
Luke Kornet to San Antonio.
Chris Boucher to Boston.

[GoCeltics123]

Read on Twitter

Damnit

If the Bucks are stupid enough to give you their 2031 first to take on Kuz, and you can give them Simons, do it. They're going to be desperate to keep Giannis and they know the clock is ticking

[Fierce1]

Read on Twitter

Damnit

If the Bucks are stupid enough to give you their 2031 first to take on Kuz, and you can give them Simons, do it. They're going to be desperate to keep Giannis and they know the clock is ticking

Swapping Simons' 27.7m for Kuzma's 42.7m does not solve the cap problem.

Just because there's a new Giannis rumor, that will not change Brad's plan.

[GoCeltics123]

Read on Twitter

Damnit

If the Bucks are stupid enough to give you their 2031 first to take on Kuz, and you can give them Simons, do it. They're going to be desperate to keep Giannis and they know the clock is ticking

Swapping Simons' 27.7m for Kuzma's 42.7m does not solve the cap problem.

Just because there's a new Giannis rumor, that will not change Brad's plan.

It saves the Celtics money this year and they're still just barely over the tax next year if they take Kuz on. You can then flip that pick and Kuz for a center, Kuz has no value but he's an expiring and that pick has a lot of value

[Fierce1]

Read on Twitter

Damnit

If the Bucks are stupid enough to give you their 2031 first to take on Kuz, and you can give them Simons, do it. They're going to be desperate to keep Giannis and they know the clock is ticking

Swapping Simons' 27.7m for Kuzma's 42.7m does not solve the cap problem.

Just because there's a new Giannis rumor, that will not change Brad's plan.

It saves the Celtics money this year and they're still just barely over the tax next year if they take Kuz on. You can then flip that pick and Kuz for a center, Kuz has no value but he's an expiring and that pick has a lot of value

If Brad sees it that way then Simons would have been traded a long time ago.

The time for trades has already passed.

Cs are focused on winning games right now.

Simons will at the very least play for the Cs until Dec. 15.

And if the Cs win more games than they should, expect Simons to remain with the Cs the whole season.