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

[Curmudgeon]

Almost any trade in which Simons departs is fine with me. I don't like Claxton--I hate players who can't make free throws-- but for Simons? Sure. Miles Bridges? His felony domestic violence conviction won't play well in Boston, but for Simons? Sure. Vucevic? Sure.

Unfortunately other teams watch film and understand what a useless, empty stat player Simons is. So why would the Nets, Hornets or Bulls make those trades?

You need to find disappointing players with smaller but longer deals to trade Simons. So we're back to guys like Kyle Kuzma, a guy I like even less than Simons because you have to pay Kuzma next year.

[Hal14]

Claxton is small in terms of body type, so it's a valid point to say Claxton will struggle against bigs like Jokic and Hartenstein.

So this brings us back to Vucevic.

Bulls are now just 6-5 after starting 5-0 and it looks like Vuc's production has gone down the last few games.

I think he's a good fit for the Cs.
Not really a shot blocker, but he's big and he can shoot 3s.
Also a very good rebounder.

Queta, Vuc, and Garza will be a solid 3-headed monster at Center.

Vucevic is terrible. One of the worst defenders in the league.

Empty stats player.

Plus he's 35 years old and by the time Tatum is playing in a playoff game for us again he'll be 36. I *might* be interested if he's just a backup big on a cheap FA contract.

Definitely wouldn't want him as our starter at age 36-38 during the Jays prime years when we're trying to win another title.

[Fierce1]

Claxton is small in terms of body type, so it's a valid point to say Claxton will struggle against bigs like Jokic and Hartenstein.

So this brings us back to Vucevic.

Bulls are now just 6-5 after starting 5-0 and it looks like Vuc's production has gone down the last few games.

I think he's a good fit for the Cs.
Not really a shot blocker, but he's big and he can shoot 3s.
Also a very good rebounder.

Queta, Vuc, and Garza will be a solid 3-headed monster at Center.

Vucevic is terrible. One of the worst defenders in the league.

Empty stats player.

Plus he's 35 years old and by the time Tatum is playing in a playoff game for us again he'll be 36. I *might* be interested if he's just a backup big on a cheap FA contract.

Definitely wouldn't want him as our starter at age 36-38 during the Jays prime years when we're trying to win another title.

The reasoning behind Vuc is he's not a long-term fix.
He's an expiring contract.
If it doesn't work out then Cs just let him go in the off-season.

Queta and the rest of the Celtic bigs will be fine for the regular season.
But this can be a preview of what it's like having Vuc as the Center for the playoffs.

Other than an expiring, Vuc can bang bodies with bigger bigs like Jokic and Hartenstein.
That's something that Claxton can't do.

So this is just an experiment because Simons expiring and Vuc expiring is the same thing.
The only difference is the Cs need a big more than a guard at this point in time.

It's a low risk, high reward kind of deal.

And he's still 35 when Tatum is playing, this April, because Vuc was born October 24, 1990.

[Fierce1]

I think the Bulls will want to move Vuc and Coby White as both are expiring contracts and does not fit in the long-term plans.

Vuc is simply old for the young core of Giddey and Buzelis.

Coby is reported to be asking for the same 25m per year as Giddey's.

With Giddey, Tre Jones, and Dosunmu, I think the Bulls are set at the guard spots.

So Simons and Hauser for Vuc and Coby works for both teams.

Cs even save 3.4m in that trade.

[keevsnick1]

The issue with a guy like Claxton is timing. He makes 25.35 this year, 23.2 next year. If you trade for him now it has to be for Simons, but that deal only saves you about 2.4 million this year and the Celtics probably want to save more. If you wait until the offseason and Simons expires then Claxton makes too much to fit into your TPE, so you can't really get him absent a more complicated deal.

This is one of the reasons a Zubac deal makes sense to me. The Celtics could dump Simons this year to get under the tax by taking back 15.5 million or less for Simons 27.6 million. That makes them worse this year and probably improves their draft pick. Then in the summer they trade Hauser + 2026 first + other stuff for Zubac whom they can absorb into their 22.5 million dollar TPE. With Hauser+Simons (27.6+10.1) gone and Zubaac (19.6) in they could then stay under the tax NEXT year as well. that would RESET THE REPEATER TAX but still be competitive with a White/Brown/Tatum/Minott/Zubaac starting group and a Pritchard/Scheierman/Walsh/Queta bench unit.

I don't know how much resetting the repeater tax matters to the Celtics, maybe they are fine paying the tax every year going forward without resetting. But if it does matter something like this is probably the best way to reset AND try to win. The key is the center you target probably has to be making 22.5 million or less (the current TPE), and the best guy in that range is probably Zubac.

Zubaac also happens to be in the right age range, he's 5 months younger than Brown and a year older than Tatum. He's under contract for 26-27 and 27-28. And he's on a team that right now looks awful and may soon want to blow it up. Other guys in that price range like Carter Jr, Aldama, Stewart, Gafford or Poetl are options too, but Zubac is probably the best of the bunch.

The other route for the offseason would be using either the non-tax midlevel, or a Sign and Trade to bring a free agent into the TPE. But the best Center options like Kessler and Hartenstein will probably be out of the C's price range, and S&T's can be tricky to negotiate if a team wants to keep their guy.

[Fierce1]

How about having both Vuc and Rob Williams?

Boston gets Rob Williams and Vuc

Chicago gets Simons and Hauser

Portland gets Kevin Huerter

2nd round picks need to be sorted out.

[Hal14]

I'll throw this out there...

Simons/Hauser for Nic Claxton. Maybe multi team if BRK doesn't want those players and maybe picks added. That deal sheds $12.3M. We're currently $12.1M below the tax so the pro rated signing to get back to 14 players would take us over. Probably need to dump Tillman somewhere too and then backfill him with a pro rated signing too to duck the tax. All very doable.

This year's rotation would be:

Pritchard
White / Hugo
Brown / Scheirman
Walsh / Minnott
Claxton / Queta

Light on ball handlers obviously, but next year when Tatum is back...

White / Pritchard
Brown / Hugo
Walsh / Scheierman
Tatum / Minnott
Claxton / Queta

+ our draft pick

That team would actually be below the luxury tax too, so they could reset repeater rates.

Depending on who our pick is and how Walsh/Scheierman/Hugo/Minott play the rest of this year, there's many variations you could run in that lineup. I went with Pritchard back to the bench to stagger with White for the PG minutes so we always have enough ball handling, but maybe they draft a PG. Basically, one of Hugo/Scheierman/Walsh/Minott/2026 1st rounder are out of the rotation and one of them (or Pritchard) starts with Tatum/Brown/White/Claxton. But overall that's a pretty good 10 man rotation that should let them totally reset the cap sheet and just move forward uninhibited financially for the rest of Tatum/Brown/White primes.

Not the worst idea that's been posted here. But I don't see the Celtics (a team that shoots more 3's than any team in league history, during an era where teams shoot more 3's than ever) trading 2 shooters (1 who helped us win a title) for 1 non-shooter.

Also, all 3 of these players were in trade rumors all offseason so if this deal was gonna happen, chances are it would have happened already.

[Hal14]

Claxton is small in terms of body type, so it's a valid point to say Claxton will struggle against bigs like Jokic and Hartenstein.

So this brings us back to Vucevic.

Bulls are now just 6-5 after starting 5-0 and it looks like Vuc's production has gone down the last few games.

I think he's a good fit for the Cs.
Not really a shot blocker, but he's big and he can shoot 3s.
Also a very good rebounder.

Queta, Vuc, and Garza will be a solid 3-headed monster at Center.

Vucevic is terrible. One of the worst defenders in the league.

Empty stats player.

Plus he's 35 years old and by the time Tatum is playing in a playoff game for us again he'll be 36. I *might* be interested if he's just a backup big on a cheap FA contract.

Definitely wouldn't want him as our starter at age 36-38 during the Jays prime years when we're trying to win another title.

The reasoning behind Vuc is he's not a long-term fix.
He's an expiring contract.
If it doesn't work out then Cs just let him go in the off-season.

Queta and the rest of the Celtic bigs will be fine for the regular season.
But this can be a preview of what it's like having Vuc as the Center for the playoffs.

Other than an expiring, Vuc can bang bodies with bigger bigs like Jokic and Hartenstein.
That's something that Claxton can't do.

So this is just an experiment because Simons expiring and Vuc expiring is the same thing.
The only difference is the Cs need a big more than a guard at this point in time.

It's a low risk, high reward kind of deal.

And he's still 35 when Tatum is playing, this April, because Vuc was born October 24, 1990.

Tatum isn't playing this year in the playoffs.

[Fierce1]

Vucevic is terrible. One of the worst defenders in the league.

Empty stats player.

Plus he's 35 years old and by the time Tatum is playing in a playoff game for us again he'll be 36. I *might* be interested if he's just a backup big on a cheap FA contract.

Definitely wouldn't want him as our starter at age 36-38 during the Jays prime years when we're trying to win another title.

The reasoning behind Vuc is he's not a long-term fix.
He's an expiring contract.
If it doesn't work out then Cs just let him go in the off-season.

Queta and the rest of the Celtic bigs will be fine for the regular season.
But this can be a preview of what it's like having Vuc as the Center for the playoffs.

Other than an expiring, Vuc can bang bodies with bigger bigs like Jokic and Hartenstein.
That's something that Claxton can't do.

So this is just an experiment because Simons expiring and Vuc expiring is the same thing.
The only difference is the Cs need a big more than a guard at this point in time.

It's a low risk, high reward kind of deal.

And he's still 35 when Tatum is playing, this April, because Vuc was born October 24, 1990.

Tatum isn't playing this year in the playoffs.

I know we disagree on that, so let's just wait 3 months more to finally have a resolution to the issue.

I also have Vuc and Rob Williams coming to Boston in a 3-way with the Bulls and Blazers.
Sam and Simons go to the Bulls and Huerter goes to Portland.
Draft picks would have to be sorted out.

Having Vuc, Rob, and Queta allows Joe to go double big again.

[Fierce1]

Read on Twitter

That's why the move or moves Brad makes on or before the trade deadline should be influenced by Tatum's return this season.

[Dogen]

Outside looking in, I doubt Boston makes a massive trade this season. Hard to say because as it stands doesn't seem like they are fully willing to tank so maybe they try to sneak into playoffs. That being said, to me the objective seems pretty straight forward.
1. Cut 4-5 million in salary to avoid the tax.
2. Trade Simons for a 2 year contract. Letting Simons walk doesn't help Boston, and I doubt they plan to resign him. So the most logical move is to trade him for someone who can help in short term and kick the 20-25 million placeholder down the road for another year until you find a better deal.

One idea that could make sense is Simons for Miles Bridges.
Saves Celtics a few million, Miles contract is descending so even cheaper next year.
He gives the Celtics a bit more size at forward and can still provide scoring punch that Simons is giving.

In this scenario I think Hornets would be doing deal for salary relief to try to open up cap space in future.

I'm not sure that this idea makes sense for Charlotte. I'm certainly interested, and not sure about the "he's not a Brad guy" narrative, and the domestic issues from a few years back. Bridges is a talent and he's matured. He could start with White, JB, JT. That's a big, potent lineup next year once the center position is settled.

[brackdan70]

Some good ideas on here.
Zubac. Would love that but I can’t see the Clips moving him unless it’s a ridiculous over pay. I just really don’t see it. If the 2026 pick is mid teens that’s not enough. If it’s top 10 then I don’t know that we should trade it.
Claxton- I have thought about him a lot. A couple years back he was a real positive impact…not so much the last couple years. It would be a gamble but maybe a change of scenery helps?
I don’t like the idea of Vuc. To old and we don’t need him this year. Need him for the future.
He’s not a Center, but Santi Aldema?
Personally I think there is bigs in the draft that can possibly contribute really soon to the rotation.

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

That's why the move or moves Brad makes on or before the trade deadline should be influenced by Tatum's return this season.

Even if he does play a little bit late in the season, he's gonna be a shell of himself..not going to be close to the Jayson Tatum we have seen over the past few years. Won't be remotely close to a top 5 player in the league.

-Ownership and Brad has made it clear that the goal for this season is getting under the 2nd apron.
-Tax penalties aren't calculated until end of season so we need to be under 2nd apron at end of season
-If we add payroll, we'll go over 2nd apron
-Improving the roster would mean adding payroll

So therefore, any moves we make before the trade deadline would be cost cutting ones - rather than ones to improve the roster.

If tatum plays in a few games at the end of the season, that wouldn't change anything. He probably won't even be a top 20 player in the league if he comes back this season.

THe goal is that he is a top 10 player in the league by *next* season. If he does play this season, I'm not expecting him to be very good.

Also, on the same day (oct 22) that chris haynes video was posted, Wyc said this:

Read on Twitter

[Fierce1]

Read on Twitter

That's why the move or moves Brad makes on or before the trade deadline should be influenced by Tatum's return this season.

Even if he does play a little bit late in the season, he's gonna be a shell of himself..not going to be close to the Jayson Tatum we have seen over the past few years. Won't be remotely close to a top 5 player in the league.

-Ownership and Brad has made it clear that the goal for this season is getting under the 2nd apron.
-Tax penalties aren't calculated until end of season so we need to be under 2nd apron at end of season
-If we add payroll, we'll go over 2nd apron
-Improving the roster would mean adding payroll

So therefore, any moves we make before the trade deadline would be cost cutting ones - rather than ones to improve the roster.

If tatum plays in a few games at the end of the season, that wouldn't change anything. He probably won't even be a top 20 player in the league if he comes back this season.

THe goal is that he is a top 10 player in the league by *next* season. If he does play this season, I'm not expecting him to be very good.

Also, on the same day (oct 22) that chris haynes video was posted, Wyc said this:

Read on Twitter

That's why I want the Tatum issue to be resolved.

The NBA is not as predictable as it used to be.

Dallas made the Finals in 2024 as the #5 seed and Dallas only started getting a lot of wins when they traded Grant Williams for PJ Washington and also got Gafford from the Wiz.

Last season the Pacers made the Finals as a #4 seed.
Pacers were not even a top 10 defense team last season.

Right now the east is wide open.
There's no dominant team.

Besides, we have JB.
JB has proven he can be a #1 option this season.
So JT can be the #2 option and JB can be the #1 option.
Celts will still be very good even if JT is not top 10.

It's just a question of what Brad does on or before trade deadline.
Right now there are teams looking to blow it up.
Guys like DeRozan, Vucevic, Rob Williams, and other quality players could be available as soon as December 15.

This is not a lost season IMO.

[Fierce1]

Some good ideas on here.
Zubac. Would love that but I can’t see the Clips moving him unless it’s a ridiculous over pay. I just really don’t see it. If the 2026 pick is mid teens that’s not enough. If it’s top 10 then I don’t know that we should trade it.
Claxton- I have thought about him a lot. A couple years back he was a real positive impact…not so much the last couple years. It would be a gamble but maybe a change of scenery helps?
I don’t like the idea of Vuc. To old and we don’t need him this year. Need him for the future.
He’s not a Center, but Santi Aldema?
Personally I think there is bigs in the draft that can possibly contribute really soon to the rotation.

There's also the possibility of having Vuc and Rob Williams in Celtic green.

Sam and Simons can get us both Vuc and Rob.

I believe the Cs need quality bigs if they're to be contenders again.

Don't count us out this year.

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

That's why the move or moves Brad makes on or before the trade deadline should be influenced by Tatum's return this season.

Even if he does play a little bit late in the season, he's gonna be a shell of himself..not going to be close to the Jayson Tatum we have seen over the past few years. Won't be remotely close to a top 5 player in the league.

-Ownership and Brad has made it clear that the goal for this season is getting under the 2nd apron.
-Tax penalties aren't calculated until end of season so we need to be under 2nd apron at end of season
-If we add payroll, we'll go over 2nd apron
-Improving the roster would mean adding payroll

So therefore, any moves we make before the trade deadline would be cost cutting ones - rather than ones to improve the roster.

If tatum plays in a few games at the end of the season, that wouldn't change anything. He probably won't even be a top 20 player in the league if he comes back this season.

THe goal is that he is a top 10 player in the league by *next* season. If he does play this season, I'm not expecting him to be very good.

Also, on the same day (oct 22) that chris haynes video was posted, Wyc said this:

Read on Twitter

That's why I want the Tatum issue to be resolved.

The NBA is not as predictable as it used to be.

Dallas made the Finals in 2024 as the #5 seed and Dallas only started getting a lot of wins when they traded Grant Williams for PJ Washington and also got Gafford from the Wiz.

Last season the Pacers made the Finals as a #4 seed.
Pacers were not even a top 10 defense team last season.

Right now the east is wide open.
There's no dominant team.

Besides, we have JB.
JB has proven he can be a #1 option this season.
So JT can be the #2 option and JB can be the #1 option.
Celts will still be very good even if JT is not top 10.

It's just a question of what Brad does on or before trade deadline.
Right now there are teams looking to blow it up.
Guys like DeRozan, Vucevic, Rob Williams, and other quality players could be available as soon as December 15.

This is not a lost season IMO.

You can say all of that till you're blue in the face but it doesn't change the facts:

-Ownership and Brad has made it clear that the goal for this season is getting under the 2nd apron.
-Tax penalties aren't calculated until end of season so we need to be under 2nd apron at end of season
-If we add payroll, we'll go over 2nd apron
-Improving the roster would mean adding payroll

So therefore, any moves we make before the trade deadline would be cost cutting ones - rather than ones to improve the roster.

[Fierce1]

Even if he does play a little bit late in the season, he's gonna be a shell of himself..not going to be close to the Jayson Tatum we have seen over the past few years. Won't be remotely close to a top 5 player in the league.

-Ownership and Brad has made it clear that the goal for this season is getting under the 2nd apron.
-Tax penalties aren't calculated until end of season so we need to be under 2nd apron at end of season
-If we add payroll, we'll go over 2nd apron
-Improving the roster would mean adding payroll

So therefore, any moves we make before the trade deadline would be cost cutting ones - rather than ones to improve the roster.

If tatum plays in a few games at the end of the season, that wouldn't change anything. He probably won't even be a top 20 player in the league if he comes back this season.

THe goal is that he is a top 10 player in the league by *next* season. If he does play this season, I'm not expecting him to be very good.

Also, on the same day (oct 22) that chris haynes video was posted, Wyc said this:

Read on Twitter

That's why I want the Tatum issue to be resolved.

The NBA is not as predictable as it used to be.

Dallas made the Finals in 2024 as the #5 seed and Dallas only started getting a lot of wins when they traded Grant Williams for PJ Washington and also got Gafford from the Wiz.

Last season the Pacers made the Finals as a #4 seed.
Pacers were not even a top 10 defense team last season.

Right now the east is wide open.
There's no dominant team.

Besides, we have JB.
JB has proven he can be a #1 option this season.
So JT can be the #2 option and JB can be the #1 option.
Celts will still be very good even if JT is not top 10.

It's just a question of what Brad does on or before trade deadline.
Right now there are teams looking to blow it up.
Guys like DeRozan, Vucevic, Rob Williams, and other quality players could be available as soon as December 15.

This is not a lost season IMO.

You can say all of that till you're blue in the face but it doesn't change the facts:

-Ownership and Brad has made it clear that the goal for this season is getting under the 2nd apron.
-Tax penalties aren't calculated until end of season so we need to be under 2nd apron at end of season
-If we add payroll, we'll go over 2nd apron
-Improving the roster would mean adding payroll

So therefore, any moves we make before the trade deadline would be cost cutting ones - rather than ones to improve the roster.

The trade proposals I made always result in the Cs taking in less money.

Like trading Sam and Simons to get Rob Williams and Vuc results in the Cs saving 3m.

So I'm not making trade proposals that will take the Cs back to the 2nd apron.

[Celts17Pride]

I personally think the Cooper Flagg era is about to start in Dallas. What I mean by that is Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg and are going to move AD and Kyrie. Now I don't think the Celtics are going to be interested in either Kyrie or AD but Simons sizeable expiring contract plus others sets the Celtics up nicely to be a 3rd team. I would keep an eye rumors to where AD and Kyrie could be going.

Honestly I could see the Celtics being a 3rd team in a Kings deal (Sabonis, LaVine etc.), Memphis deal (Morant?) or Dallas deal (Kyrie, AD) and not receiving any of those players.

[Parliament10]

I personally think the Cooper Flagg era is about to start in Dallas. What I mean by that is Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg and are going to move AD and Kyrie. Now I don't think the Celtics are going to be interested in either Kyrie or AD but Simons sizeable expiring contract plus others sets the Celtics up nicely to be a 3rd team. I would keep an eye rumors to where AD and Kyrie could be going.

Honestly I could see the Celtics being a 3rd team in a Kings deal (Sabonis, LaVine etc.), Memphis deal (Morant?) or Dallas deal (Kyrie, AD) and not receiving any of those players.

I'll take the Picks coming back to us, if any of these Deals materialize.

[Celts17Pride]

I personally think the Cooper Flagg era is about to start in Dallas. What I mean by that is Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg and are going to move AD and Kyrie. Now I don't think the Celtics are going to be interested in either Kyrie or AD but Simons sizeable expiring contract plus others sets the Celtics up nicely to be a 3rd team. I would keep an eye rumors to where AD and Kyrie could be going.

Honestly I could see the Celtics being a 3rd team in a Kings deal (Sabonis, LaVine etc.), Memphis deal (Morant?) or Dallas deal (Kyrie, AD) and not receiving any of those players.

I'll take the Picks coming back to us, if any of these Deals materialize.

Players and/or picks. Whatever Brad Stevens wants.