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

[Hal14]

Do other moves to save money now and go after Rob or Richards in the summer. As a baseline:

Simons for Mann. Hauser for expirings. Duck the tax and probably get a few seconds for our troubles. Mann is our bench combo guard. Still plenty of money for Rob and (some portion of) the MLE and pick in the summer.

White, JB, <hugo/walsh/minott>, Tatum, Queta
PP, Mann, <hugo/walsh/minott>, Rob/Garza
Pick/TPE

Tradeable salary in Mann as well. If you keep Hauser the rest of the year, you're still under the tax and can combine with Mann in the summer. But you probably don't keep both going into the 26-27 year.

You can probably beat that depending on what assets you wanna use with the TPE (or Simons trade), but even that is a contending team if one of the young wings separates themselves and the other 2 improve slightly.

No thanks.

Rob can't stay healthy and his reliability will only get worse as he gets older..I have no interest in bringing him back.

Nick Richards is glued to the bench on a suns team that is bad and is very weak at center. I don't see how he would help us.

[darrendaye]

Do other moves to save money now and go after Rob or Richards in the summer. As a baseline:

Simons for Mann. Hauser for expirings. Duck the tax and probably get a few seconds for our troubles. Mann is our bench combo guard. Still plenty of money for Rob and (some portion of) the MLE and pick in the summer.

White, JB, <hugo/walsh/minott>, Tatum, Queta
PP, Mann, <hugo/walsh/minott>, Rob/Garza
Pick/TPE

Tradeable salary in Mann as well. If you keep Hauser the rest of the year, you're still under the tax and can combine with Mann in the summer. But you probably don't keep both going into the 26-27 year.

You can probably beat that depending on what assets you wanna use with the TPE (or Simons trade), but even that is a contending team if one of the young wings separates themselves and the other 2 improve slightly.

No thanks.

Rob can't stay healthy and his reliability will only get worse as he gets older..I have no interest in bringing him back.

Nick Richards is glued to the bench on a suns team that is bad and is very weak at center. I don't see how he would help us.

I'm for bringing Rob back, but for no more than the tax payer MLE. But I'm also old enough to remember the Bill Walton experience.

I'm curious about the case for Mann. He was a guy they had to attach a draft asset for Brooklyn to take.

And missing from this equation is: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/125441/baylor-scheierman-and-the-life-of-a-showman

[Fierce1]

Do other moves to save money now and go after Rob or Richards in the summer. As a baseline:

Simons for Mann. Hauser for expirings. Duck the tax and probably get a few seconds for our troubles. Mann is our bench combo guard. Still plenty of money for Rob and (some portion of) the MLE and pick in the summer.

White, JB, <hugo/walsh/minott>, Tatum, Queta
PP, Mann, <hugo/walsh/minott>, Rob/Garza
Pick/TPE

Tradeable salary in Mann as well. If you keep Hauser the rest of the year, you're still under the tax and can combine with Mann in the summer. But you probably don't keep both going into the 26-27 year.

You can probably beat that depending on what assets you wanna use with the TPE (or Simons trade), but even that is a contending team if one of the young wings separates themselves and the other 2 improve slightly.

No thanks.

Rob can't stay healthy and his reliability will only get worse as he gets older..I have no interest in bringing him back.

Nick Richards is glued to the bench on a suns team that is bad and is very weak at center. I don't see how he would help us.

I'm for bringing Rob back, but for no more than the tax payer MLE. But I'm also old enough to remember the Bill Walton experience.

I'm curious about the case for Mann. He was a guy they had to attach a draft asset for Brooklyn to take.

And missing from this equation is: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/125441/baylor-scheierman-and-the-life-of-a-showman

If the goal is just to save money then Mann is your guy.

But if it's about improving the team, Manny will be behind Walsh and Mynot on the depth chart.

At least with Simons he gives you instant offense and 3pt shooting.

Mann is athletic and he brings energy, but it would be like 4 vs. 5 on offense.
He's not a shooter and he's not a scorer.

I don't think he's the guy Brad's going to trade for.

[ryan in Maine]

John Collins needs a change of scenery.

[Fierce1]

John Collins needs a change of scenery.

Saw John Collins against the Lakers and he was horrible on defense.

[ryan in Maine]

I'm a big believer in team d and defensive environment.

[Larry_Russell]

John Collins needs a change of scenery.

I hear China is nice.

[Fierce1]

I'm a big believer in team d and defensive environment.

That's the problem, his defensive awareness is not good.

He's fine 1 on 1, but when asked to play team D, Lakers got a lot of dunks because he didn't cover his area properly.

[ryan in Maine]

I'm a big believer in team d and defensive environment.

That's the problem, his defensive awareness is not good.

He's fine 1 on 1, but when asked to play team D, Lakers got a lot of dunks because he didn't cover his area properly.

He's been an ok defender in the past. I think the Kawhi scandal is really running through that team.

[Curmudgeon]

John Collins looks like an NBA player but he isn't one.

[darrendaye]

John Collins needs a change of scenery.

Wish he could fit into the KP TPE. I don't see the value in going there otherwise.

[celtxman]

Neither will we if we trade Hauser.

You beat me to it.

Hauser will not be playing in the last 5 minutes in crunch time.

DeRozan is a massive upgrade over Hauser.

Yes. I misread this. I meant to agree we don't have a knock down shooter with Hauser now. He's too unreliable and he can't find his way ro the floor enough with Tatum out. The better knockdown shooter is Simons but we aren't keeping him.
Get a solid $5 million PG/SG, get Derozan, use any other money, assets towards a legitimate big man

[ryan in Maine]

John Collins needs a change of scenery.

Wish he could fit into the KP TPE. I don't see the value in going there otherwise.

We'd get to say John the Baptist.

[djFan71]

No thanks.

Rob can't stay healthy and his reliability will only get worse as he gets older..I have no interest in bringing him back.

Nick Richards is glued to the bench on a suns team that is bad and is very weak at center. I don't see how he would help us.

I'm for bringing Rob back, but for no more than the tax payer MLE. But I'm also old enough to remember the Bill Walton experience.

I'm curious about the case for Mann. He was a guy they had to attach a draft asset for Brooklyn to take.

And missing from this equation is: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/125441/baylor-scheierman-and-the-life-of-a-showman

If the goal is just to save money then Mann is your guy.

But if it's about improving the team, Manny will be behind Walsh and Mynot on the depth chart.

At least with Simons he gives you instant offense and 3pt shooting.

Mann is athletic and he brings energy, but it would be like 4 vs. 5 on offense.
He's not a shooter and he's not a scorer.

I don't think he's the guy Brad's going to trade for.

Mann is mainly about the tax for sure. ATL attached the pick, techincally, but we could have had it. We had to since Simons didn't save enough money over Jrue. Now, Mann can save enough money over Simons and you probably get him without sending a pick. Not many of those options out there.

But he is a competent player as well. He's a better ball handler / playmaker than Walshugomoninott. Kinda a slightly evolved Baylor, tbh, which is why I didn't bother listing him as he'd be deeper bench again. Mann's nothing spectacular but usable for sure. Not a 4 on 5 situation at all. He's averaged 8-10ppg since his rookie year on ~20-25 minutes/game. This year his assists have gone up to 4.9 per 36. Shot 37% from 3 for his career on average volume per 36. You're not going out and spending assets to get the guy, you're getting him to duck the tax and using him cuz he's capable. Or moving him if the right follow up comes along.

As for Rob, Richards, that's kinda where we're at. You're just looking for vet min to TPMLE at most type guys to fill out the rotation with Garza. Queta, and hopefully the pick, are your guys. That's the baseline that resets the tax and gives you something to work from. If we beat it, even better.

[redslastlaugh]

Michael Scotto with a trade rumors notebook and a bit of Celtics intel. Basically saying Celtics still interested in getting under the tax, they have two means to get there: 1. Simons trade or 2. Hauser plus another small move ... but other teams are asking for 1st round pick... and Celtics have discussed Simons with the Brooklyn Nets and Celts hold interest in DayRon Sharpe

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2025/11/26/title-nba-intel-ja-morant-timberwolves-kings-celtics/87477567007/

Following several trades this summer to duck below the second apron, the Boston Celtics are currently $12 million above the luxury tax threshold.

Amid a projected gap season for the Celtics with star forward Jayson Tatum out for the foreseeable future after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs, many around the league have wondered if another trade could loom for Boston to drop below the luxury tax entirely.


The Celtics are under no pressure to reduce their current luxury tax bill, which they’ve budgeted for, but wouldn’t mind going below the tax for the right deal, league sources told HoopsHype.

Getting below the luxury tax entirely could conceivably be achieved by trading guard Anfernee Simons or shedding the salaries of Sam Hauser and another minimum-salary player.

Simons is in the final year of his contract worth $27.68 million, while Hauser is beginning a four-year, $45 million contract extension this season.

With that in mind, Boston hasn’t shown a willingness to attach a first-round pick to trade Simons’ expiring contract, league sources told HoopsHype.

The 26-year-old guard has averaged 14.4 points on 41.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 17 games off the bench for Boston this season.

Over the summer, the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics discussed several trade scenarios involving Simons that ultimately fell through, league sources told HoopsHype. The Milwaukee Bucks also kept tabs on Simons, HoopsHype has learned.


It’s worth noting that Boston also planned to pursue Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe in free agency, league sources told HoopsHype. The Celtics would’ve been limited to only a minimum offer for Sharpe, but were prepared to offer a chance to compete for the starting center spot this season.

[djFan71]

Michael Scotto with a trade rumors notebook and a bit of Celtics intel. Basically saying Celtics still interested in getting under the tax, they have two means to get there: 1. Simons trade or 2. Hauser plus another small move ... but other teams are asking for 1st round pick... and Celtics have discussed Simons with the Brooklyn Nets and Celts hold interest in DayRon Sharpe

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2025/11/26/title-nba-intel-ja-morant-timberwolves-kings-celtics/87477567007/

Following several trades this summer to duck below the second apron, the Boston Celtics are currently $12 million above the luxury tax threshold.

Amid a projected gap season for the Celtics with star forward Jayson Tatum out for the foreseeable future after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs, many around the league have wondered if another trade could loom for Boston to drop below the luxury tax entirely.


The Celtics are under no pressure to reduce their current luxury tax bill, which they’ve budgeted for, but wouldn’t mind going below the tax for the right deal, league sources told HoopsHype.

Getting below the luxury tax entirely could conceivably be achieved by trading guard Anfernee Simons or shedding the salaries of Sam Hauser and another minimum-salary player.

Simons is in the final year of his contract worth $27.68 million, while Hauser is beginning a four-year, $45 million contract extension this season.

With that in mind, Boston hasn’t shown a willingness to attach a first-round pick to trade Simons’ expiring contract, league sources told HoopsHype.

The 26-year-old guard has averaged 14.4 points on 41.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 17 games off the bench for Boston this season.

Over the summer, the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics discussed several trade scenarios involving Simons that ultimately fell through, league sources told HoopsHype. The Milwaukee Bucks also kept tabs on Simons, HoopsHype has learned.


It’s worth noting that Boston also planned to pursue Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe in free agency, league sources told HoopsHype. The Celtics would’ve been limited to only a minimum offer for Sharpe, but were prepared to offer a chance to compete for the starting center spot this season.

Well, we were pretty spot on with the Simons trade ideas team-wise (though, it was pretty obvious). Doesn't sound like Brad was too interested in Mann, though. . I'm assuming it was take back Mann OR a first to take back less salary. I'm glad he didn't give up a first. I still think he's in that same boat now, first to duck or bad/extended salary back. I'm pretty sure he won't cave on the first unless he is also getting a player he likes back in the deal.

Also, for old times sake - KUZ!!!!!