Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET)

[darrendaye]

By what measure does Tatum replace Simons? I'm squinting but still not seeing it.

Pritchard replaces Simons. Tatum replaces Pritchard, this year. Where is your vision obstructed on the subject?

Struggling with "replaces" here. Neither is replacing what the other two bring.

Tatum replaces Pritchard as the primary offense starter. Pritchard replaces Simons' spot up shooting with lesser role handling the ball. If you want to further slice it down, Tatum replaces Simons' role as isolation scorer. Trying to help here. But you got to do some of the work lol.

[ryan in Maine]

Pritchard replaces Simons. Tatum replaces Pritchard, this year. Where is your vision obstructed on the subject?

Struggling with "replaces" here. Neither is replacing what the other two bring.

Tatum replaces Pritchard as the primary offense starter. Pritchard replaces Simons' spot up shooting with lesser role handling the ball. If you want to further slice it down, Tatum replaces Simons' role as isolation scorer. Trying to help here. But you got to do some of the work lol.

Maybe it's my Anfernee colored glasses lol.

[GreenBlooded]

If Tatum can let's say come back and play 25-30 mins come playoff time does that make you more or less willing to trade Simmons you think?

I think a somewhat limited Tatum means you keep Simmons for possible scoring punch in playoffs.

More likely. Tatum takes Pritchard's starting spot and Pritchard goes back to 6 man/scoring punch off the bench. Use Simons $$and draft capital to upgrade Queta or Hauser in the starting lineup.

I think when Tatum comes back, he replaces Walsh/Hauser in the starting lineup..that last starter spot has been a revolving door all season between Walsh, Minott, Scheierman, Hugo, Hauser, etc.

Meanwhile Pritchard has started every game he's played in.

Only makes sense that when Tatum returns, he takes that spot so it's not a revolving door anymore, it's consistent instead and keep Pritchard in the starting spot he's gotten used to.

You don't bring Pritchard off the bench for 4 years, then he finally gets that starting spot he's been working so hard for and then just demote him back to a bench role - nah.

If you trade Simons for a starting center at the deadline it would only make sense to move Pritchard to 6th man when Tatum comes back.

If you don't trade Simons it would be stupid to bring both Simons and Pritchard of the bench.

Hugo will be starting next to White next season either way.

[robdog_5]

You always need shooting/playmaking in the playoffs when the games slow down. I don't think it's dumb. But you'd be giving up some defense if both were on the court together

[Fierce1]

Celtics will always need 3 guards every game.

So White, PP, and Simons are good.

Just put Sam back on the bench when Tatum returns.
Sam is after all a specialist.
When the matchup is favorable then use Sam.
If not then Sam just sits on the bench.

Also, if the Cs are trading Simons, they would have to replace him with another guard.
Someone like Keon Ellis.

Cs can't go into the playoffs only having White and PP as guards.

[celtxman]

A person on bluesky has come up with an analytical tool that gives a fair salary value for NBA any player based on that player's production this season:

https://nbasalarymodel.xyz/



I went to the site and I was putting in different Celtics.

The tool said Anfernee Simons fair value is $16.7 million but is earning $27.7 million, so is $11 million overpaid.

I put in NEEMIAS QUETA and the tool said fair salary for his play equals $29 million. Yikes!

one of the reasons I have advocated keeping Queta (sending 1st rounders instead)and getting Zubac, is Queta's situation and future salary. If Hartenstein is getting $30 million per, and Kessler wants that much, how much will Queta be worth is he continues to improve? His contract is up next season.

Fair question to ask.

One point of comparison: Kornet. He's getting like $10mil a year to be a backup center..and was a backup C here in boston..and was like 30 years old, Queta a few years younger.

Kornet's deal may have been a slight overpay..Spurs were splurging a bit last offseason and have also been aggressive with other moves like trading for Fox and stuff. But all it takes is 1 aggressive team to offer Queta more $.

I don't see anyone offering Queta $20mil a year..he's just not that level of player. But somewhere between $10-19mil a year, I could definitely see him getting if he keeps starting for us and playing well..

I wouldn't be surprised if the Celtics offer a Robert Williams type contract this season to Queta.
In terms of Queta getting over $20 million per, he is now getting real coaching. I don't think he's peaked. $20 million for him may end up being a bargain.

[jmr07019]

You can get away with two guards but you are thin and an injury will put you in a bad spot.

Best case scenario Hugo comes back next year with a much better handle.

[ddb]

I don't like Myles Turner at all. Overpriced, minimum production. I think Brad Stevens would spend the rest of his days trying to off-load Myles Turner to someone else soon after he acquired him.

Yeah me either. Just sharing the dream haha.

[redslastlaugh]

Putting together some various news and rumors:

1. Celts would like to get under the tax (but don't have to)
2. Celts are interested in frontcourt help
3. Celts are interested in Keon Ellis
4. Clippers are interested in Anfernee Simons

Perhaps the ideal move would be trading Simons to the Clips & trading for Keon Ellis who is maybe a better overall guard in the same archetype as Anfernee Simons, only this year Keon Ellis makes $26 million less than Simons.

Say a 3-way trade:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, Celtics pick
Celtics receive Bogdan Bogdanovic, Brad Beal, Keon Ellis, Clippers draft pick

And then we ship Bogdanovic for a front court player in the $10-12 million range... to drop under the tax?

[BostoNZ]

Idk if I even like this

CELTICS
Simons
2nd(s?)

For

GRIZZLIES
Ty Jerome
Brandon Clarke

Neither of them are healthy but apparently due back soon? anyway we'd be out of the 1st apron and grizz save future $$ on injury risks.

Basketball wise I love their fits and I'm biased towards Clarke since 2019 draft days.

[Fierce1]

Putting together some various news and rumors:

1. Celts would like to get under the tax (but don't have to)
2. Celts are interested in frontcourt help
3. Celts are interested in Keon Ellis
4. Clippers are interested in Anfernee Simons

Perhaps the ideal move would be trading Simons to the Clips & trading for Keon Ellis who is maybe a better overall guard in the same archetype as Anfernee Simons, only this year Keon Ellis makes $26 million less than Simons.

Say a 3-way trade:

Celts trade Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, Celtics pick
Celtics receive Bogdan Bogdanovic, Brad Beal, Keon Ellis, Clippers draft pick

And then we ship Bogdanovic for a front court player in the $10-12 million range... to drop under the tax?

Bogdanovic has low trade value right now.

The Cs will end up needing to attach a pick to Bogdanovic so that the other team will agree to take his contract.

Clippers also don't have a draft pick right now.
The earliest pick they can trade is the 2030 1st round pick.

It's just too complicated.

[Fierce1]

Idk if I even like this

CELTICS
Simons
2nd(s?)

For

GRIZZLIES
Ty Jerome
Brandon Clarke

Neither of them are healthy but apparently due back soon? anyway we'd be out of the 1st apron and grizz save future $$ on injury risks.

Basketball wise I love their fits and I'm biased towards Clarke since 2019 draft days.

Clarke has been injured multiple times since 2022.

Better to stay away from injured players.

[Larry_Russell]

Cause **** it

To the Laker - Demar Derozan and Chris Boucher

To the CLippers - Anfernee Simons

To the Kings - Collins, Knect, Minott, Boston 1st 2026, Boston 2nd

To the Celtics
Hachimura, Smart, Ellis, Raynaud

Pritchard/Smart
White/Ellis/Hugo
Brown/Hauser/Scheierman
Tatum/Hachimura/Walsh
Queta/Garza/Raynaud

Trade Hachimura in offseason (most likely)

[Fierce1]

Raynaud is not even better than their 2-way player, Cardwell.

Even Amari looks to be better than Raynaud.

And Smart is better off playing with Luka than the Jays.

[165bows]

Idk if I even like this

CELTICS
Simons
2nd(s?)

For

GRIZZLIES
Ty Jerome
Brandon Clarke

Neither of them are healthy but apparently due back soon? anyway we'd be out of the 1st apron and grizz save future $$ on injury risks.

Basketball wise I love their fits and I'm biased towards Clarke since 2019 draft days.

Clarke has been injured multiple times since 2022.

Better to stay away from injured players.

I like him but he's injured right now pretty sure.

[GoCeltics123]

Read on Twitter

There it is

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

There it is

This seems like the normal Shams clickbait but we will see.

[Celts17Pride]

Read on Twitter

I think if he goes it's to Miami

[GoCeltics123]

Heat have more to offer than the Knicks for Giannis

[WeLikeOurGuys]

Heat have more to offer than the Knicks for Giannis

Do they?
If the Bucks want a blue-chip prospect, neither Miami nor New York really has one. Ware is interesting, but I wouldn’t call him blue chip, and for some reason he can’t get on the floor, which makes you wonder what’s going on behind the scenes. If you trade Giannis to the Knicks, at least you can flip Towns and OG into bigger packages later. I’m really not in love with Miami’s roster outside of Bam, most of those guys feel like marginal pieces.

The team that makes the most sense is the Spurs. They’ve got Harper, who actually is blue chip, plus solid young guys like Vassell, Sochan, and Keldon, and a ton of picks to throw in.

If you look at last season, the Thunder had a hell of a time guarding Giannis, and if you put him next to Wemby, that should be a no-brainer for the Spurs.