How would you like to see the team approach 2026-27?

[Vermont Green]

It is a fair debate as to whether a 2026-27 team built around Tatum, Brown, and White is good enough.  I think it is, far better than the alternative of a team built around rookies and future draft picks.

I look at is as having about $57M to spend in 2026-27.  That accounts for Simons and Niang (about $36M in contracts) and the fact that the 2nd apron is expected to go up about 10% (about $21M).  We will also have a decent draft pick to use or trade.  Niang and Simons could be traded for players or TPE.  We have the Porzingis TPE until Jul 7, 2027.

What is the $57 million based upon?

Spotrac has us as $41.7 million under the second apron in 2026-27.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/boston-celtics/yearly

I had a higher number for the 2026-27 second apron.  It is a projection in any case.  I can't remember where I got my number.  Plus I didn't account for the increase in existing contracts, so I was high due to this.  There is still a fair amount of money to be spent for the 2026-27 season while still staying under the 2nd apron, once Simons and Niang are gone and the cap values are increased.

They could decide to spend some of that on Simons.  I don't expect that, but Simons is no slouch.

I think that Spotrac's number takes into account a full 10% bump.  The apron numbers could be lower than that, but not higher.  It also looks like they account for one unfilled roster charge, which will disappear as soon as we fill somebody

EDIT:

I stand corrected.  Spotrac's numbers are based upon the league's projections, which only expect a 7% bump in the cap, rather than a 10% bump.  If revenue outpaces the projections, the Celts could end up with at least $5 million more to spend.

Fingers crossed for an epic season and playoffs.  Bring that money in, NBA.

That all seems to line up.  The number I was looking at for the 2026-27 2nd apron was a full 10% increase.  So call it $45M-$48M to spend in 2026-27, with the stipulation that the value could change.  That is still enough money to put decent players around Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard, Hauser.  They will have to pay the 2026 1st round pick (if they keep it).  Pick #10 (just guessing) this year was about $6M so maybe $7M next year.

It isn't a ton of money to spend for what expects to be 4 or 5 roster spots but most contending teams will face similar constraints.

[Roy H.]

Coming up with a projection here...

1.  $41.7 million budget to add / resign players

2.  Draft around 15th.  2026-27 contract value around $5 million (based upon anticipated 7% jump).  $41.7 million - $5.0 million + $1,362 million roster charge = $38.062 million

3.  Use $22 million on bringing back a big man with our TPE.  $16 million left.  Note:  I believe if we signed-and-traded for a player, we'd be hard-capped at the *first* apron.  Also, I don't think we can do a S&T and use the TMLE in the same season.  So, acquiring new players using S&Ts may be off the table.

4.  Use $6.1 million TPE.  $9.9 million left.  14 players on roster.  We'd have enough left at deadline to use $4.7 TPE.

Admittedly, I don't know the new CBA by heart, so I'm not sure about the accuracy of the consequences to us completing a sign-and-trade using the TPE, or if we'd face any restrictions if we signed-and-traded Simons or Niang.

Centers that make less than our TPE:

Zubac, Poeltl, W. Carter, Gafford, Isaac, I. Stewart

Centers that may be available for S&T:

Porzingis, John Collins, Vukevic, Nurkic, Kessler

[Vermont Green]

Coming up with a projection here...

1.  $41.7 million budget to add / resign players

2.  Draft around 15th.  2026-27 contract value around $5 million (based upon anticipated 7% jump).  $41.7 million - $5.0 million + $1,362 million roster charge = $38.062 million

3.  Use $22 million on bringing back a big man with our TPE.  $16 million left.  Note:  I believe if we signed-and-traded for a player, we'd be hard-capped at the *first* apron.  Also, I don't think we can do a S&T and use the TMLE in the same season.  So, acquiring new players using S&Ts may be off the table.

4.  Use $6.1 million TPE.  $9.9 million left.  14 players on roster.  We'd have enough left at deadline to use $4.7 TPE.

Admittedly, I don't know the new CBA by heart, so I'm not sure about the accuracy of the consequences to us completing a sign-and-trade using the TPE, or if we'd face any restrictions if we signed-and-traded Simons or Niang.

Centers that make less than our TPE:

Zubac, Poeltl, W. Carter, Gafford, Isaac, I. Stewart

Centers that may be available for S&T:

Porzingis, John Collins, Vukevic, Nurkic, Kessler

Good summary of the constraints and options.  As to the sign and trade options, if we were to trade Simons (for example) for one of those at the deadline this season, then we could sign them for 2026-27 without having to trade.  I think it is correct that there are constraints if you bring in a player with a sign and trade, but I am not sure what they are either.

This is why I think that both Simons and Niang are likely to be traded at or before the deadline.  Simons (for example) could be traded for an expiring or a player that isn't expiring, avoiding the need for a sign and trade in either case.