Celtics News

[boscel33]

Wonder if the C's are going to get into the undrafted market?  Seeing players already signing with teams this morning.

[celticinorlando]

So as of today...Brad has a lot of work to do. Assuming they can resign Kornet and Al (which is no lock) they would have at least a starting 5. If they can't resign those two...then they are in trouble.

With Al and Luke:                                                                  Without Al and Luke
Simons                                                                                 Simons
White                                                                                    White
Brown                                                                                    Brown
Al                                                                                          Niang
Kornet                                                                                    Queta

Bench:

PP                                                                                                                                     
Niang                                                                                   
Baylor                                                                                 
Queta.                                                                                 
Hugo
Walsh                                                                                   
Davison
Williams

I assume that Sam and Tillman get moved to bring back Al and Kornet. Sam is more expensive, has more value and has a longer term. Moving Sam now would allow them to dump Niang and Simons on their expiring deals. So in 2026, Brad has more money to find real players.

That roster is a borderline play in team to be honest. Think they are behind at least 6 or 7 teams in the East.

[Who]

So as of today...Brad has a lot of work to do. Assuming they can resign Kornet and Al (which is no lock) they would have at least a starting 5. If they can't resign those two...then they are in trouble.

With Al and Luke:                                                                  Without Al and Luke
Simons                                                                                 Simons
White                                                                                    White
Brown                                                                                    Brown
Al                                                                                          Niang
Kornet                                                                                    Queta

Bench:

PP                                                                                                                                     
Niang                                                                                   
Baylor                                                                                 
Queta.                                                                                 
Hugo
Walsh                                                                                   
Davison
Williams

I assume that Sam and Tillman get moved to bring back Al and Kornet. Sam is more expensive, has more value and has a longer term. Moving Sam now would allow them to dump Niang and Simons on their expiring deals. So in 2026, Brad has more money to find real players.

That roster is a borderline play in team to be honest. Think they are behind at least 6 or 7 teams in the East.

I have them as a 4th-6th seed if they manage to re-sign Horford & Kornet & keep Hauser.

If they lose Kornet & Horford, I have them as a play-in team too.

[Who]

With Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Jaylen, Hauser
F: Horford, Niang
C: Kornet, Queta

That is a reasonably strong team team in terms of balance and depth. Lacks the high end talent to compete at the top of course but good enough to be a solid regular season team. Above .500.

Without Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, (min contract FA)
F: Jaylen, Niang
C: Queta, (min contract FA)

Keeping Horford will be imperative. Having that 2nd big man who can help the center position is needed since the center rotation will be one of the worst in the league. Without Horford, we'll have to play small and rely on only one big to control the paint (Kornet, Queta). And that one big will be among the weakest in the league. So we must keep Horford to make the interior defense & rebounding work.

If Horford does leave, I believe starting Hauser will be the best option likely with Jaylen having to defend the PF position. Niang is too poor a player to start. He is fine 15mpg backup PF but he can't be playing more than that. We have no other big forwards without Tatum. It will be hard to find one as a minimum contract FA who is good enough to play 30mpg. So it will likely fall on Jaylen as the next biggest (bulk, strength) wing player we have to play up a position and defend the PF position.

[Goldstar88]

Jared Weiss: Boston Celtics assistant GM Mike Zarren on the Jaylen Brown and Derrick White trade rumors: Those two guys are really, really great players and there hasn?t been anything close to seriously trading them. Im not sure where all that reporting came from.via x.com

[celticinorlando]

With Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Jaylen, Hauser
F: Horford, Niang
C: Kornet, Queta

That is a reasonably strong team team in terms of balance and depth. Lacks the high end talent to compete at the top of course but good enough to be a solid regular season team. Above .500.

Without Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, (min contract FA)
F: Jaylen, Niang
C: Queta, (min contract FA)

Keeping Horford will be imperative. Having that 2nd big man who can help the center position is needed since the center rotation will be one of the worst in the league. Without Horford, we'll have to play small and rely on only one big to control the paint (Kornet, Queta). And that one big will be among the weakest in the league. So we must keep Horford to make the interior defense & rebounding work.

If Horford does leave, I believe starting Hauser will be the best option likely with Jaylen having to defend the PF position. Niang is too poor a player to start. He is fine 15mpg backup PF but he can't be playing more than that. We have no other big forwards without Tatum. It will be hard to find one as a minimum contract FA who is good enough to play 30mpg. So it will likely fall on Jaylen as the next biggest (bulk, strength) wing player we have to play up a position and defend the PF position.

Who are they moving to keep Al and Kornet if they keep Hauser and Niang? Tillman and ?

[Who]

With Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Jaylen, Hauser
F: Horford, Niang
C: Kornet, Queta

That is a reasonably strong team team in terms of balance and depth. Lacks the high end talent to compete at the top of course but good enough to be a solid regular season team. Above .500.

Without Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, (min contract FA)
F: Jaylen, Niang
C: Queta, (min contract FA)

Keeping Horford will be imperative. Having that 2nd big man who can help the center position is needed since the center rotation will be one of the worst in the league. Without Horford, we'll have to play small and rely on only one big to control the paint (Kornet, Queta). And that one big will be among the weakest in the league. So we must keep Horford to make the interior defense & rebounding work.

If Horford does leave, I believe starting Hauser will be the best option likely with Jaylen having to defend the PF position. Niang is too poor a player to start. He is fine 15mpg backup PF but he can't be playing more than that. We have no other big forwards without Tatum. It will be hard to find one as a minimum contract FA who is good enough to play 30mpg. So it will likely fall on Jaylen as the next biggest (bulk, strength) wing player we have to play up a position and defend the PF position.

Who are they moving to keep Al and Kornet if they keep Hauser and Niang? Tillman and ?

If they need to free up funds, Niang is the guy they gotta move. He is replacable with a minimum contract player.

That is something you can figure out later in the season before the trade deadline. We do not need to solve it all right now.

Hauser actually contributes. He is the guy you keep.

--------------

I will also add that I am not that worried about Kornet leaving. I am fine if he is beyond our price range. I am fine with replacing him with a minimum contract center. The difference in quality there is minimal.

I'd rather lose Kornet than Hauser. It is not even close.

Horford, however, is a must-sign. We gotta have him. I couldn't care less about Kornet.

[boscel33]

Jared Weiss: Boston Celtics assistant GM Mike Zarren on the Jaylen Brown and Derrick White trade rumors: Those two guys are really, really great players and there hasn?t been anything close to seriously trading them. Im not sure where all that reporting came from.via x.com

Translation:  Trade forthcoming and will be announced soon!

[Vermont Green]

With Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Jaylen, Hauser
F: Horford, Niang
C: Kornet, Queta

That is a reasonably strong team team in terms of balance and depth. Lacks the high end talent to compete at the top of course but good enough to be a solid regular season team. Above .500.

Without Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, (min contract FA)
F: Jaylen, Niang
C: Queta, (min contract FA)

Keeping Horford will be imperative. Having that 2nd big man who can help the center position is needed since the center rotation will be one of the worst in the league. Without Horford, we'll have to play small and rely on only one big to control the paint (Kornet, Queta). And that one big will be among the weakest in the league. So we must keep Horford to make the interior defense & rebounding work.

If Horford does leave, I believe starting Hauser will be the best option likely with Jaylen having to defend the PF position. Niang is too poor a player to start. He is fine 15mpg backup PF but he can't be playing more than that. We have no other big forwards without Tatum. It will be hard to find one as a minimum contract FA who is good enough to play 30mpg. So it will likely fall on Jaylen as the next biggest (bulk, strength) wing player we have to play up a position and defend the PF position.

I think the most likely to start the season is signing Kornet but not Horford and then I plug in Craig as a placeholder for the vet min FA back up wing, include Tillman (he is on the roster as it stands) and I plug in Davison to get to 13 (including Tatum):

G: D White, Pritchard, Davison
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, Craig
F: Jaylen, Niang, Tillman
C: Kornet, Queta

This is pretty much what I am expecting to see to start the season.  The third team will be a mix of other low end vet min FAs (on non-guaranteed contracts), maybe rookies, and 2-way players.  BOS will likely only sign 14 to the regular roster, which really means 13 because Tatum is out for the year.  On any given night, at least 1 and up to 3 2-way players are likely to be active.

This is just to start the season.  Niang and Simons are likely gone along the way by the deadline.  Non-guaranteed vet min contracts will be waived if needed to make room for players coming back in the dumping deals.  I see no reason to aspire to be better than a lottery team in 2025-26 and I doubt the team pays any real money to make this season's team any better.

[Vermont Green]

Horford, however, is a must-sign. We gotta have him. I couldn't care less about Kornet.

I agree with everything but this.  Every season could be Horford's last season.  Why spend money on Horford for the 2025-26 season?  It is a lost season.  Who cares.  What matters is who we have for 2026 and beyond.  That is why I agree on keeping Hauser.  He is part of that 2026 and beyond, a productive player on a fair contract.  But how likely is it that Horford is even still playing in 2026-27?  And if he is still playing, at what level is he playing?

And really what would matter with Horford is how is he playing in May and June in 2027 when the Celtics would be expected to be in the playoffs again.  That is a long way away for a NBA player who just turned 39.  Are you suggesting signing Horford to a 2 or 3 year deal?  It doesn't make sense to me for either Horford or the Celtics.  2025-26 is potentially Horford's last season.  Does it makes sense for him to play his potentially last season on a gap year team?

[tonydelk]

With Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Jaylen, Hauser
F: Horford, Niang
C: Kornet, Queta

That is a reasonably strong team team in terms of balance and depth. Lacks the high end talent to compete at the top of course but good enough to be a solid regular season team. Above .500.

Without Horford & Kornet

G: D White, Pritchard
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, (min contract FA)
F: Jaylen, Niang
C: Queta, (min contract FA)

Keeping Horford will be imperative. Having that 2nd big man who can help the center position is needed since the center rotation will be one of the worst in the league. Without Horford, we'll have to play small and rely on only one big to control the paint (Kornet, Queta). And that one big will be among the weakest in the league. So we must keep Horford to make the interior defense & rebounding work.

If Horford does leave, I believe starting Hauser will be the best option likely with Jaylen having to defend the PF position. Niang is too poor a player to start. He is fine 15mpg backup PF but he can't be playing more than that. We have no other big forwards without Tatum. It will be hard to find one as a minimum contract FA who is good enough to play 30mpg. So it will likely fall on Jaylen as the next biggest (bulk, strength) wing player we have to play up a position and defend the PF position.

I think the most likely to start the season is signing Kornet but not Horford and then I plug in Craig as a placeholder for the vet min FA back up wing, include Tillman (he is on the roster as it stands) and I plug in Davison to get to 13 (including Tatum):

G: D White, Pritchard, Davison
G: A Simons, Scheierman
F: Hauser, Craig
F: Jaylen, Niang, Tillman
C: Kornet, Queta

This is pretty much what I am expecting to see to start the season.  The third team will be a mix of other low end vet min FAs (on non-guaranteed contracts), maybe rookies, and 2-way players.  BOS will likely only sign 14 to the regular roster, which really means 13 because Tatum is out for the year.  On any given night, at least 1 and up to 3 2-way players are likely to be active.

This is just to start the season.  Niang and Simons are likely gone along the way by the deadline.  Non-guaranteed vet min contracts will be waived if needed to make room for players coming back in the dumping deals.  I see no reason to aspire to be better than a lottery team in 2025-26 and I doubt the team pays any real money to make this season's team any better.

I agree they won't spend because they can't.  Now that they are under the 2nd apron they can't go back over.  This is a play in team unless Jaylen turns into superman, Derek White turns into Batman and PP turns into the flash.  I do think that there will be a trade for a big.  With the expiring contracts of Simons and Mr. Gotta make the donuts they can aggregate and take back a more expensive player.  I still think Utah is a good trade partner if they want to move off of Collins and or Kessler.  Brad will redistribute a guard into a big.  If not God help this team because our big options are scary.

[Moranis]

I'm still holding out hope of a trade.  Maybe Ace Bailey is available as he hasn't yet flown to Utah and no one knows when or if he is going to.

Don't think Brown makes sense there so maybe a 3 team trade

Boston - Vassell, Johnson, Castle, Bailey
San An - Brown, Collins
Utah - Barnes, Sochan, Scheireman, Carter Bryant, 26 SA 1st (ATL), 27 ATL 1st, 28 SA 1st (BOS), 30 SA 1st (MIN/DAL)

That seems like fair value for all 3 teams. Spurs go all in and become a top 3 team next year.  Boston gets some decent vets along with 2 high end young players.  Utah gets a lotto pick this year (essentially dropping back 9 spots) and 4 future 1st none of which are solely in SA fate (meaning they could be pretty valuable). 

[boscel33]

I'm still holding out hope of a trade.  Maybe Ace Bailey is available as he hasn't yet flown to Utah and no one knows when or if he is going to.

Don't think Brown makes sense there so maybe a 3 team trade

Boston - Vassell, Johnson, Castle, Bailey
San An - Brown, Collins
Utah - Barnes, Sochan, Scheireman, Carter Bryant, 26 SA 1st (ATL), 27 ATL 1st, 28 SA 1st (BOS), 30 SA 1st (MIN/DAL)

That seems like fair value for all 3 teams. Spurs go all in and become a top 3 team next year.  Boston gets some decent vets along with 2 high end young players.  Utah gets a lotto pick this year (essentially dropping back 9 spots) and 4 future 1st none of which are solely in SA fate (meaning they could be pretty valuable).

I keep waiting for the shoe to drop with Brown being dealt to Utah and Bailey plus others being sent to Boston.

[Who]

I'm still holding out hope of a trade.  Maybe Ace Bailey is available as he hasn't yet flown to Utah and no one knows when or if he is going to.

Don't think Brown makes sense there so maybe a 3 team trade

Boston - Vassell, Johnson, Castle, Bailey
San An - Brown, Collins
Utah - Barnes, Sochan, Scheireman, Carter Bryant, 26 SA 1st (ATL), 27 ATL 1st, 28 SA 1st (BOS), 30 SA 1st (MIN/DAL)

That seems like fair value for all 3 teams. Spurs go all in and become a top 3 team next year.  Boston gets some decent vets along with 2 high end young players.  Utah gets a lotto pick this year (essentially dropping back 9 spots) and 4 future 1st none of which are solely in SA fate (meaning they could be pretty valuable).

I keep waiting for the shoe to drop with Brown being dealt to Utah and Bailey plus others being sent to Boston.

It would be depressing to be counting on Ace Bailey becoming a star. The whole team's future dependent on it.

Another Ron Mercer.

[Vermont Green]

I don't agree with the concept of trading Brown to deconstruct the roster to allow a new and better roster to be built.  You do that when your roster has gotten too old or for some other reason that current players cannot be expected to be part of a contending roster in the future.  Brown can be a key player on a contending team now and in the future.

I do not support the whole concept of trading Brown primarily for draft picks.  If you can get Giannis or maybe something like Sabonis, trading a top player for a different type of top player to pair with Tatum, then OK.  But Tatum-Brown-White could have a 5-year run as a top team.  These rookies and draft picks may or may not even turn out to be good.