Celtics News

[lbgreen33]

I'm not sure how much credibility "Fast Break Journal" has, but here you go:

The Boston Celtics appear poised to elevate Payton Pritchard into the starting lineup while using Anfernee Simons as a high-scoring option off the bench for the 2025?26 season if he remains on the roster, sources informed FastbreakJournal.com. The anticipated shift comes amid sweeping roster changes. Boston will be without Jayson Tatum for the entire season due to injury and has traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. In the wake of those moves, Pritchard is set to take on a more prominent role alongside Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.

Fast Break Journal

Well, not to read to much into it, but the article contradicts itself, which is a pretty good sign that it is just made up.
***while using Anfernee Simons as a high-scoring option off the bench***  ***if he remains on the roster, sources informed FastbreakJournal.com***
The article basically says their source doesn't even know if they will keep AS!!! Meaning they have no clue, LOL!!!

[lbgreen33]

Well, not to read to much into it, but the article contradicts itself, which is a pretty good sign that it is just made up.
***while using Anfernee Simons as a high-scoring option off the bench***  ***if he remains on the roster, sources informed FastbreakJournal.com***
The article basically says their source doesn't even know if they will keep AS!!! Meaning they have no clue, LOL!!!

Sorry for the double post!!

[Vermont Green]

I don't know.  I would be surprised if Pritchard started over Simons.  I have some doubt about the veracity of this reporting.  I see Pritchard as worthy of starting but he is such a weapon off the bench.  There could be a scenario where they see Pritchard as the starter in 2026-27, with Simons not in the equation.  If that is the case, then it makes some sense to start Pritchard this season.

And still no press conference or other official introduction of Simons.  Definitely could be that he is already traded but they are waiting for some trade restrictions to expire.  There are many reports like this one claiming to know that BOS is "struggling to find a trade partner".  That may not be true either.

I think the most likely scenario is that Simons is the day 1 starter, but not all that much more likely than being traded this off season.  And even if he does survive the off season, he still may well be traded by the deadline.

[No Nickname]

I don't know.  I would be surprised if Pritchard started over Simons.  I have some doubt about the veracity of this reporting.  I see Pritchard as worthy of starting but he is such a weapon off the bench.  There could be a scenario where they see Pritchard as the starter in 2026-27, with Simons not in the equation.  If that is the case, then it makes some sense to start Pritchard this season.

And still no press conference or other official introduction of Simons.  Definitely could be that he is already traded but they are waiting for some trade restrictions to expire.  There are many reports like this one claiming to know that BOS is "struggling to find a trade partner".  That may not be true either.

I think the most likely scenario is that Simons is the day 1 starter, but not all that much more likely than being traded this off season.  And even if he does survive the off season, he still may well be traded by the deadline.

I hope Simons hasn't been traded yet because Brad is looking for some kind of value that might be equal to a late 1st round pick. 

We're not just dumping the salary of a bad player who has two years left on his contract.  Simons could be a useful weapon by signing him to a new deal, and if not his expiring salary could help a team not already close to the repeater tax. 

I still would think Brad would exercise patience, set Simons up to succeed here, and then trade him at top value.

We all saw what Brad did with Evan Turner.  While we didn't trade him, he signed a four-year, $70MM deal with Portland when he left the Celtics.

[Vermont Green]

I don't know.  I would be surprised if Pritchard started over Simons.  I have some doubt about the veracity of this reporting.  I see Pritchard as worthy of starting but he is such a weapon off the bench.  There could be a scenario where they see Pritchard as the starter in 2026-27, with Simons not in the equation.  If that is the case, then it makes some sense to start Pritchard this season.

And still no press conference or other official introduction of Simons.  Definitely could be that he is already traded but they are waiting for some trade restrictions to expire.  There are many reports like this one claiming to know that BOS is "struggling to find a trade partner".  That may not be true either.

I think the most likely scenario is that Simons is the day 1 starter, but not all that much more likely than being traded this off season.  And even if he does survive the off season, he still may well be traded by the deadline.

I hope Simons hasn't been traded yet because Brad is looking for some kind of value that might be equal to a late 1st round pick. 

We're not just dumping the salary of a bad player who has two years left on his contract.  Simons could be a useful weapon by signing him to a new deal, and if not his expiring salary could help a team not already close to the repeater tax. 

I still would think Brad would exercise patience, set Simons up to succeed here, and then trade him at top value.

We all saw what Brad did with Evan Turner.  While we didn't trade him, he signed a four-year, $70MM deal with Portland when he left the Celtics.

I agree.  No need to just dump Simons.  If there is no trade market now, fine, give him a chance.  Let's see first hand what he is.  You can always dump him later.  But I have not given up on the idea that he might be salvageable 

[Donoghus]

More scheduling tidbits

Noa Dalzell 🏀
@NoaDalzell
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Celtics Opening Night is against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd at TD Garden

[keevsnick]

I don't know.  I would be surprised if Pritchard started over Simons.  I have some doubt about the veracity of this reporting.  I see Pritchard as worthy of starting but he is such a weapon off the bench.  There could be a scenario where they see Pritchard as the starter in 2026-27, with Simons not in the equation.  If that is the case, then it makes some sense to start Pritchard this season.

And still no press conference or other official introduction of Simons.  Definitely could be that he is already traded but they are waiting for some trade restrictions to expire.  There are many reports like this one claiming to know that BOS is "struggling to find a trade partner".  That may not be true either.

I think the most likely scenario is that Simons is the day 1 starter, but not all that much more likely than being traded this off season.  And even if he does survive the off season, he still may well be traded by the deadline.

I hope Simons hasn't been traded yet because Brad is looking for some kind of value that might be equal to a late 1st round pick. 

We're not just dumping the salary of a bad player who has two years left on his contract.  Simons could be a useful weapon by signing him to a new deal, and if not his expiring salary could help a team not already close to the repeater tax. 

I still would think Brad would exercise patience, set Simons up to succeed here, and then trade him at top value.

We all saw what Brad did with Evan Turner.  While we didn't trade him, he signed a four-year, $70MM deal with Portland when he left the Celtics.

I agree.  No need to just dump Simons.  If there is no trade market now, fine, give him a chance.  Let's see first hand what he is.  You can always dump him later.  But I have not given up on the idea that he might be salvageable

I don't think his status has much to do with him NEEDING to be "salvageable" in the sense that I don't think he's broken, bad, or even a negative value contract.

The issue is less about him, imo, and more about the unique circumstances the Celtics find themselves in. If they were a normal team operating without a huge tax bill, repeater tax, penalties ect over their heads I think it would be pretty easy to trade him, probably even for first round pick type value. The issue is the Celtics DO have those constraints, namely:

1) They probably want to get under the tax, or very close. They can't trade him for anybody making more money than him or even making similar  money, it needs to be a trade that saves a significant chunk of money.
2) They don't want to take on more years. Because they want to compete in the future they don't want money on heir books going forward that might make them more expensive.
3) They don't necessarily want to be good next year. They appear to be at least soft tanking.
4) Its "late" in the offseason now. Many teams have done their big work and have set up their teams and want to get a look before making any changes at the deadline.
5) He plays a small combo guard role, one of the most stacked roles in the NBA.

What I'm trying to say is even if he played incredibly I'm not sure how much easier trading him gets given the constraints the Celtics were working under.

[Vermont Green]

I don't know.  I would be surprised if Pritchard started over Simons.  I have some doubt about the veracity of this reporting.  I see Pritchard as worthy of starting but he is such a weapon off the bench.  There could be a scenario where they see Pritchard as the starter in 2026-27, with Simons not in the equation.  If that is the case, then it makes some sense to start Pritchard this season.

And still no press conference or other official introduction of Simons.  Definitely could be that he is already traded but they are waiting for some trade restrictions to expire.  There are many reports like this one claiming to know that BOS is "struggling to find a trade partner".  That may not be true either.

I think the most likely scenario is that Simons is the day 1 starter, but not all that much more likely than being traded this off season.  And even if he does survive the off season, he still may well be traded by the deadline.

I hope Simons hasn't been traded yet because Brad is looking for some kind of value that might be equal to a late 1st round pick. 

We're not just dumping the salary of a bad player who has two years left on his contract.  Simons could be a useful weapon by signing him to a new deal, and if not his expiring salary could help a team not already close to the repeater tax. 

I still would think Brad would exercise patience, set Simons up to succeed here, and then trade him at top value.

We all saw what Brad did with Evan Turner.  While we didn't trade him, he signed a four-year, $70MM deal with Portland when he left the Celtics.

I agree.  No need to just dump Simons.  If there is no trade market now, fine, give him a chance.  Let's see first hand what he is.  You can always dump him later.  But I have not given up on the idea that he might be salvageable

I don't think his status has much to do with him NEEDING to be "salvageable" in the sense that I don't think he's broken, bad, or even a negative value contract.

The issue is less about him, imo, and more about the unique circumstances the Celtics find themselves in. If they were a normal team operating without a huge tax bill, repeater tax, penalties ect over their heads I think it would be pretty easy to trade him, probably even for first round pick type value. The issue is the Celtics DO have those constraints, namely:

1) They probably want to get under the tax, or very close. They can't trade him for anybody making more money than him or even making similar  money, it needs to be a trade that saves a significant chunk of money.
2) They don't want to take on more years. Because they want to compete in the future they don't want money on heir books going forward that might make them more expensive.
3) They don't necessarily want to be good next year. They appear to be at least soft tanking.
4) Its "late" in the offseason now. Many teams have done their big work and have set up their teams and want to get a look before making any changes at the deadline.
5) He plays a small combo guard role, one of the most stacked roles in the NBA.

What I'm trying to say is even if he played incredibly I'm not sure how much easier trading him gets given the constraints the Celtics were working under.

I don't think anyone knows what salary cap constraints are in play for the Celtics.  They have said out loud that they can't be over the second apron.  That is known.  And I am sure they want to save money if they can.  But I don't know that there is a mandate to get under the tax line or get to within some number of dollars of it.  Plus no one knows how hard BOS is trying to trade him.  Maybe it is hard to trade him, maybe BOS just isn't trying that hard, maybe they have him already traded but are waiting for trade restrictions to expire.

That said, I think you are right that a shoot first, undersized SG is not necessarily a hot commodity on the trade market.  It is speculation but I don't necessarily disagree that it is hard right now to get good return for him.  But I think if he plays well, he can raise his trade value, making it easier to trade him no matter what constraints BOS has put on themselves.

Or, if the trade market for him is really that bad, that means the FA market for him will be bad also.  So maybe he plays well and the Celtics get him extended on a team friendly deal (best of both worlds for BOS).  Personally, I hope he plays well and they trade him at the deadline for a decent power forward or 2.

[Jiri Welsch]

It seems clear that Simons' overall profile (good scorer, undersized, borderline liability on defense based on what he's shown thus far) isn't something many teams actively need.

As a result, the Celtics would need to attach draft picks in order to trade him.

The Celtics don't want to get rid of first round picks. It seems like the incentive of second round picks isn't enough to sweeten the deal for teams at this juncture.

So they are either (1) Going to find a team who is more open to a trade right before the season starts, or (2) Going to roll the dice and go into the season with him. In this second option they would be hoping his performance is good, he doesn't get injured, and possibly injuries around the league make a team need his services more than they do now.

[Roy H.]

It will be interesting to see what happens if they can't move Simons.

Do they then make Hauser available around the deadline to get below the tax, dumping some other end of roster salary in the process?

I hope not.

[slamtheking]

It will be interesting to see what happens if they can't move Simons.

Do they then make Hauser available around the deadline to get below the tax, dumping some other end of roster salary in the process?

I hope not.

that would be a crappy Plan B.  only possible light at the end of that tunnel is that someone in the youth movement has made the leap to rotation-quality player that could fill Hauser's minutes competently.

[Roy H.]

It will be interesting to see what happens if they can't move Simons.

Do they then make Hauser available around the deadline to get below the tax, dumping some other end of roster salary in the process?

I hope not.

that would be a crappy Plan B.  only possible light at the end of that tunnel is that someone in the youth movement has made the leap to rotation-quality player that could fill Hauser's minutes competently.

Yeah, it's not great.  But, I think the team is getting out of the tax, hell or high water.  There's no better time to take step one toward getting out of the repeater tax.

[Jiri Welsch]

It will be interesting to see what happens if they can't move Simons.

Do they then make Hauser available around the deadline to get below the tax, dumping some other end of roster salary in the process?

I hope not.

that would be a crappy Plan B.  only possible light at the end of that tunnel is that someone in the youth movement has made the leap to rotation-quality player that could fill Hauser's minutes competently.

Yeah, it's not great.  But, I think the team is getting out of the tax, hell or high water.  There's no better time to take step one toward getting out of the repeater tax.

I agree. I think getting under the tax is priority #1 for next season -- no matter what they're saying publicly.

[Who]

It will be interesting to see what happens if they can't move Simons.

Do they then make Hauser available around the deadline to get below the tax, dumping some other end of roster salary in the process?

I hope not.

that would be a crappy Plan B.  only possible light at the end of that tunnel is that someone in the youth movement has made the leap to rotation-quality player that could fill Hauser's minutes competently.

Yeah, I would be comfortable with Hugo Gonzalez replacing Hauser in the rotation. There is a good player there in Hugo.

I expect Hugo to be a rotation worthy player by 2026-27. I would be surprised / disappointing if he wasn't ready by then. If he hasn't gotten his shot up to serviceable level by then. Because I think the rest of his game is already NBA ready right now. It is just his outside shot I am concerned about.

I would rather keep Hauser because Hauser is a well above average backup SF. Hugo would have to improve rapidly to play at that level. But in terms of a step back, I think Hugo should be good enough to be an able replacement at backup SF for 2026-27 for Hauser if Hauser needs to be traded.

[Goldstar88]

It will be interesting to see what happens if they can't move Simons.

Do they then make Hauser available around the deadline to get below the tax, dumping some other end of roster salary in the process?

I hope not.

that would be a crappy Plan B.  only possible light at the end of that tunnel is that someone in the youth movement has made the leap to rotation-quality player that could fill Hauser's minutes competently.

Yeah, I would be comfortable with Hugo Gonzalez replacing Hauser in the rotation. There is a good player there in Hugo.

I expect Hugo to be a rotation worthy player by 2026-27. I would be surprised / disappointing if he wasn't ready by then. If he hasn't gotten his shot up to serviceable level by then. Because I think the rest of his game is already NBA ready right now. It is just his outside shot I am concerned about.

I would rather keep Hauser because Hauser is a well above average backup SF. Hugo would have to improve rapidly to play at that level. But in terms of a step back, I think Hugo should be good enough to be an able replacement at backup SF for 2026-27 for Hauser if Hauser needs to be traded.

Except for the part where he can?t shoot. At all. Sam is the best shooter on the team.