2025-26 Celtics Roster

[jpotter33]

If we seriously consider offers for JB, I'd call up Atlanta and see if we could work out some form of JB for Jalen Johnson swap. This would especially make sense if we're planning on giving JT most/all of next year to rehab and not push him back.

Not only would this be a solid for JB to send him back home and to a potentially competitive team, but Johnson would be an ideal wing running mate next to JT and complement him well with the potential to be even better than Brown long-term. He's also significantly younger but ready to contribute now. He'd also provide some cap relief. Not sure whether we could get him, but who knows with Atlanta.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK

start over in 2 years

next year is worthless now

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

 For me JT-JB-DW are untouchable. We can then reorganize the rest of the roster from there.

[radiohead]

Playing around with numbers here...

Players with contracts next year (12) = $227,784,973
#28 pick:  $2,783,880
14th spot:  $2,229,274

Total:  $232,798,127
2nd Apron:  $207,825,000

Deficit:  $24,973,127


Step 1:  Stretch Jrue -- saves $17,485,714 (not counting cap charge)
Deficit:  $7,487,413

Step 2:  Trade Hauser into another team's MLE:  saves 10,044,644
Surplus:  $2,557,231

That leaves us with 12 players, which I think is sufficient to avoid incomplete roster charges in the off-season?
)
I think at that point we could then operate as a below-the-2nd-apron team?

Next:  Trade Tillman:  $2,546,675; Cut Davison:  $2,270,735
Surplus: $7,374,641 (10 players)

Sign two vet minimums ($4,592,548), 2 rookie minimums ($2,545,738)

Surplus:  $236,355, with 14 players under contract

Roster:

Tatum
Brown
Porzingis
White
Pritchard
Scheierman
Queta
Walsh
#28
VM - Horford?
VM - Kornet?
VM -?
RM -?
RM -?

I suspect fans wouldn't be happy with that off-season, but management would be very pleased.  We'd also be starting the 2026-27 season in the ballpark of $180-$185 million, which means we'd be $47 million below the second apron, $34 million below the 1st apron, and below the luxury tax before filling out the roster (including potentially signing KP at a reduced rate)

And we can use the 14M disabled player exception too?

[Who]

For me JT-JB-DW are untouchable. We can then reorganize the rest of the roster from there.

Agreed. As long as we have those 3, we have the core of a title contender. It is just fine tuning the roster around them.

[Boss_D]

Brad Steven should try to get Jonathan Kuminga from the Warriors to pair with JT and DW

Maybe via Atlanta..

[perks-a-beast]

Not sure how realistic this plan is, but heres what I would do.

1. Trade Jrue Holiday to Detroit for Isaiah Stewart, Simone Fonteccio, 2027 MIL 2nd.

2. Trade Kristaps Porzingis to Utah for John Collins (Dannys turn to do us a favor, like McHale). Give Collins a 3 year extension.

3. Trade Sam Hauser to Memphis for 2028 SAC 2nd.

4. Draft Yaxel Lendeborg with the 28th pick. Draft Kam Jones with the 32nd pick.

5. Decline team options on JD Davison & Jordan Walsh

6. Trade Xavier Tillman for literally whatever. Attach a crappy pick if needed.

7. Sign Al Horford to a 2 year minimum deal.

8. Sign Monte Morris and Torrey Craig to vet minimum deals.

9. Bring back Miles Norris on the cheap.

10. *I'll put this one in asterisks since i dont even know if its possible* Sign Bruce Brown with the $14.4 m injured player exception the Celtics may or may not get from Tatum being injured next year. Again, I don't even know if this is possible given the teams financial constraints.

That would give us a roster of

PG: Derrick White , Payton Pritchard , Monte Morris

SG: Bruce Brown Jr. , Baylor Scheierman , Kam Jones

SF: Jaylen Brown , Simone Fonteccio , Torrey Craig

PF: John Collins , Yaxel Lendeborg , Miles Norris

C: Al Horford , Isaiah Stewart , Neemias Queta

I think thats a nice compromise between what fans want and what ownership wants. It keeps us competitive while cutting down costs a bit. I think this is a team that Tatum wouldnt be completely bummed to come back to.

[Vermont Green]

OK, now I will participate in off season retool discussions. Unfortunately, I have no answers.  I do expect a significant piece will be heading out. 

[Roy H.]

For me JT-JB-DW are untouchable. We can then reorganize the rest of the roster from there.

That's basically where I'm at.  Most teams would be envious of that top three.

[Roy H.]

I see the Jrue-for-Stewart idea a lot.  How does Detroit view Stewart?  I assume they see him as part of their core.

Edit:  I looked up his stats.  Not really a core piece.

[perks-a-beast]

I see the Jrue-for-Stewart idea a lot.  How does Detroit view Stewart?  I assume they see him as part of their core.

Edit:  I looked up his stats.  Not really a core piece.

From what i gather, they like him. But hes an undersized backup center making 15 million a year - im sure theyd have no problem parting with him if the right deal came along.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I see the Jrue-for-Stewart idea a lot.  How does Detroit view Stewart?  I assume they see him as part of their core.

Edit:  I looked up his stats.  Not really a core piece.

From what i gather, they like him. But hes an undersized backup center making 15 million a year - im sure theyd have no problem parting with him if the right deal came along.

Plus coming off a season with knee problems. We were rumored to be interested in him a couple seasons ago. I do like him.

[Phantom255x]

1. Porzingis + 2 future 1st rounders for Kessler + Sexton + Sensabaugh (6M savings, more on luxury tax; Utah gets back 2 firsts, and an expiring in KP who they could potentially deal at the trade deadline for more assets)

2. Dump Hauser to a team like Miami or Sacramento who could use a 3-point shooting specialist

3. Jrue Holiday + a second round pick to Dallas for Gafford + Hardy (might need a 3rd team to help with salary facilitation; ideally you save 5-10M - more in lux tax, and get the long term Horford replacement as well)

Overall, I do think Dallas and Utah are gonna be two of the popular teams that a deal can be done with. Jrue makes a lot of sense in Dallas with Kyrie's situation as well, and their need for a defensive guard. And Utah has a mix of cap space, assets and picks to facilitate something. Some other teams like Houston, Detroit and Orlando could be options as well given their needs and status as being playoff teams close to true contention. 

[Who]

Why does everyone want to dump Hauser?

He is a good backup SF. Great shooter. Adequate defender & rebounder. 41% 3PT on 5 3PTA pre game in only 20mpg. Awesome.

[Who]

I think you pay the tax and keep the team together if you believe Tatum has a chance of returning late in the season. This could be a Championship team next year.

If Tatum was definitely out for the season, then yes I would trim the salary and get below the 2nd apron. Not worth paying the tax for a team with no Championship ambitions. Start retooling. Move on from older players (Jrue) and perhaps oft-injured players (Zinger) and retool around Tatum, Jaylen and D White. For a new Championship contention window starting 2026-27.