Offseason Thread

[slightly biased bias fan]

Lol - the Kings are rumored to be interested in Westbrook.

Schroeder, Lavine, DeRozan, Monk, Ellis, Westbrook, Carter.

They are quickly moving into worst NBA franchise/team-building territory. The Nets and Kings are vying hard for 1-2.

I hope Stevens is monitoring them, because they are desperate.

I believe Zach Lowe intimated Sacramento were extremely interested in Jaylen Brown this offseason. I think Lowe said it would have required every Kings pick, and every pick swap available.

[Moranis]

To trade Brown to the Kings you'd need at least one other team involved to take on DeRozan and give Boston something more useful.  Because DeRozan makes no sense for Boston.  So DeRozan, Monk, Murray, Carter and a boatload of picks for Brown and Niang.  Redirect DeRozan to a 3rd Team and get a younger cheaper draft pick.

I don't think id do that even with 5 1st's or whatever.  No clear path to a good player until years down the line other than Boston's own 26 draft pick.

[SparzWizard]

To trade Brown to the Kings you'd need at least one other team involved to take on DeRozan and give Boston something more useful.  Because DeRozan makes no sense for Boston.  So DeRozan, Monk, Murray, Carter and a boatload of picks for Brown and Niang.  Redirect DeRozan to a 3rd Team and get a younger cheaper draft pick.

I don't think id do that even with 5 1st's or whatever.  No clear path to a good player until years down the line other than Boston's own 26 draft pick.

But I want Sabonis back

[Who]

To trade Brown to the Kings you'd need at least one other team involved to take on DeRozan and give Boston something more useful.  Because DeRozan makes no sense for Boston.  So DeRozan, Monk, Murray, Carter and a boatload of picks for Brown and Niang.  Redirect DeRozan to a 3rd Team and get a younger cheaper draft pick.

I don't think id do that even with 5 1st's or whatever.  No clear path to a good player until years down the line other than Boston's own 26 draft pick.

But I want Sabonis back

I want Sabonis with Jaylen & Tatum. Not replacing one of them. That does nothing to improve the team.

[Celtics2021]

Lol - the Kings are rumored to be interested in Westbrook.

Schroeder, Lavine, DeRozan, Monk, Ellis, Westbrook, Carter.

They are quickly moving into worst NBA franchise/team-building territory. The Nets and Kings are vying hard for 1-2.

I hope Stevens is monitoring them, because they are desperate.

I keep waiting for them to give us a good return for Simons.  Devin Carter is getting moved somewhere this summer, and I really want him in Boston.  He?s got a fair bit of development ahead of him still, but he is another Derrick White in the long run.  The Kings have no direction, and we just need some marketing to sell them on Simons.

[Goldstar88]

Mark Cuban expects Kyrie Irving to play next season:

Justin Termine: Do you expect Kyrie [Irving] back this year? Mark Cuban: Yeah, I do. Yeah. I mean, he?s gonna be careful, but it?s Kyrie, man, he lives to ball and he?s not gonna take time off if he doesn?t have to. via Sirius XM

[Roy H.]

Speaking of Kylie, JB is still hanging with that moron:

https://x.com/danield1214/status/1944095208162939297/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1944095208162939297&currentTweetUser=danield1214

[Neurotic Guy]

I remain a bit confused as to why Simons isn?t flat out considered more valuable than Jrue.  Is it about the remaining time and money on their contracts?  I?d rather Simons on an expiring than three more years of Jrue and 130M.  But just for pure skill, Simons is a better player.  That?s of course an opinion based on the belief that Jrue took a downturn in 2024-25 and I expect it to continue in the same direction in the coming years.  Not only did he decline offensively but he wasn?t as effective defensively either. Obviously he?s still more talented than Simons defensively and in terms of leadership - but the 26 year old is a very good offensive guard.  I didn?t see much of him over the years but the few games I saw him I thought he was pretty impressive. Though I have to admit that I?m more readily aware of offensive talent than defensive talent. He can shoot, pass, create.  I?m surprised there isn?t a market for him now and will be more surprised if there isn?t one at the deadline.  And I would not be surprised if some here won?t want to give him up when they picture adding JT to the existing lineup. 

I?m wrong frequently so it won?t surprise me if I?m wrong again - but I expect Simons will look like a Jrue upgrade next year.

[Jiri Welsch]

I remain a bit confused as to why Simons isn?t flat out considered more valuable than Jrue.  Is it about the remaining time and money on their contracts?  I?d rather Simons on an expiring than three more years of Jrue and 130M.  But just for pure skill, Simons is a better player.  That?s of course an opinion based on the belief that Jrue took a downturn in 2024-25 and I expect it to continue in the same direction in the coming years.  Not only did he decline offensively but he wasn?t as effective defensively either. Obviously he?s still more talented than Simons defensively and in terms of leadership - but the 26 year old is a very good offensive guard.  I didn?t see much of him over the years but the few games I saw him I thought he was pretty impressive. Though I have to admit that I?m more readily aware of offensive talent than defensive talent. He can shoot, pass, create.  I?m surprised there isn?t a market for him now and will be more surprised if there isn?t one at the deadline.  And I would not be surprised if some here won?t want to give him up when they picture adding JT to the existing lineup. 

I?m wrong frequently so it won?t surprise me if I?m wrong again - but I expect Simons will look like a Jrue upgrade next year.

Jrue brought leadership, stability (i.e. timely buckets), a defensive intensity and versatility that Simons doesn't come close to bringing. Jrue was needed to be a 4th or 5th scorer most games. Yes, Simons is a better scorer. But that's not really what Jrue brings to teams at a championship level.

[Moranis]

Mark Cuban expects Kyrie Irving to play next season:

Justin Termine: Do you expect Kyrie [Irving] back this year? Mark Cuban: Yeah, I do. Yeah. I mean, he?s gonna be careful, but it?s Kyrie, man, he lives to ball and he?s not gonna take time off if he doesn?t have to. via Sirius XM

the guy that has multiple times decided to just take time off, doesn't take time off.  The love affair with Kurie by so many is just strange

[Neurotic Guy]

I remain a bit confused as to why Simons isn?t flat out considered more valuable than Jrue.  Is it about the remaining time and money on their contracts?  I?d rather Simons on an expiring than three more years of Jrue and 130M.  But just for pure skill, Simons is a better player.  That?s of course an opinion based on the belief that Jrue took a downturn in 2024-25 and I expect it to continue in the same direction in the coming years.  Not only did he decline offensively but he wasn?t as effective defensively either. Obviously he?s still more talented than Simons defensively and in terms of leadership - but the 26 year old is a very good offensive guard.  I didn?t see much of him over the years but the few games I saw him I thought he was pretty impressive. Though I have to admit that I?m more readily aware of offensive talent than defensive talent. He can shoot, pass, create.  I?m surprised there isn?t a market for him now and will be more surprised if there isn?t one at the deadline.  And I would not be surprised if some here won?t want to give him up when they picture adding JT to the existing lineup. 

I?m wrong frequently so it won?t surprise me if I?m wrong again - but I expect Simons will look like a Jrue upgrade next year.

Jrue brought leadership, stability (i.e. timely buckets), a defensive intensity and versatility that Simons doesn't come close to bringing. Jrue was needed to be a 4th or 5th scorer most games. Yes, Simons is a better scorer. But that's not really what Jrue brings to teams at a championship level.

I have somewhat of a snippy response that I?ll apologize for in advance.  The key word in your post is *brought*.

No doubt you are correct with regard to 23-24 Jrue.  Possibly still true in 24-25 if he was fully healthy and the team on the whole was healthier. But moving forward, not so sure. 

[Who]

Isaiah Jackson and the Indiana Pacers have agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal. Jackson, who was a restricted free agent, is coming off a torn Achilles suffered in early November.

Jackson has career averages of 7.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 14.9 minutes across four seasons with the Pacers.

I expect Isaiah Jackson will start and Jay Huff will come off the bench for Indiana at center. Tony Bradley as 3rd string.

I believe Thomas Bryant is a FA.

[tazzmaniac]

Isaiah Jackson and the Indiana Pacers have agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal. Jackson, who was a restricted free agent, is coming off a torn Achilles suffered in early November.

Jackson has career averages of 7.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 14.9 minutes across four seasons with the Pacers.

I expect Isaiah Jackson will start and Jay Huff will come off the bench for Indiana at center. Tony Bradley as 3rd string.

I believe Thomas Bryant is a FA.

Jackson and Wiseman were the Pacers' backup centers behind Turner to start the 2024-25 season but each tore an Achilles tendon within the season's first 10 days.

That's 3 torn Achilles on one team for a single season.  Wild. 

[Roy H.]

Guard Cole Anthony has agreed to a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks after he clears waivers, sources told ESPN on Saturday night.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Cole Anthony to be bought out by Memphis and sign with the Bucks.

There goes my hope that the Bucks will desperately need to trade for a primary scoring guard and make a massive overpay for Simons - at least for now.

Last team that hasn't made a move for a similar player that I can find anything about that was interested in Simons within the past year (there may be other unknown teams) was the Warriors. They have an unresolved contract issue with Kuminga, and they also have a trade exception that would nicely fit Niang's contract.

Simons and Niang to the Warriors
Kuminga to the Celtics (sign-and-trade, 25m per year)
Moody to a third team

Is that something we'd be interested in? I'm not a big fan of Kuminga's game, but I could be talked into the "needs a new team with new opportunities, young talent, better asset, blah-blah-blah" argument.