Our bigs going forward

[jambr380]

Here are center options:

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/c

PFs:

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/pf

That's pretty dire. Glad to hear Al has been hanging around the training facility at least, so it doesn't look like he'll retire. Outside of Reid and Turner (who are going to get paid a lot more), Al is pretty easily the next best option on the list. Kind-of essential that we keep him at this point - especially in such a transitional year. I definitely want him around to help with the transition

[Roy H.]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

[Who]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

[Roy H.]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

Is Simons more or less value than Dalton Knecht and a 2031 Lakers #1?

Would Hauser plus a 1st and 2nd be enough?

[JBcat]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

Is Simons more or less value than Dalton Knecht and a 2031 Lakers #1?

Would Hauser plus a 1st and 2nd be enough?

I don?t think Knecht will be much more than a Houser type which is valuable. He came into the league an older rookie NBA ready to play a role. I think he is what he is for the most part already 24, not some upside swing IMO.

Mark Williams health situation scares me with the Lakers backing out of that deal. He also doesn?t provide the defensive impact that he should, at least up until this point.

[Roy H.]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

Is Simons more or less value than Dalton Knecht and a 2031 Lakers #1?

Would Hauser plus a 1st and 2nd be enough?

I don?t think Knecht will be much more than a Houser type which is valuable. He came into the league an older rookie NBA ready to play a role. I think he is what he is for the most part already 24, not some upside swing IMO.

Mark Williams health situation scares me with the Lakers backing out of that deal. He also doesn?t provide the defensive impact that he should, at least up until this point.

Very true, but he's cost-controlled and is at least a competent starter.  But, he'd be a risk.

Another option is the always discussed Walker Kessler, who will soon get overpaid.

[Who]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

Is Simons more or less value than Dalton Knecht and a 2031 Lakers #1?

Would Hauser plus a 1st and 2nd be enough?

It depends on whether Charlotte want or are willing to have an undersized SG next to LaMelo Ball. If they are willing to do that with A Simons defending PGs and LaMelo defending SGs, I think those two would mesh well together. In that case, I do think it is enough value for Mark Williams.

However, if Charlotte's idea of getting rid of Rozier and moving LaMelo to PG was to get bigger on the defensive end, then they may have zero interest in A Simons.

[Who]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

Is Simons more or less value than Dalton Knecht and a 2031 Lakers #1?

Would Hauser plus a 1st and 2nd be enough?

I don?t think Knecht will be much more than a Houser type which is valuable. He came into the league an older rookie NBA ready to play a role. I think he is what he is for the most part already 24, not some upside swing IMO.

Mark Williams health situation scares me with the Lakers backing out of that deal. He also doesn?t provide the defensive impact that he should, at least up until this point.

Very true, but he's cost-controlled and is at least a competent starter.  But, he'd be a risk.

Another option is the always discussed Walker Kessler, who will soon get overpaid.

Mark Williams is also due a new contract in 12 months time (like Kessler). Reports were that this was part of the reason Charlotte were looking to trade him. They were scared of paying him with all his injury issues.

[Vermont Green]

I think what is going to happen is that the Celtics will sign Kornet.  He may cost enough to put them back above the 2nd apron to start the season but they can get back under along the way by trading Niang or Simons.  They are both expiring anyway and are not likely part of the future plan (they certainly don't help the big man problem).  Then they go into 2025-26 with just Kornet and Queta as centers, Tillman and a FA as PFs.

This is just for the gap season, the lost season, they don't need to solve this until the start of the 2026-27 season.  They can do the OKC thing of playing a 7-footer and 4 guards for the 2025-26 season.  Who cares.  It is going to be dull to watch but it will get them into the lottery which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  I don't think they want to start paying any real money for a big this season (other than maybe Kornet who is useful for the 2026-27 season and beyond).

I would not necessarily trade Hauser for an emergency big to fill the hole for 2025-26.  Hauser is a productive player on a reasonable contract who can be part of the plan for 2026 and beyond.  You only trade him for a big if that big is also sure to a productive player on a contending team and on a reasonable contract for a few seasons.  Someone at least comparable to Kornet.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I wonder what it would take to get Mark Williams from Charlotte.

Anfernee Simons?

Is Simons more or less value than Dalton Knecht and a 2031 Lakers #1?

Would Hauser plus a 1st and 2nd be enough?

I don?t think Knecht will be much more than a Houser type which is valuable. He came into the league an older rookie NBA ready to play a role. I think he is what he is for the most part already 24, not some upside swing IMO.

Mark Williams health situation scares me with the Lakers backing out of that deal. He also doesn?t provide the defensive impact that he should, at least up until this point.

Very true, but he's cost-controlled and is at least a competent starter.  But, he'd be a risk.

Another option is the always discussed Walker Kessler, who will soon get overpaid.

I've wondered about Charlotte for part of some bigger trades too. They've just been so bad for so long, and they actually have some decent players now. White would be a great compliment to Ball. Brown would give them a lot of recognition as an actually playoff team. They could be the new Pistons next year.

You also have the Charles Lee connection to both of those players.

I was kinda wondering if we could get a pretty big trade package back. They have some nice pieces - 4th pick, Miller, Saluan, and Williams.

[Vermont Green]

Very true, but he's cost-controlled and is at least a competent starter.  But, he'd be a risk.

Another option is the always discussed Walker Kessler, who will soon get overpaid.

Spotrac says that Mark Williams is on the last year of his rookie contract and will become a RFA for after this season.  Did he sign an extension or something that Spotrac hasn't picked up?  If he is an expiring and becoming a RFA, BOS would have some control after this season but no different than Kessler I don't think.

Once we dump Simons and Niang (or let them expire), we will have some flexibility to go for guys like Kessler or Williams for the 2026-27 season.  For example, if we trade Simons, I think we can use his exemption to sign someone, is that correct?  And we will have a MLE.  So a few options.

This is part of why I don't think they do anything more this season than absolutely necessary to field a team.  They won't pay any real money for a big other than maybe Kornet.  Then position yourself to do something for 2026-27.

[A Future of Stevens]

The biggest downside of yesterday's moves is our big situation. We kind of need to hit on a big tonight in the draft.

I would feel great if we moved up about 10 picks somehow and got Sorber. 6'10 C with a 7'6 wingspan at 255 pounds. Plays beyond his age at 19. Has great feel and defensive instincts while also being productive. 14.5 pts/ 8.5 rebs / 2.4 assists / 2blks / 1.5 stls on 53% fg and 72% ft.

At our pick, Kalkbrenner would be a good Kornet replacement. Raynaud would be a good long term stretch 5 play, or Fleming would be a good PF or small ball 5 pick.

rumor has it that if Brad does move up it's supposedly for a PG prospect, not a big.  no idea why.

I also heard that, but it was before the trades. Honestly, I would say guard is our strongest position right now. White, Pritchard and Simons should be a good rotation. We need a swing or big desperately. That applies both long and short term.

[Kernewek]

KP:  Expiring, possibly on trade block
Kornet:  Free agent
Horford:  Free agent, will retire soon
Tatum:  Recovering from Achilles

Queta:  minimum contract
Tillman:  minimum contract

How do we keep the roster in contention with the big man situation so precarious? 

(Insert rant about not drafting Filipowski last year, haha.)

Now what?  Any predictions?

Keeping Horford is imperative.

Horford is the difference between this team having a chance at the 4th-6th seeds and fighting for a play-in spot.

Kornet is replaceable with a minimum contract alternative.

It's equal parts impressive, infuriating, and unbelievable that we're heading into the 2025-26 offseason and a legitimate topic of conversation is that the C's still don't have a good plan for replacing Al Horford.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

KP:  Expiring, possibly on trade block
Kornet:  Free agent
Horford:  Free agent, will retire soon
Tatum:  Recovering from Achilles

Queta:  minimum contract
Tillman:  minimum contract

How do we keep the roster in contention with the big man situation so precarious? 

(Insert rant about not drafting Filipowski last year, haha.)

Now what?  Any predictions?

Keeping Horford is imperative.

Horford is the difference between this team having a chance at the 4th-6th seeds and fighting for a play-in spot.

Kornet is replaceable with a minimum contract alternative.

It's equal parts impressive, infuriating, and unbelievable that we're heading into the 2025-26 offseason and a legitimate topic of conversation is that the C's still don't have a good plan for replacing Al Horford.

I guess for me, I get it. Al Horford is one of the few true bigs in the NBA that can defend the best big men in the post, defend the pick-and-roll at a high level, and shoot the three at a high level while keeping the ball moving in the offense.

Turner, Zinger, Jackson Jr., Jokic, Embiid, Chet, Reid, and Wemby - that's the list. There are others that can shoot a little, but aren't a real floor-spacer. 

You either have to trade for one of those guys, or you have to develop one. There's not really a replacement-level player for Al.