Celtics Long Term Strategy

[Vermont Green]

We've got to put the $22.5 million TPE to good use, and then find some rotation players in the draft and with the Taxpayer MLE.

I think you are referring to the $22.5M TPE from the Porzingis trade.  That is going to be tricky.  If we use it this season, it will no doubt put us back above the second apron.  If they were going to operate over the second apron, they wouldn't have traded Porzingis in the first place (or Holiday).  So I am not sure how likely it is that it gets used this season.

If they use it next off season (it expires July 7, 2026), then they would be hard capped at the first apron I believe.  So it is kind of a Catch 22.  If they spend money by using this (not in the season it was generated), it prevents them from spending money.  They are better off not using this and staying somewhere between the first and second aprons this season and moving forward.

They certainly need to hit on the 2026 first round draft pick or trade it for value.  That draft pick is a key piece in all this.  Not sure how much you can expect from late first round and second round picks.  They can trade Simons to get back some value but whether you trade Simons for players or trade him for space and use the Porzingis TPE, you end up about the same place.

Right now they're projected to have just over $29 million in room under the 1st apron next off-season, so it's viable to use it.

I think that $180M ($29M below the 2026-27 first apron) is based on only 11 players (it does not include any salary for Simons or players Simons may be traded for, for example).  In any case, I will be surprised if they end up hard capping themselves at the first apron for the 2026-27 season.  The best scenario is for them to trade Simons for players (or sign him), pick up some of the team options (Scheierman, Walsh, Minott) plus use the 2026-27 MLE, plus draft well.  That allows them to spend up to the 2nd apron.

[Roy H.]

We've got to put the $22.5 million TPE to good use, and then find some rotation players in the draft and with the Taxpayer MLE.

I think you are referring to the $22.5M TPE from the Porzingis trade.  That is going to be tricky.  If we use it this season, it will no doubt put us back above the second apron.  If they were going to operate over the second apron, they wouldn't have traded Porzingis in the first place (or Holiday).  So I am not sure how likely it is that it gets used this season.

If they use it next off season (it expires July 7, 2026), then they would be hard capped at the first apron I believe.  So it is kind of a Catch 22.  If they spend money by using this (not in the season it was generated), it prevents them from spending money.  They are better off not using this and staying somewhere between the first and second aprons this season and moving forward.

They certainly need to hit on the 2026 first round draft pick or trade it for value.  That draft pick is a key piece in all this.  Not sure how much you can expect from late first round and second round picks.  They can trade Simons to get back some value but whether you trade Simons for players or trade him for space and use the Porzingis TPE, you end up about the same place.

Right now they're projected to have just over $29 million in room under the 1st apron next off-season, so it's viable to use it.

I think that $180M ($29M below the 2026-27 first apron) is based on only 11 players (it does not include any salary for Simons or players Simons may be traded for, for example).  In any case, I will be surprised if they end up hard capping themselves at the first apron for the 2026-27 season.  The best scenario is for them to trade Simons for players (or sign him), pick up some of the team options (Scheierman, Walsh, Minott) plus use the 2026-27 MLE, plus draft well.  That allows them to spend up to the 2nd apron.

I don't think Simons is in the long-term plans, and I'd rather get a big with the TPE.

[Vermont Green]

We've got to put the $22.5 million TPE to good use, and then find some rotation players in the draft and with the Taxpayer MLE.

I think you are referring to the $22.5M TPE from the Porzingis trade.  That is going to be tricky.  If we use it this season, it will no doubt put us back above the second apron.  If they were going to operate over the second apron, they wouldn't have traded Porzingis in the first place (or Holiday).  So I am not sure how likely it is that it gets used this season.

If they use it next off season (it expires July 7, 2026), then they would be hard capped at the first apron I believe.  So it is kind of a Catch 22.  If they spend money by using this (not in the season it was generated), it prevents them from spending money.  They are better off not using this and staying somewhere between the first and second aprons this season and moving forward.

They certainly need to hit on the 2026 first round draft pick or trade it for value.  That draft pick is a key piece in all this.  Not sure how much you can expect from late first round and second round picks.  They can trade Simons to get back some value but whether you trade Simons for players or trade him for space and use the Porzingis TPE, you end up about the same place.

Right now they're projected to have just over $29 million in room under the 1st apron next off-season, so it's viable to use it.

I think that $180M ($29M below the 2026-27 first apron) is based on only 11 players (it does not include any salary for Simons or players Simons may be traded for, for example).  In any case, I will be surprised if they end up hard capping themselves at the first apron for the 2026-27 season.  The best scenario is for them to trade Simons for players (or sign him), pick up some of the team options (Scheierman, Walsh, Minott) plus use the 2026-27 MLE, plus draft well.  That allows them to spend up to the 2nd apron.

I don't think Simons is in the long-term plans, and I'd rather get a big with the TPE.

If the Celtics come to that same conclusion, they will trade Simons.  Are you suggesting to just let Simons expire just so you can use the TPE and stay under the 1st apron?  And there is no way they use the TPE this season as this would put them way over the 2nd apron.  Which is worse, to let the TPE "go to waste" but not be hard capped, or lose Simons' salary slot, use the TPE (which is less than Simons' salary slot) and be hard capped?  You would have to use the TPE very quickly as it expires on July 7.  Not a whole lot of time to make a trade happen.

Whatever assets you would send out to get a big to fill the TPE could be attached to Simons to probably get back an even better big.  You can't really do both, use Simons' salary slot and the TPE.  I expect they use the one that doesn't get them hard capped.

[Roy H.]

We've got to put the $22.5 million TPE to good use, and then find some rotation players in the draft and with the Taxpayer MLE.

I think you are referring to the $22.5M TPE from the Porzingis trade.  That is going to be tricky.  If we use it this season, it will no doubt put us back above the second apron.  If they were going to operate over the second apron, they wouldn't have traded Porzingis in the first place (or Holiday).  So I am not sure how likely it is that it gets used this season.

If they use it next off season (it expires July 7, 2026), then they would be hard capped at the first apron I believe.  So it is kind of a Catch 22.  If they spend money by using this (not in the season it was generated), it prevents them from spending money.  They are better off not using this and staying somewhere between the first and second aprons this season and moving forward.

They certainly need to hit on the 2026 first round draft pick or trade it for value.  That draft pick is a key piece in all this.  Not sure how much you can expect from late first round and second round picks.  They can trade Simons to get back some value but whether you trade Simons for players or trade him for space and use the Porzingis TPE, you end up about the same place.

Right now they're projected to have just over $29 million in room under the 1st apron next off-season, so it's viable to use it.

I think that $180M ($29M below the 2026-27 first apron) is based on only 11 players (it does not include any salary for Simons or players Simons may be traded for, for example).  In any case, I will be surprised if they end up hard capping themselves at the first apron for the 2026-27 season.  The best scenario is for them to trade Simons for players (or sign him), pick up some of the team options (Scheierman, Walsh, Minott) plus use the 2026-27 MLE, plus draft well.  That allows them to spend up to the 2nd apron.

I don't think Simons is in the long-term plans, and I'd rather get a big with the TPE.

If the Celtics come to that same conclusion, they will trade Simons.  Are you suggesting to just let Simons expire just so you can use the TPE and stay under the 1st apron?  And there is no way they use the TPE this season as this would put them way over the 2nd apron.  Which is worse, to let the TPE "go to waste" but not be hard capped, or lose Simons' salary slot, use the TPE (which is less than Simons' salary slot) and be hard capped?  You would have to use the TPE very quickly as it expires on July 7.  Not a whole lot of time to make a trade happen.

Whatever assets you would send out to get a big to fill the TPE could be attached to Simons to probably get back an even better big.  You can't really do both, use Simons' salary slot and the TPE.  I expect they use the one that doesn't get them hard capped.

I don't think there's much of a market for Simons.  I think the TPE is more valuable than he is.

[Csfan1984]

I don't see the core of White, Brown and Tatum working. Cs need a big man who is elite and team needs to move one of the current core for that big. If Giannis is available I'm not sure Brown for Giannis is what the C's or Bucks would want. Instead I see a better fit if it's something out the box like a three way deal between Memphis, Boston and Milwaukee.

Cs trade: Brown, Walsh, and 2027 top 5 protected first.
Cs receive : JJJ and Tyler Smith
(saves $18 million)

Grizz trade: Morant, JJJ, Clarke, Wells and 2026 choice first.
Grizz receive: Brown and Giannis

Bucks trade: Giannis and Tyler Smith
Bucks receive: Morant, Clarke, Wells, Walsh and two first.

I think this works for all three teams.

Cs Starters
White, Simmons, Hauser, Tatum, JJJ
Bench
PP, Scheiermen, Hugo, Niang, Queta.

Grizz Starters
Pippen Jr, Pope, Brown, Giannis, Aldama
(They maintain assets to flip for a better PG)

Bucks starters
Morant, Trent, Kuzma, Clarke, Turner
(They get a star, back, become more balanced, and land picks)

[slamtheking]

I don't see the core of White, Brown and Tatum working. Cs need a big man who is elite and team needs to move one of the current core for that big. If Giannis is available I'm not sure Brown for Giannis is what the C's or Bucks would want. Instead I see a better fit if it's something out the box like a three way deal between Memphis, Boston and Milwaukee.

Cs trade: Brown, Walsh, and 2027 top 5 protected first.
Cs receive : JJJ and Tyler Smith
(saves $18 million)

Grizz trade: Morant, JJJ, Clarke, Wells and 2026 choice first.
Grizz receive: Brown and Giannis

Bucks trade: Giannis and Tyler Smith
Bucks receive: Morant, Clarke, Wells, Walsh and two first.

I think this works for all three teams.

Cs Starters
White, Simmons, Hauser, Tatum, JJJ
Bench
PP, Scheiermen, Hugo, Niang, Queta.

Grizz Starters
Pippen Jr, Pope, Brown, Giannis, Aldama
(They maintain assets to flip for a better PG)

Bucks starters
Morant, Trent, Kuzma, Clarke, Turner
(They get a star, back, become more balanced, and land picks)

C's and Bucks both hang up the phone. Both are giving up more talent than they're getting in and Memphis is close to contender status but need better support for JB and Giannis

[Goldstar88]

Brad better start drafting better. That?s for sure.

Even if Stevens does draft better, rookies do not win you championships. That is what perplexes me so much.

Magic Johnson says hello, wons finals MVP.   Definitely, the exception not the norm.

Plus, those rookies eventually turn into veterans.

I'd feel better if Danny had been here running the draft.  We'd likely have Sensabaugh and Filipowski, instead of Walsh and Scheierman. I also doubt we would have traded #32 this year for a bag of nickels.

Exactly. Some late first rounders are contributing year 1 or 2 as well. If Brad can?t better evaluate and draft players, it?s going to really handcuff the Celtics.