Shams: C's Sign Boucher/Niang & two future 2nd rounders to Utah for RJ Luis Jr.

[Smartacus]

Just glad Niang is far far away from this team.

Agreed, that guy was bringing weird vibes before he even suited up. Happy he?s gone. Bonus points for brining in Boucher. Will likely not mean anything in the grand scheme of things, but I?ve always liked him as a player.

If we can?t be good next season, I don?t mind the team being stocked with players I root for. Niang can kick rocks.

[Birdman]

Bobby marks said 10.2 below 2nd apron & 1.7 below first apron

[Birdman]

What about Ben Simmons now? In or out?

[Jiri Welsch]

What about Ben Simmons now? In or out?

Considering Boucher is a limited offensive big who can guard multiple positions well, feels like Simmons would be redundant at this point.

[jambr380]

Luis will be 23 in November.  That impacts his projected ceiling.  But isn't he really the equivalent of a 2nd round pick?  So it really only took 1 second round pick to dump Niang.  Did anyone really expect anything less?

Not all 2nd round picks are created equal, so we will have to see what they actually gave up.  UTA was going to want something to take on Niang.

Problem is, we don't really need three 2nd round picks on the team this year. And the team seemingly like Norris, so not sure he's going anywhere.

Amari is nice and all, but at this point, I'd feel a lot better if they traded him for a future 2nd if anybody's interested.

Also, since we gave up two 2nds, it's too bad we couldn't attach Tillman, as well for a possible Simmons/Bassey roster spot. I know we are only at 14, but we seem to like to stay at that number well into the season for money savings.

I am not sure why it matters how many 2nd round picks are on the team for 2025-26.  Who cares?  It is going to be a lost season anyway.

As to Tillman, he is only making $2.5M.  Why dump him and replace him with some other player that is making $2.5M?  Fine if that player you replace him with has a legitimate chance to contribute to the team in 2026-27, but otherwise, it doesn't really matter.  And it was not all that long ago that Tillman was a player who could contribute to a playoff team.  I don't see any need to spend a 2nd round pick to dump Tillman.  There is a chance, however slight, that he bounces back.

We should all care because we don't have room for three 2nd round picks on the roster. Norris, Shulga, Williams - those are our 3 two-way players.

And Tillman is just a wasted roster spot at this point. He was once a decent player, but has spiraled into being unplayable. Perhaps his knee is all better and he's lost 30lbs, but a short, non-athletic, non-shooting big is useless in today's league. Nowhere in my response did I say we should give up a 2nd to get rid of him, but I would much rather have Bassey and/or Simmons. Those are both guys who could likely give more in 26-27 than Tillman.

[Celtics2021]

Bobby marks said 10.2 below 2nd apron & 1.7 below first apron

That must have been before the Boucher signing.  We are closer to $8 million below 2nd apron now.

[perks-a-beast]

You couldnt give me a duffle bag of cash to go to a game this year.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Bobby marks said 10.2 below 2nd apron & 1.7 below first apron

I would love Stevens to try moving Simons for Nets Terance Mann.   

It would save the Celtics 12 million and it gives the Nets leverage over Cam Thomas.

White
Mann
Brown
Boucher
Garza

[celticinorlando]

Get something out of Simons. Might be something at the deadline but his value now seems low.

[jambr380]

@KeithSmithNBA
RJ Luis is signed to a two-year two-way contract. He?ll fill the Celtics open two-way spot. Boston?s other two current two-way players are Miles Norris and rookie Max Shulga.

Chris Boucher will be on a vet minimum deal and will fill the spot opened up by trading Georges Niang to Utah.

Boston has one open roster spot and is about $7.8M under the second apron.
4:37 PM ? Aug 5, 2025

Interesting that Keith Smith says that Luis Jr will fill the remaining two-way spot. Does he just not know about Amari Williams or has there been something leaked about the Celtics not retaining him?

Bobby Marks also tweeted out that this will save the Celtics $43M in salary tax ($73.1M to $30.4M).

https://x.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1952831336277803113

[Celtics2021]

@KeithSmithNBA
RJ Luis is signed to a two-year two-way contract. He?ll fill the Celtics open two-way spot. Boston?s other two current two-way players are Miles Norris and rookie Max Shulga.

Chris Boucher will be on a vet minimum deal and will fill the spot opened up by trading Georges Niang to Utah.

Boston has one open roster spot and is about $7.8M under the second apron.
4:37 PM ? Aug 5, 2025

Interesting that Keith Smith says that Luis Jr will fill the remaining two-way spot. Does he just not know about Amari Williams or has there been something leaked about the Celtics not retaining him?

Bobby Marks also tweeted out that this will save the Celtics $43M in salary tax ($73.1M to $30.4M).

https://x.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1952831336277803113

Whoa, $43 million is quite the savings.

Regarding 2-ways, they are not guaranteed, so Williams could easily take any of the three depending on camp performance.  But also, I think it is possible they are waiting on Williams in case they can move Tillman for cash.  Williams can be signed to a rookie contract of $1.275 million, about half what Tillman makes.  If they can convince someone to take on Tillman and send out only a little more than he makes to sweeten the deal, it is possible that the tax savings in rostering Williams instead of Tillman would make the move cost effective.  Say for instance that the Celtics sent out Tillman, plus enough cash to cover his salary with an extra million added in, they could then sign Williams and the marginal tax bill decrease would be enough to cover Williams salary plus the cash they sent out to move Tillman.

[mobilija]

Any details on the picks?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I'm waiting for Boston to sign the OTHER Boucher.



He'd really help the defense.

[Vermont Green]

Luis will be 23 in November.  That impacts his projected ceiling.  But isn't he really the equivalent of a 2nd round pick?  So it really only took 1 second round pick to dump Niang.  Did anyone really expect anything less?

Not all 2nd round picks are created equal, so we will have to see what they actually gave up.  UTA was going to want something to take on Niang.

Problem is, we don't really need three 2nd round picks on the team this year. And the team seemingly like Norris, so not sure he's going anywhere.

Amari is nice and all, but at this point, I'd feel a lot better if they traded him for a future 2nd if anybody's interested.

Also, since we gave up two 2nds, it's too bad we couldn't attach Tillman, as well for a possible Simmons/Bassey roster spot. I know we are only at 14, but we seem to like to stay at that number well into the season for money savings.

I am not sure why it matters how many 2nd round picks are on the team for 2025-26.  Who cares?  It is going to be a lost season anyway.

As to Tillman, he is only making $2.5M.  Why dump him and replace him with some other player that is making $2.5M?  Fine if that player you replace him with has a legitimate chance to contribute to the team in 2026-27, but otherwise, it doesn't really matter.  And it was not all that long ago that Tillman was a player who could contribute to a playoff team.  I don't see any need to spend a 2nd round pick to dump Tillman.  There is a chance, however slight, that he bounces back.

We should all care because we don't have room for three 2nd round picks on the roster. Norris, Shulga, Williams - those are our 3 two-way players.

And Tillman is just a wasted roster spot at this point. He was once a decent player, but has spiraled into being unplayable. Perhaps his knee is all better and he's lost 30lbs, but a short, non-athletic, non-shooting big is useless in today's league. Nowhere in my response did I say we should give up a 2nd to get rid of him, but I would much rather have Bassey and/or Simmons. Those are both guys who could likely give more in 26-27 than Tillman.

I am not sure we are disagreeing.  Tillman in 2022-23 was a playoff starter for MEM and put up 9/8, 53% FG%.  Very serviceable.  In 2023-24 (MEM and BOS), there was decline but he had some useful play for the BOS both regular season and playoffs.  Then in 2024-25, he fell off a cliff.  Couldn't even play at the NBA level.  Something happened.

At this point, no one will take him without a pick attached, unless you get really creative as C2021 suggested.  I actually wouldn't mind using a future 2nd to move him if the player who replaced him was that much better.  I don't see Simmons or Bassey as that.  I prefer Amari Williams on a 2-way.  I am also fine to give him another shot.  Move him if you need the roster spot but no need to move him just to move him.

[jambr380]

Bobby marks said 10.2 below 2nd apron & 1.7 below first apron

I would love Stevens to try moving Simons for Nets Terance Mann.   

It would save the Celtics 12 million and it gives the Nets leverage over Cam Thomas.

White
Mann
Brown
Boucher
Garza

Mann is decent and all, but we basically already gave BKN a 1st to take on Mann and the $48M owed to him over the next 3 years in the KP deal. I am sure they would have been thrilled to instead get an expiring Simons making a total of $21M less.

It seems as though the Celtics value the expiring over a player making slightly less. There were even rumblings that we declined #9 and Barrett from TOR for Jrue. Not that we'll really have any money to spend next season with our core all locked up, but the KP TPE and full MLE could come in handy. It's too bad we didn't offload Niang in the KP deal. It would have given us a $30M TPE instead.