Is this team good enough?

[Celtics4ever]

Queta is much better contract value, without a doubt, but Claxton's passing makes him a much better complimentary piece. He also has more in game potential to really take over like his triple double from a couple of weeks ago.  Queta has more rebounding potential (see the 18 board game his last one), but he is a black hole and can't really play away from the basket at all on offense.  If he isn't within 3 feet of the hoop he is basically worthless on the offensive end.  They are similar defenders i.e. solid shot blockers and won't get killed all that often.  The lack of range or horrid passing though is why I called Claxton signficantly better.  He isn't 20 million a year better though, but he is better.  Given the lack of big men, I think if the team had Claxton starting with Queta as the back-up they'd be in a decent shape, though optimally the team would be able to find someone better than Claxton even if it meant giving up more to get him. 

I saw a rumor that had Claxton going to Toronto for Poeltl, Agbaji, and a 2nd.  If Boston could get in on that and get Poeltl, I think he'd be a better fit though he is owed a ton of money going forward (which is why Toronto would make that switch).  So in January when Poeltl can be traded, I'd look at acquiring him for Simons with Claxton going to the Raptors and Simons, Agbaji, and a 2nd from Toronto going to the Nets.  That gets Boston below the apron and very close to the tax line as well (so could potentially get a reset year), though with a long-term bigger money commitment to Poeltl.  So with Tatum back, Boston would be PP, White, Brown, Tatum, Poeltl with Hauser, Queta, Walsh, Minott, Hugo, Baylor, Garza.  Much closer to contention with that team and you keep all 1st's for potential trades.

Poeltl would be great.  I am just impressed with Neemias's growth. 

Teammate Danny Ainge once called McHale "The Black Hole of the low post", joking that when the basketball was passed inside to McHale it disappeared because he rarely passed it back out to the perimeter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McHale_(basketball)

They call McHale a black hole, too, but of course, Neemias is no Kevin McHale.  We should hire Kevin to work with him next summer.

Our old dynasties continually added young talent to compliment our veterans.  It is a different world with free agencies, but I would like to see us trade for Day'ron Sharpe.   It was revealed we tried to sign him if the off season.  We could clear up the wing abundance.  I would offer Schiermann and Tillman and a pick but not our first this year.   We could resign him if we let Simons walk.   This frees up Hugo and Walsh.  Move Keon on the roster.    I doubt the Nets would do the trade.

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/celtics/2025/11/29/celtics-reportedly-looked-at-signing-nets-big-man-dayron-sharpe/87529171007/

[Roy H.]

I saw a rumor that had Claxton going to Toronto for Poeltl, Agbaji, and a 2nd.  If Boston could get in on that and get Poeltl, I think he'd be a better fit though he is owed a ton of money going forward (which is why Toronto would make that switch).  So in January when Poeltl can be traded, I'd look at acquiring him for Simons with Claxton going to the Raptors and Simons, Agbaji, and a 2nd from Toronto going to the Nets.  That gets Boston below the apron and very close to the tax line as well (so could potentially get a reset year), though with a long-term bigger money commitment to Poeltl.

Sign me up for that one.  I don't see the incentive for the Nets, necessarily. 

[Goldstar88]

No not really.  The Thunder and Nuggets are still better and would likely beat us in a Finals series, although I think we could beat any team in the East.  I love his switchability but he's not good enough on offense and still loses to other Centers on D.  I'd still be interested if we could trade a first that's not this upcoming one because there's still a chance we end up with a high lottery pick

Nuggets haven?t been great in the postseason the last few years. Jokic is incredible, but I?m not that high on Murray. OKC was down 0-2 to Indiana before Haliburton tore his Achilles. I?m not sure they win the series if that injury doesn?t happen. So much of it will come down to who is healthy late in the playoffs. Celtics look like they will be a .500 team, unless JB misses time. That?s not going to be a high lottery pick unless Silver does them a solid.

the Nuggets pushed the Thunder to 7 games last year.

Yeah, so did the Pacers. Denver is not a dominant team. They are in 5th place in the west and Jokic hasn?t missed time to my knowledge.

[Moranis]

I saw a rumor that had Claxton going to Toronto for Poeltl, Agbaji, and a 2nd.  If Boston could get in on that and get Poeltl, I think he'd be a better fit though he is owed a ton of money going forward (which is why Toronto would make that switch).  So in January when Poeltl can be traded, I'd look at acquiring him for Simons with Claxton going to the Raptors and Simons, Agbaji, and a 2nd from Toronto going to the Nets.  That gets Boston below the apron and very close to the tax line as well (so could potentially get a reset year), though with a long-term bigger money commitment to Poeltl.

Sign me up for that one.  I don't see the incentive for the Nets, necessarily.

they aren't hamstrung with long term money.  If it took a 2nd or 2 to do it, I'm good with that.

[wdleehi]

I saw a rumor that had Claxton going to Toronto for Poeltl, Agbaji, and a 2nd.  If Boston could get in on that and get Poeltl, I think he'd be a better fit though he is owed a ton of money going forward (which is why Toronto would make that switch).  So in January when Poeltl can be traded, I'd look at acquiring him for Simons with Claxton going to the Raptors and Simons, Agbaji, and a 2nd from Toronto going to the Nets.  That gets Boston below the apron and very close to the tax line as well (so could potentially get a reset year), though with a long-term bigger money commitment to Poeltl.

Sign me up for that one.  I don't see the incentive for the Nets, necessarily.

I am kind of worried about Poeltl's contract.   It jumps around 10 million for the last two years.   

[Moranis]

No not really.  The Thunder and Nuggets are still better and would likely beat us in a Finals series, although I think we could beat any team in the East.  I love his switchability but he's not good enough on offense and still loses to other Centers on D.  I'd still be interested if we could trade a first that's not this upcoming one because there's still a chance we end up with a high lottery pick

Nuggets haven?t been great in the postseason the last few years. Jokic is incredible, but I?m not that high on Murray. OKC was down 0-2 to Indiana before Haliburton tore his Achilles. I?m not sure they win the series if that injury doesn?t happen. So much of it will come down to who is healthy late in the playoffs. Celtics look like they will be a .500 team, unless JB misses time. That?s not going to be a high lottery pick unless Silver does them a solid.

the Nuggets pushed the Thunder to 7 games last year.

Yeah, so did the Pacers. Denver is not a dominant team. They are in 5th place in the west and Jokic hasn?t missed time to my knowledge.

Jokic is a real problem for the Thunder. They can't match his size.

[Moranis]

I saw a rumor that had Claxton going to Toronto for Poeltl, Agbaji, and a 2nd.  If Boston could get in on that and get Poeltl, I think he'd be a better fit though he is owed a ton of money going forward (which is why Toronto would make that switch).  So in January when Poeltl can be traded, I'd look at acquiring him for Simons with Claxton going to the Raptors and Simons, Agbaji, and a 2nd from Toronto going to the Nets.  That gets Boston below the apron and very close to the tax line as well (so could potentially get a reset year), though with a long-term bigger money commitment to Poeltl.

Sign me up for that one.  I don't see the incentive for the Nets, necessarily.

I am kind of worried about Poeltl's contract.   It jumps around 10 million for the last two years.

yeah it is a lot of money. 19.5 this year, 19.5 next year, then 3 more years at 27.3, 29.5, 27.3

[Phantom255x]

- Simons + pick(s) for Vucevic/Zubac/Claxton

- Cheap buyout pickup (probably a guard ideally)

- Tatum comes back early to mid March

Make a bit of a run in the East this April-May (not saying they will contend for Finals or make the ECF but the way this conference has been I wouldn't rule out a run)