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)

[slamtheking]

- 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)

I'd rather not use picks in a deal with Simons--definitely not first rounders--unless we're getting a high quality player in return.  This isn't like the Danny days where he had more than he knew what to do with.  I don't want Brad to turn this into a franchise that has little opportunity to improve with cheap/cost-controlled talent via the draft. 

having said that, the current roster has done much better than expected against the teams at the top of the East already.  If Brad brings in a rotation-quality big (at least as good as Q) and IF (very big IF) Tatum is fully healthy come end of March/early April with no/little risk of re-injuring himself, I would not be surprised if this team could get to the finals.  Tatum would replace everything Simons has provided and then some.  Another quality big should ensure Q doesn't get burned out and that we don't have a significant drop in defense when he's on the bench. 

the teams in the West though, I'm not sure how we'd fare against their best.  Houston demolished us.  Minny beat us.  We'll see what we've got against LA in 2 days.  I suspect Denver and OKC will do the same thing to us that Houston did.  for that reason, I'm not thinking of rushing to get Tatum back just to get crushed in the finals.

[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)

I'd rather not use picks in a deal with Simons--definitely not first rounders--unless we're getting a high quality player in return.  This isn't like the Danny days where he had more than he knew what to do with.  I don't want Brad to turn this into a franchise that has little opportunity to improve with cheap/cost-controlled talent via the draft. 

having said that, the current roster has done much better than expected against the teams at the top of the East already.  If Brad brings in a rotation-quality big (at least as good as Q) and IF (very big IF) Tatum is fully healthy come end of March/early April with no/little risk of re-injuring himself, I would not be surprised if this team could get to the finals.  Tatum would replace everything Simons has provided and then some.  Another quality big should ensure Q doesn't get burned out and that we don't have a significant drop in defense when he's on the bench. 

the teams in the West though, I'm not sure how we'd fare against their best.  Houston demolished us.  Minny beat us.  We'll see what we've got against LA in 2 days.  I suspect Denver and OKC will do the same thing to us that Houston did.  for that reason, I'm not thinking of rushing to get Tatum back just to get crushed in the finals.

How about Simons + Tillman (salary) + multiple second rounders for Mann + Day'Ron Sharpe from Brooklyn. The C's had noted interest in Sharpe before he re-signed in BKN. This move also saves the team about 10M in salaries and gives the team another rotational big, and a depth guard with size.

[slamtheking]

- 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)

I'd rather not use picks in a deal with Simons--definitely not first rounders--unless we're getting a high quality player in return.  This isn't like the Danny days where he had more than he knew what to do with.  I don't want Brad to turn this into a franchise that has little opportunity to improve with cheap/cost-controlled talent via the draft. 

having said that, the current roster has done much better than expected against the teams at the top of the East already.  If Brad brings in a rotation-quality big (at least as good as Q) and IF (very big IF) Tatum is fully healthy come end of March/early April with no/little risk of re-injuring himself, I would not be surprised if this team could get to the finals.  Tatum would replace everything Simons has provided and then some.  Another quality big should ensure Q doesn't get burned out and that we don't have a significant drop in defense when he's on the bench. 

the teams in the West though, I'm not sure how we'd fare against their best.  Houston demolished us.  Minny beat us.  We'll see what we've got against LA in 2 days.  I suspect Denver and OKC will do the same thing to us that Houston did.  for that reason, I'm not thinking of rushing to get Tatum back just to get crushed in the finals.

How about Simons + Tillman (salary) + multiple second rounders for Mann + Day'Ron Sharpe from Brooklyn. The C's had noted interest in Sharpe before he re-signed in BKN. This move also saves the team about 10M in salaries and gives the team another rotational big, and a depth guard with size.

don't know enough about Sharpe to determine how he rates next to Q or as a player in general.  Simons, Tillman and a couple of seconds would be fine but I question if seconds would satisfy Brooklyn to take on that much more salary.  I don't see Simons as that much more of a prize to cover that cost gap.  then again, Simons and Tillman could just come off their books at the end of the year.  maybe that's enough incentive.

[Roy H.]

The C's had noted interest in Sharpe before he re-signed in BKN

What does noted interest mean?  I had read that we'd considered offering him a minimum salary while he was a restricted free agent.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/boston-celtics-reportedly-looked-at-signing-brooklyn-nets-big-man-dayron-sharpe/ar-AA1Rp6E5

[keevsnick]

I really doubt the Celtics want to take on long term money in Mann, he has 2/31.5 left after this year.

[Ilikesports17]

I really doubt the Celtics want to take on long term money in Mann, he has 2/31.5 left after this year.

Turned down Mann plus a first this offseason so I tend to agree.

Obviously Mann's contract on top of Simons is slightly different math than Mann's contract in place of Simons but still.