In my opinion, keeping Simons is only viable if he signs a team-friendly deal longer term.
If they have a sense that he would be willing to re-sign to something much smaller than his current $27 million per year, then maybe it's worth considering. But if that's not possible, they might be better served using him as a trade piece.
The other point of your post -- namely drafting a big regardless of what else is available -- is something I'm fine with. More than likely they'll be picking around 20-25 anyway. History tells us it's a crapshoot at that point.
Agree with Simons the resign is a huge factor, on a reasonable resign he can be a piece for the future.
What would be a "reasonable" contract in the Celtics' eyes that Simons would at least give a little thought to?
$22MM/yr average
$20MM/yr average
$17MM/yr average
$15MM/yr average
I don't think Simons would consider anything below $20MM/yr.
And it sounds like most of you don't think the C's should offer anything more than say $15MM/yr.
In that case all this talk of keeping Simons is moot and in your eyes he should be traded.
Simons contract is really tough to predict. In 2024 Malik Monk signed 4yr/78mill with the Kings, I really dont know what the market looks like for a Simons type player? Is the Cs offer 15mill per who makes him a better offer? Does a team go over 20mill per?
The other piece of the trade/resign Simons that I find myself debating is his role vs PP role when Tatum returns.
With Tatum back do the Cs start PP, White, Brown, Tatum and Queta or does Walsh/Hugo develop into a 20-25mpg starter who with PP playing a higher minute higher usage role off the bench? If PP goes back to the bench Simons becomes redundant.