2026-27 Celtics Off Season Discussion

[Celtics2021]

Looking at the cap numbers I still think this next season will be pretty much the roster at hand and maybe the gear up toward 2027.

We will have access to the full MLE, something which only 2-3 teams can exceed.  So we should be able to make a competitive offer to a quality free agent.  Most players who sign this year will not go for more than the MLE.  That is assuming we do not make a trade, which we have the flexibility to make with the Simons TPE.  I do not expect next year?s team to look remarkably different, but adding one starter-quality player and having a healthier Tatum could make a big difference.

[celticinorlando]

Looking at the cap numbers I still think this next season will be pretty much the roster at hand and maybe the gear up toward 2027.

We will have access to the full MLE, something which only 2-3 teams can exceed.  So we should be able to make a competitive offer to a quality free agent.  Most players who sign this year will not go for more than the MLE.  That is assuming we do not make a trade, which we have the flexibility to make with the Simons TPE.  I do not expect next year?s team to look remarkably different, but adding one starter-quality player and having a healthier Tatum could make a big difference.

I would like to see an upgrade at center and another starter signed. White, Brown and Tatum. FA Center, FA wing.

Bench of PP. Queta, Sam, Hugo, Baylor , 1st round pick and Garza. Maybe Harper gets some run.

Walsh and Williams can go.

[michigan adam]

I see a vet min PG type, probably much better on D than O.  Then either a trade or FA pick up at C for either starter or at least 50 50 with Q. There's is what you see is what you get.

[Celtics2021]

Looking at the cap numbers I still think this next season will be pretty much the roster at hand and maybe the gear up toward 2027.

We will have access to the full MLE, something which only 2-3 teams can exceed.  So we should be able to make a competitive offer to a quality free agent.  Most players who sign this year will not go for more than the MLE.  That is assuming we do not make a trade, which we have the flexibility to make with the Simons TPE.  I do not expect next year?s team to look remarkably different, but adding one starter-quality player and having a healthier Tatum could make a big difference.

I would like to see an upgrade at center and another starter signed. White, Brown and Tatum. FA Center, FA wing.

Bench of PP. Queta, Sam, Hugo, Baylor , 1st round pick and Garza. Maybe Harper gets some run.

Walsh and Williams can go.

Probably only going to see one of those two things happen.  Maybe there is an upgrade to Garza as a backup center if you get a starting wing.

[michigan adam]

Looking at the cap numbers I still think this next season will be pretty much the roster at hand and maybe the gear up toward 2027.

We will have access to the full MLE, something which only 2-3 teams can exceed.  So we should be able to make a competitive offer to a quality free agent.  Most players who sign this year will not go for more than the MLE.  That is assuming we do not make a trade, which we have the flexibility to make with the Simons TPE.  I do not expect next year?s team to look remarkably different, but adding one starter-quality player and having a healthier Tatum could make a big difference.

I would like to see an upgrade at center and another starter signed. White, Brown and Tatum. FA Center, FA wing.

Bench of PP. Queta, Sam, Hugo, Baylor , 1st round pick and Garza. Maybe Harper gets some run.

Walsh and Williams can go.

we already have 2 all nba wings. How many do we need. Then we have several decent backups. Wing is the one position we DONT need. Our biggest need is center/ big. Without a doubt. Unless they change the entire head office and coaching staff it needs to be a body who can switch and defend rim on D, and not be lost on perimeter on the other end. After that is a guard who can handle the ball, nicer the quick guard on the other team WELL and hit an occasional 3.  Asking for any more than that just isn't happening is they are VERY likely to stay under the line to reset the repeater tax. They'd be silly not to.

[Vermont Green]

Looking at the cap numbers I still think this next season will be pretty much the roster at hand and maybe the gear up toward 2027.

We will have access to the full MLE, something which only 2-3 teams can exceed.  So we should be able to make a competitive offer to a quality free agent.  Most players who sign this year will not go for more than the MLE.  That is assuming we do not make a trade, which we have the flexibility to make with the Simons TPE.  I do not expect next year?s team to look remarkably different, but adding one starter-quality player and having a healthier Tatum could make a big difference.

It will be interesting to see what the full MLE can buy in this new market with the tougher apron and tax penalties.  There will still be players getting max contracts (from their current teams) and there will be a lot of min contracts, but this middle class is what will be interesting to me.  As you say, even a very good FA may not be able to get more than the full MLE except from their current team.  And their current team may or may not be willing to pay more for the player if it means tax or apron penalties.  And there are only so many MLEs to go around.

[Phantom255x]

My guess, they'll make a trade involving Hauser + picks to get back a player with the TPE, and then use the MLE and that's about it. Maybe they'll make a cheap 3rd addition but it'd be a cheap depth guy. The interesting question is, how they acquire the big man and if they will acquire 1 or 2.

MLE options are Mamu, Timelord, KP and Nurkic. Potential trades are Bitadze, Claxton, Sharpe, Gafford and Stewart.

Maybe they can try to swing a deal where they acquire a big man and a wing/guard in the same trade as well, and then the MLE can be used to fill another need.

[Celtics2021]

My guess, they'll make a trade involving Hauser + picks to get back a player with the TPE, and then use the MLE and that's about it. Maybe they'll make a cheap 3rd addition but it'd be a cheap depth guy. The interesting question is, how they acquire the big man and if they will acquire 1 or 2.

MLE options are Mamu, Timelord, KP and Nurkic. Potential trades are Bitadze, Claxton, Sharpe, Gafford and Stewart.

Maybe they can try to swing a deal where they acquire a big man and a wing/guard in the same trade as well, and then the MLE can be used to fill another need.

Most of your TPE players will preclude or limit use of the MLE. Again, we can do one, not both.  We have just barely enough tax space to use the full MLE.  That means if you also make a trade involving Hauser, you can only bring back what he makes or less, give or take a few hundred thousand.

[nickagneta]

If the Bucks clean house after a Giannis trade, regardless of where he goes other than Boston, would the C's be interested in bringing in Myles Turner?

He fits in the TPE.
He is just 30.
He can defend inside.
He also hits threes.
He is a legit starter.

If the Bucks blow it up, and Turner goes on the block, it seems like he might be a fit here in Boston. Brad can send the Bucks the TPE for cap relief, some 2nd rounders, and maybe a youngster like Scheierman or Walsh.

[Celtics2021]

If the Bucks clean house after a Giannis trade, regardless of where he goes other than Boston, would the C's be interested in bringing in Myles Turner?

He fits in the TPE.
He is just 30.
He can defend inside.
He also hits threes.
He is a legit starter.

If the Bucks blow it up, and Turner goes on the block, it seems like he might be a fit here in Boston. Brad can send the Bucks the TPE for cap relief, some 2nd rounders, and maybe a youngster like Scheierman or Walsh.

Firstly, Turner has been declining for a couple of seasons now.  The Bucks took a gamble that 2024-2025 was a blip, but last season made it look much more like the start of a trend, and not someone you want to take on for three more seasons at that kind of money.  I honestly think the best the Bucks can hope for is to either take on shorter salary, as we did in the Simons-Holiday swap last year, or to take on other bad salary in the hopes of getting an asset.  Sending even marginal assets like Walsh or Scheierman is too much, as moving that amount of salary should cost the Bucks something.

Secondly, taking on Turner without sending back significant salary would be impossible.  Using the TPE caps the Celtics at the first apron.  The deal you propose would push the Celtics over the hard cap by a few million dollars.  It would fit, salarywise, if Hauser was sent, but for their respective contracts I would strongly prefer Sam.

[Vermont Green]

If the Bucks clean house after a Giannis trade, regardless of where he goes other than Boston, would the C's be interested in bringing in Myles Turner?

He fits in the TPE.
He is just 30.
He can defend inside.
He also hits threes.
He is a legit starter.

If the Bucks blow it up, and Turner goes on the block, it seems like he might be a fit here in Boston. Brad can send the Bucks the TPE for cap relief, some 2nd rounders, and maybe a youngster like Scheierman or Walsh.

Even if we send out Hauser ($10.8M), bringing in Turner ($26.6) would put BOS over the tax line I believe.  You could send out say Walsh too but even that doesn't get you quite there and you still have to sign the first round pick or another player to get to 14.  This could work with Portis (and stay under the tax line) but I don't think it would with Turner.

(Celtics2021 beat me to it.  He must be a faster at typing than me.)

[jambr380]

If the Bucks clean house after a Giannis trade, regardless of where he goes other than Boston, would the C's be interested in bringing in Myles Turner?

He fits in the TPE.
He is just 30.
He can defend inside.
He also hits threes.
He is a legit starter.

If the Bucks blow it up, and Turner goes on the block, it seems like he might be a fit here in Boston. Brad can send the Bucks the TPE for cap relief, some 2nd rounders, and maybe a youngster like Scheierman or Walsh.

Even if we send out Hauser ($10.8M), bringing in Turner ($26.6) would put BOS over the tax line I believe.  You could send out say Walsh too but even that doesn't get you quite there and you still have to sign the first round pick or another player to get to 14.  This could work with Portis (and stay under the tax line) but I don't think it would with Turner.

(Celtics2021 beat me to it.  He must be a faster at typing than me.)

I don't particularly want Turner, but we have about $15M under the tax line if accounting for 14 players on the roster (removing one of the minimum contract guys gives you around $15M. So if you took on Turner for Hauser, you would just need to move a minimum contract at the deadline like we did this year with Minott, Boucher, and Tillman. Easy enough to do one when we just did three.

[Jiri Welsch]

I remember reading in previous offseasons that Turner is universally disliked in the Boston organization. Would be very surprised if they trade for him.

[Phantom255x]

I remember reading in previous offseasons that Turner is universally disliked in the Boston organization. Would be very surprised if they trade for him.

Turner has been rumored for a long time even back in his Indiana days and yet the Celtics never seemed to be in on him, Ainge nor Stevens. I think that's kind of telling.

[Vermont Green]

If the Bucks clean house after a Giannis trade, regardless of where he goes other than Boston, would the C's be interested in bringing in Myles Turner?

He fits in the TPE.
He is just 30.
He can defend inside.
He also hits threes.
He is a legit starter.

If the Bucks blow it up, and Turner goes on the block, it seems like he might be a fit here in Boston. Brad can send the Bucks the TPE for cap relief, some 2nd rounders, and maybe a youngster like Scheierman or Walsh.

Even if we send out Hauser ($10.8M), bringing in Turner ($26.6) would put BOS over the tax line I believe.  You could send out say Walsh too but even that doesn't get you quite there and you still have to sign the first round pick or another player to get to 14.  This could work with Portis (and stay under the tax line) but I don't think it would with Turner.

(Celtics2021 beat me to it.  He must be a faster at typing than me.)

I don't particularly want Turner, but we have about $15M under the tax line if accounting for 14 players on the roster (removing one of the minimum contract guys gives you around $15M. So if you took on Turner for Hauser, you would just need to move a minimum contract at the deadline like we did this year with Minott, Boucher, and Tillman. Easy enough to do one when we just did three.

Not sure it would be that easy.  You need 14 players on the roster.  I guess you could play the 10 day contract game again to replace whoever you cut or trade, and maybe get back under the tax line, but that would leave literally no wiggle room.  I don't see Turner coming our way, and I am fine with that.