2026-27 Celtics Off Season Discussion

[Phantom255x]

Lets pretend the Celtics trade for Giannis. Jaylen Brown goes to MIL or a 3rd team.

I'm assuming they still have the 27.2M TPE, and the nontaxpayer MLE? What ideas do we have to fortify the roster further. I'm assuming it'd have to be another center, and 1 guard or wing.

The starting lineup in theory would be PP-White-Tatum-Giannis-Queta with a bench of Hauser-Baylor-Hugo-Harper-Walsh. They still for sure need another center + ideally a veteran guard/wing (a 3-and-D type of guy would suffice too). I'm sure Hauser + pick(s) would be dangled.

[Vermont Green]

If you are starting with a big 3 of:

White
Tatum
Giannis

You kind of have the same issue you have now.  You need a guard and Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman, everyone else are not quite starting material, or at least better off the bench.  Then you need a big and the same issue with Queta.  Unless he makes another huge developmental leap, he is not who you would like staring with this group.  So with about $15M to spend, you have to decide, guard or big.

I remain interested in CJ McCollum to add to this group.  The idea would be to bring him in a sign and trade.  Maybe sign him for over the full MLE (say $20M), trade Hauser in a sign and trade.  That only happens if CJM will not commit to ATL.  That will use up about $10M of the available $15M, leaving $5M to address other issues, up to $13M if BOS is willing to pay tax (BOS would be hard capped at the first apron).

Another variation on this could be to add a wing, play Tatum as the PF and Giannis as the C.  You can do this because Tatum is such a good rebounder.  I know everyone assumes that Giannis does not want to play Center, but too bad.  You are older now, play center.  BOS could use the BAE (about $5M) or part of the MLE to sign a wing to be the 5th starter.  Easier to find a wing for that money than a comparable big.

McCollum (S&T for Hauser)
White
Wing-TBD (Sign FA)
Tatum
Giannis

[Celtics4ever]

If you are starting with a big 3 of:

White
Tatum
Giannis

You kind of have the same issue you have now.  You need a guard and Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman, everyone else are not quite starting material, or at least better off the bench.  Then you need a big and the same issue with Queta.  Unless he makes another huge developmental leap, he is not who you would like staring with this group.  So with about $15M to spend, you have to decide, guard or big.

We could sign Anfernee Simmons back, or  sign Quentin Grimes, or sign CJ McCollum,or Ayo Dosunmu.  I would sign one of these for guard, not all of them would be in our financial range but you could get a quality guard.

Giannis is going to be force multiplier to our bigs.   Imagine Tatum and him, teams are going to have to pick their poison.  Also, I think he would take pressure of Queta.    That is tall frontcourt with Queta, Giannis and Tatum.

We still need a better back up big but Garza is the perfect third big.

Draft the best player available but a big would be ideal.   

[Roy H.]

If you are starting with a big 3 of:

White
Tatum
Giannis

You kind of have the same issue you have now.  You need a guard and Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman, everyone else are not quite starting material, or at least better off the bench.  Then you need a big and the same issue with Queta.  Unless he makes another huge developmental leap, he is not who you would like staring with this group.  So with about $15M to spend, you have to decide, guard or big.

We could sign Anfernee Simmons back, or  sign Quentin Grimes, or sign CJ McCollum,or Ayo Dosunmu.  I would sign one of these for guard, not all of them would be in our financial range but you could get a quality guard.

Giannis is going to be force multiplier to our bigs.   Imagine Tatum and him, teams are going to have to pick their poison.  Also, I think he would take pressure of Queta.    That is tall frontcourt with Queta, Giannis and Tatum.

We still need a better back up big but Garza is the perfect third big.

Draft the best player available but a big would be ideal.

I agree, it's much easier to find a starting guard than an impact center, particularly with access to the full MLE.

Let's assume Giannis costs a bit more than fans want to give up:  Brown, two firsts (2026, 2028), Queta, Hugo

We sign Colin Sexton to the MLE.

That still leaves us with a potential lineup of:

Giannis / Garza
Tatum
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

I'd then try to sign Taurean Prince and get Al Horford, either through him opting out and taking a minimum, or by absorbing him into the TPE.

Giannis / Horford / Garza / Willisms
Tatum / Prince
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

Would Josh Minott sign here again for the minimum?  Or Khris Middleton?  Probably not, but that's still a realistic enough roster still staying below the first apron (maybe?).

[Celtics2021]

If you are starting with a big 3 of:

White
Tatum
Giannis

You kind of have the same issue you have now.  You need a guard and Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman, everyone else are not quite starting material, or at least better off the bench.  Then you need a big and the same issue with Queta.  Unless he makes another huge developmental leap, he is not who you would like staring with this group.  So with about $15M to spend, you have to decide, guard or big.

We could sign Anfernee Simmons back, or  sign Quentin Grimes, or sign CJ McCollum,or Ayo Dosunmu.  I would sign one of these for guard, not all of them would be in our financial range but you could get a quality guard.

Giannis is going to be force multiplier to our bigs.   Imagine Tatum and him, teams are going to have to pick their poison.  Also, I think he would take pressure of Queta.    That is tall frontcourt with Queta, Giannis and Tatum.

We still need a better back up big but Garza is the perfect third big.

Draft the best player available but a big would be ideal.

I agree, it's much easier to find a starting guard than an impact center, particularly with access to the full MLE.

Let's assume Giannis costs a bit more than fans want to give up:  Brown, two firsts (2026, 2028), Queta, Hugo

We sign Colin Sexton to the MLE.

That still leaves us with a potential lineup of:

Giannis / Garza
Tatum
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

I'd then try to sign Taurean Prince and get Al Horford, either through him opting out and taking a minimum, or by absorbing him into the TPE.

Giannis / Horford / Garza / Willisms
Tatum / Prince
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

Would Josh Minott sign here again for the minimum?  Or Khris Middleton?  Probably not, but that's still a realistic enough roster still staying below the first apron (maybe?).

For what it is worth, I think that offer is quite overkill and the Celtics should walk away (not to mention they would have to trade their 2026 and 2031 picks in your proposal, because 2029 goes to Portland.  Trading a 1st 5 seasons out would be incredibly risky).  What is Milwaukee?s #2 offer?  Miami sending Herro (who is on an expiring and will have all the leverage for a megadeal that overpays him) #13, Kalel Ware, and some salary filler to make the numbers work?   I would not trade JB for that package, much less Giannis.

[Roy H.]

If you are starting with a big 3 of:

White
Tatum
Giannis

You kind of have the same issue you have now.  You need a guard and Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman, everyone else are not quite starting material, or at least better off the bench.  Then you need a big and the same issue with Queta.  Unless he makes another huge developmental leap, he is not who you would like staring with this group.  So with about $15M to spend, you have to decide, guard or big.

We could sign Anfernee Simmons back, or  sign Quentin Grimes, or sign CJ McCollum,or Ayo Dosunmu.  I would sign one of these for guard, not all of them would be in our financial range but you could get a quality guard.

Giannis is going to be force multiplier to our bigs.   Imagine Tatum and him, teams are going to have to pick their poison.  Also, I think he would take pressure of Queta.    That is tall frontcourt with Queta, Giannis and Tatum.

We still need a better back up big but Garza is the perfect third big.

Draft the best player available but a big would be ideal.

I agree, it's much easier to find a starting guard than an impact center, particularly with access to the full MLE.

Let's assume Giannis costs a bit more than fans want to give up:  Brown, two firsts (2026, 2028), Queta, Hugo

We sign Colin Sexton to the MLE.

That still leaves us with a potential lineup of:

Giannis / Garza
Tatum
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

I'd then try to sign Taurean Prince and get Al Horford, either through him opting out and taking a minimum, or by absorbing him into the TPE.

Giannis / Horford / Garza / Willisms
Tatum / Prince
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

Would Josh Minott sign here again for the minimum?  Or Khris Middleton?  Probably not, but that's still a realistic enough roster still staying below the first apron (maybe?).

For what it is worth, I think that offer is quite overkill and the Celtics should walk away (not to mention they would have to trade their 2026 and 2031 picks in your proposal, because 2029 goes to Portland.  Trading a 1st 5 seasons out would be incredibly risky).  What is Milwaukee?s #2 offer?  Miami sending Herro (who is on an expiring and will have all the leverage for a megadeal that overpays him) #13, Kalel Ware, and some salary filler to make the numbers work?   I would not trade JB for that package, much less Giannis.

Sometimes you need to overpay a bit to make sure you get your guy.  And, Giannis is the one available guy that could immediately elevate us back to contender status. 

Also, we'd probably do the draft on or after draft night, so we could send our 2027.

As for Miami:  Herro, Ware, Jaquez, #13, 2028, 2030, 2032 #1s

[Celtics2021]

If you are starting with a big 3 of:

White
Tatum
Giannis

You kind of have the same issue you have now.  You need a guard and Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman, everyone else are not quite starting material, or at least better off the bench.  Then you need a big and the same issue with Queta.  Unless he makes another huge developmental leap, he is not who you would like staring with this group.  So with about $15M to spend, you have to decide, guard or big.

We could sign Anfernee Simmons back, or  sign Quentin Grimes, or sign CJ McCollum,or Ayo Dosunmu.  I would sign one of these for guard, not all of them would be in our financial range but you could get a quality guard.

Giannis is going to be force multiplier to our bigs.   Imagine Tatum and him, teams are going to have to pick their poison.  Also, I think he would take pressure of Queta.    That is tall frontcourt with Queta, Giannis and Tatum.

We still need a better back up big but Garza is the perfect third big.

Draft the best player available but a big would be ideal.

I agree, it's much easier to find a starting guard than an impact center, particularly with access to the full MLE.

Let's assume Giannis costs a bit more than fans want to give up:  Brown, two firsts (2026, 2028), Queta, Hugo

We sign Colin Sexton to the MLE.

That still leaves us with a potential lineup of:

Giannis / Garza
Tatum
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

I'd then try to sign Taurean Prince and get Al Horford, either through him opting out and taking a minimum, or by absorbing him into the TPE.

Giannis / Horford / Garza / Willisms
Tatum / Prince
Hauser / Walsh
White / Scheierman / Harper
Sexton / Pritchard

Would Josh Minott sign here again for the minimum?  Or Khris Middleton?  Probably not, but that's still a realistic enough roster still staying below the first apron (maybe?).

For what it is worth, I think that offer is quite overkill and the Celtics should walk away (not to mention they would have to trade their 2026 and 2031 picks in your proposal, because 2029 goes to Portland.  Trading a 1st 5 seasons out would be incredibly risky).  What is Milwaukee?s #2 offer?  Miami sending Herro (who is on an expiring and will have all the leverage for a megadeal that overpays him) #13, Kalel Ware, and some salary filler to make the numbers work?   I would not trade JB for that package, much less Giannis.

Sometimes you need to overpay a bit to make sure you get your guy.  And, Giannis is the one available guy that could immediately elevate us back to contender status. 

Also, we'd probably do the draft on or after draft night, so we could send our 2027.

As for Miami:  Herro, Ware, Jaquez, #13, 2028, 2030, 2032 #1s

Miami is blocked from trading a first until 2030 because of pick protections on a future pick.  They can send #13 after the draft, but only two other firsts.  And if that is what Miami offers, I think you let them win the deal.  But I do not think that will be the offer.