Boston Celtics SWAG mock offseason

I needed to attempt one thing somewhat completely different with the SWAGs this 12 months. I believe we’re all anticipating Brad Stevens to be wheeling and dealing this summer time. Based on Keith Smith, the Celtics begin the offseason at $25M over the second apron (“factoring of their draft decide and attending to the required 14-player minimal on commonplace contracts”). So, Brad has quite a lot of work to do if he desires to get under that quantity whereas nonetheless positioning the workforce for achievement sooner or later.

I assumed I’d do a mock offseason SWAG. Reminder that the “S” in there nonetheless stands for “foolish” so minimize me some slack if these usually are not very sensible. Additionally, what even is sensible anymore as of late? Actual trades preserve occurring which can be extra loopy than something we humble followers can create.

So, right here we go.

Commerce #1: Get in on the KD deal

Barnes and Sochan are expiring offers and helpful rotation guys that we will both re-sign or let stroll on the finish of the 12 months. Or if Brad desires to flip one or each on the deadline, they’re simple sufficient to maneuver with these contracts.

The Suns get a primary decide and two guys that may assist them preserve competing and constructing round Booker.

The Spurs get KD to pair with their younger stars and KD will get to go to certainly one of his most popular locations.

Commerce #2: Danny and Brad catch up for previous time’s sake

I’m a bit apprehensive that we’re not going to discover a option to preserve Al Horford and Luke Kornet. So if we’re dealing away Porzingis, I form of need to deliver again a middle if in any respect attainable. Why not a well-known face? Robert Williams III hasn’t been in a position to keep wholesome (shocker) however we’ve got a 12 months to experiment and take a flyer on guys which have this type of upside. Jordan Clarkson is usually included to make the cash work, but when he sticks round, he can contribute scoring and/or be flipped afterward in one other deal.

Commerce #3: Transfer Sam Hauser for a 1st rounder

Reminder:

His wage for the 2025-26 season will probably be $10 million, value 6.5% of the cap. The brand new CBA permits for groups to make use of their mid-level signing exceptions in trades now, one thing that used to solely be at no cost brokers. Because of this, this opens up extra methods for Boston to deal Hauser and never take any incoming a reimbursement in a deal.

Taking pictures is such a premium on this league that I believe that the Celtics can get again a future (protected) first rounder in change for Hauser. Choose a workforce, all of them want capturing. Maybe the Grizzlies (since they only despatched out Bane and have draft picks to spare).

So the place does that go away us? With these three offers, we’ve shaved $19.1M off the books. That’s shut sufficient to place Brad in place to make just a few different minor offers earlier than the deadline to make sure they end the 12 months beneath the 2nd apron.

New Rotations (assuming Tatum misses most of, if not all of subsequent 12 months):

Guards: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White
Wings: Jaylen Brown, Jordan Clarkson
Forwards: Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, Baylor Scheierman
Bigs: Robert Williams III, Neemias Queta, Draft Choose?

As soon as Tatum will get again, you continue to have a core of Tatum, Brown, White, and Pritchard, and you retain in search of methods so as to add worth and depth round them.

So how did I do?

Self evaluation: I got here away from this somewhat underwhelmed. Each with the “foolish” and the top outcome. I most likely ought to have swung for a Giannis commerce for extra clicks and enjoyable, however oh nicely. Actually this may be somewhat sobering of what may very well be the top outcome. Sadly, you need to pay for expertise and in case you are taking a step again in wage, you’re typically taking a step again in confirmed expertise.

Word: Should you don’t like this and suppose I’m loopy (or worse), you’ll be able to consolation your self with the unassailable reality that Brad Stevens is significantly better at this than I’m.

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UPDATE

Okay, since the actual KD commerce occurred minutes after I posted this, I needed to supply this different path. Erase all the whiteboard above and simply use this.