Boston Celtics SWAG mock offseason

I wished to strive one thing a bit completely different with the SWAGs this yr. I believe we’re all anticipating Brad Stevens to be wheeling and dealing this summer season. In accordance with Keith Smith, the Celtics begin the offseason at $25M over the second apron (“factoring of their draft choose and attending to the required 14-player minimal on normal contracts”). So, Brad has a whole lot of work to do if he needs to get under that quantity whereas nonetheless positioning the group for achievement sooner or later.

I believed I’d do a mock offseason SWAG. Reminder that the “S” in there nonetheless stands for “foolish” so reduce me some slack if these usually are not very sensible. Additionally, what even is sensible anymore today? Actual trades maintain taking place which might 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 yr. Or if Brad needs to flip one or each on the deadline, they’re straightforward sufficient to maneuver with these contracts.

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

The Spurs get KD to pair with their younger stars and KD will get to go to one in every of his most well-liked locations.

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

I’m a bit fearful that we’re not going to discover a strategy to maintain Al Horford and Luke Kornet. So if we’re dealing away Porzingis, I sort of wish to carry again a middle if in any respect potential. Why not a well-known face? Robert Williams III hasn’t been in a position to keep wholesome (shocker) however we’ve got a yr 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 in a while in one other deal.

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

Reminder:

His wage for the 2025-26 season might 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. In consequence, this opens up extra methods for Boston to deal Hauser and never take any incoming a refund in a deal.

Capturing is such a premium on this league that I believe that the Celtics can get again a future (protected) first rounder in alternate for Hauser. Choose a group, all of them want taking pictures. 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 a number of different minor offers earlier than the deadline to make sure they end the yr underneath the 2nd apron.

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

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 searching for methods so as to add worth and depth round them.

So how did I do?

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

Be aware: In case you don’t like this and suppose I’m loopy (or worse), you’ll be able to consolation your self with the unassailable fact that Brad Stevens is a lot better at this than I’m.