Buyout/Free Agent Thread, 2023-24

[Parliament10]

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[Celts17Pride]

I'm the winner? Don't feel like a winner

[djFan71]

Caruso is the only true, no-brainer needle mover. I'd go as far as #30, their 2024 2nd back, and lightly protected 2026.

Caruso is the dream.

But I'd also say Olynyk and Beef Stew are pretty much guaranteed needle movers, if Brad can somehow pull off a 4 for 1 or 5 for 1 mid-season trade..

I'd add Royce O'Neale to the secondary list too. They're just not as no-brainer to me.
Cost and positionally, I actually like Royce the best. But Caruso is just better.

But.... Pritchard, Stevens, Banton, #30 (and/or some 2nds) for Royce, DSJ and Watford.

I could like that.

[cl2117]

One you’d have to think about from the Bulls side, but I don’t see it as a slam dunk. I’d say not enough end of the day.

The players coming back look to be salary filler level except for PP.

Craig was playing well for us before he got hurt, so I could def. see him getting time if he’s healthy. Before that injury, I actually thought he’d be a perfect stand alone target for a team like Boston given its lack of significant tradable salaries. Solid vet who can shoot, play some decent d, will fit in, minimum salary.

Drummond’s cheap and getting all sorts of interest, so he’s easily worth the 2nd rounder by himself, probably multiple. Great backup for KP. Check out his game logs late Dec/early Jan when Vucebrick was out.

PP himself doesn’t get me excited. His career numbers are relatively flat across the board. That’s while getting the benefit of lesser attention, and better looks playing with great teammates. We already have Ayo/Jevon Carter who can play that small guard with a modest salary role. Carter’s actually a great example of how a guy will look much worse once you separate him from a great team. Anyway, PP’s pretty pointless for us, so he’d have to go to a 3rd team.

For me personally, I think if you can flip PP for an asset to the Bulls, and take Craig and Drummond out, I’d bite. Not all 1sts are created equal, and Boston’s very end of the supposedly weak 2024 class doesn’t provide that much value.

I don't have it as a slam dunk but more of a fallback option if teams like the Knicks/Warriors don't outbid it.

Craig/Drummond are essentially salary filler given that they won't feature in our playoff rotations, so can be replaced with anybody that'd fit the Grant Williams TPE. We've got $6.2m to play with and need to send out at least 4 guys to match salary on Caruso so a) need a couple warm bodies coming back and b) for the Bulls to create enough roster spots to make the deal legal.

Bulls likely net out with picks #30 and #37 in 2024 plus #26-30 in 2026 (although unprotected so some minor upside there). That plus a PG that eventually might be able to be flipped for something but at the very least can run your 2nd unit while you're still rebuilding (and expiring filler to round it out).

Obviously not the highest of returns for AC, but I think it's pretty solid assuming nothing else comes along that beats it (and AKME make the right choice to tank the rest of the season).

[ddb]

I'm the winner? Don't feel like a winner

You're a winner in my eyes.

[fallguy]

With Embiid probably done for the season, I'm guessing we'll go with a wing.

[ddb]

If I said it once, I've said it a million times. Caruso is the prize for this team. He's the needle mover. Pritchard, filler, 2 first rd picks. Add seconds. Just go get him. You have him for this season and next. Celts would have everyone for a minimum of this year and next. Go win a title or two. This is what it's all about. These picks mean nothing. Who cares. When the time comes for picks you can acquire them. That time isn't right now. The time to win a title is now. I'm petrified that Joe Mazz isn't the guy to lead this team to the promised land, but I'm hopeful that he is. Now is the time. Caruso is the answer. Snag him AND Drummond. I've posted the trade on here before.

A playoff rotation of Jrue/White/JB/JT/KP with AL, Caruso, and Hauser is the ticket. Drummond/OB waiting in the wing for when called on

[Memokerobi]

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My first ever appearance on the wall of shame, never felt prouder

[celticgreenie]

If I said it once, I've said it a million times. Caruso is the prize for this team. He's the needle mover. Pritchard, filler, 2 first rd picks. Add seconds. Just go get him. You have him for this season and next. Celts would have everyone for a minimum of this year and next. Go win a title or two. This is what it's all about. These picks mean nothing. Who cares. When the time comes for picks you can acquire them. That time isn't right now. The time to win a title is now. I'm petrified that Joe Mazz isn't the guy to lead this team to the promised land, but I'm hopeful that he is. Now is the time. Caruso is the answer. Snag him AND Drummond. I've posted the trade on here before.

A playoff rotation of Jrue/White/JB/JT/KP with AL, Caruso, and Hauser is the ticket. Drummond/OB waiting in the wing for when called on

To your point, Stevens doesn't add guys unless they have extra years on their contract a al Derrick White or trade for guys knowing they will resign a la Holiday or Porzingis. Caruso falls in the former category.

[165bows]

Anything to this Lebron-to-NY next year rumor? That would make next year's EC a little more spicy.

[fallguy]

I do think they're motivated to get another rotation player onto the roster in advance of this summer's second apron restriction bonanza.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Wiggins to Indiana is interesting.. assuming it'd be Nesmith/Hield and a pick? Indiana clears out logjam, clears path for Mathurin..

[La Flame]

Wiggins to Indiana is interesting.. assuming it'd be Nesmith/Hield and a pick? Indiana clears out logjam, clears path for Mathurin..

Not worth imo. Both players are better than Wigg

[Andrew McCeltic]

Wondering Drummond's career defensive stats against Jokic.. we don't have to worry about Embiid this year, but Drummond would be a different look, big, physical one on one/drop defender, dominant rebounder and roll threat.

[NuckyPowell]

Starting with the first day of the offseason, teams over the second apron in 2023-24:

like the Boston Celtics

can't take back more salary in a trade;

are not allowed to aggregate contracts;

are restricted from sending out cash in deals;

and are restricted from using preexisting trade exceptions to acquire a player.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39438109/nba-trade-deadline-why-nba-trade-week-comes-massive-financial-risk



Biggest reason why I think Brad Stevens is going to be really aggressive over the next few days.

This is exactly right. It's kind of a now or never thing. Our best chance at a championship seems like these next two years. He really should be all in. It gets a million times more difficult after Thursday.

[Andrew McCeltic]

Ideal would be for Josh Richardson to leave Miami as part of a trade and wind up on a rebuilding team that buys him out..

[playa-hater]

Wiggins for Heild plus fillers..GS gets an expiring player who can help this year. Play Kuminga more while getting rid of a player who has fallen out of favor somehow.

[Andrew McCeltic]

How is Ayo Dosunmu playing for the Bulls? He'd fit into the Grant TPE, and that lets you use Pritchard's salary towards matching money for a wing or a big.

[playa-hater]

I'm the winner? Don't feel like a winner

Regular season champ .. sounds familiar round here

[Andrew McCeltic]

Lonnie Walker and Royce O'Neale from Brooklyn (both expiring)

for Pritchard, Brissett, Banton, Svi, Lamar Stevens

TPE on Dosunmu

White/Dosunmu
Jrue/Lonnie
Jaylen/Hauser
Tatum/O'Neale
KP/Horford/Luke/Queta

Could call up Walsh and Davison for emergency depth, or fill out roster with veteran buy-outs...