I wanted to try something a little different with the SWAGs this year. I think we’re all expecting Brad Stevens to be wheeling and dealing this summer. According to Keith Smith, the Celtics start the offseason at $25M over the second apron (“factoring in their draft pick and getting to the required 14-player minimum on standard contracts”). So, Brad has a lot of work to do if he wants to get below that number while still positioning the team for success in the future.
I thought I’d do a mock offseason SWAG. Reminder that the “S” in there still stands for “silly” so cut me some slack if these are not very realistic. Also, what even is realistic anymore these days? Real trades keep happening that are more crazy than anything we humble fans can create.
So, here we go.
Trade #1: Get in on the KD deal
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Barnes and Sochan are expiring deals and useful rotation guys that we can either re-sign or let walk at the end of the year. Or if Brad wants to flip one or both at the deadline, they are easy enough to move with those contracts.
The Suns get a prime pick and two guys that can help them keep competing and building around Booker.
The Spurs get KD to pair with their young stars and KD gets to go to one of his preferred destinations.
Trade #2: Danny and Brad catch up for old time’s sake
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I’m a bit worried that we’re not going to find a way to keep Al Horford and Luke Kornet. So if we’re dealing away Porzingis, I kind of want to bring back a center if at all possible. Why not a familiar face? Robert Williams III hasn’t been able to stay healthy (shocker) but we have a year to experiment and take a flyer on guys that have this kind of upside. Jordan Clarkson is mostly included to make the money work, but if he sticks around, he can contribute scoring and/or be flipped later on in another deal.
Trade #3: Move Sam Hauser for a 1st rounder
Reminder:
His salary for the 2025-26 season will be $10 million, worth 6.5% of the cap. The new CBA allows for teams to use their mid-level signing exceptions in trades now, something that used to only be for free agents. As a result, this opens up more ways for Boston to deal Hauser and not take any incoming money back in a deal.
Shooting is such a premium in this league that I think that the Celtics can get back a future (protected) first rounder in exchange for Hauser. Pick a team, they all need shooting. Perhaps the Grizzlies (since they just sent out Bane and have draft picks to spare).
So where does that leave us? With these three deals, we’ve shaved $19.1M off the books. That’s close enough to put Brad in position to make a few other minor deals before the deadline to ensure they finish the year under the 2nd apron.
New Rotations (assuming Tatum misses most of, if not all of next year):
- Guards: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White
- Wings: Jaylen Brown, Jordan Clarkson
- Forwards: Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, Baylor Scheierman
- Bigs: Robert Williams III, Neemias Queta, Draft Pick?
Once Tatum gets back, you still have a core of Tatum, Brown, White, and Pritchard, and you keep looking for ways to add value and depth around them.
So how did I do?
Self assessment: I came away from this a little underwhelmed. Both with the “silly” and the end result. I probably should have swung for a Giannis trade for more clicks and fun, but oh well. Honestly this might be a little sobering of what could be the end result. Unfortunately, you have to pay for talent and if you are taking a step back in salary, you are generally taking a step back in proven talent.
Note: If you don’t like this and think I’m crazy (or worse), you can comfort yourself with the unassailable truth that Brad Stevens is much better at this than I am.
