You folks had some interesting trade ideas as part of the mailbag questions and some of you put a lot of work into them. So to honor that effort I wanted to give you my reactions to each of them.
mayhem24
Got a couple trades for ya.
First thing I noticed is trying to find a trade for KP and Jrue is really, really hard.
First one is trading KP to the Kings for Malik Monk and Keegan Murray, Celtics would probably need to attach a pick or 2.
Second one is trading Jrue to the Spurs for Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, and Blake Wesley. This one seems more probable.
I agree, trade ideas are very hard, so I generally try to avoid making fun of anyone’s best efforts (at least not seriously). Whenever I get around to proposing ideas, they will probably be mid at best, so I respect the effort.
For the first one, I would love it from an on-court product. Monk is a solid bench guard option and Murray has a lot of upside and has played well early in his career. I do agree, however, that the Celtics would have to compensate the Kings with draft picks even if they were willing to make this kind of move. I also don’t know if it gets the Celtics that much closer to shaving salary unless they can flip Monk to a 3rd team. Note that Murray will be looking for a long term extension soon enough. (Grade: C+)
As you suspected, the 2nd one sounds a lot more realistic. If I were Brad I would be calling the Spurs front office daily to see if there’s a fit. They have the cap space to help us and in theory they could use some veterans to build a more competitive team around Victor Wembanyama. This deal saves us $10M of salaries and gives us a very solid rotation guy in Keldon Johnson. (Grade B+)
gio1907
– First trade:
Jrue Holiday to San Antonio for Harrison Barnes e Malaki Branham (and maybe one or more picks to Boston, probably second picks)
Boston saves 8.4 milions in 2026 (trade machine ok)
– Second trade:
Porzingis to Chicago for Vucevic (and maybe one or more picks from Boston to Chicago)
Boston saves 9.2 milions in 2026 (trade machine ok)
– Third trade:
Hauser to anyone in exchange for one second pick and a not guaranteed contract to cut
Boston saves 10 milions in 2026
TOT: Boston saves 27.6 milions in 2026 and gets three reasonable players
You’d have to add a salary coming back to Boston for the first one to work. Barnes is a large expiring salary that we could either use for cap relief the following summer or to flip in another deal to shed salary this year. I have to admit I haven’t scouted the bottom of the Spurs depth chart to know anything about those players (which would probably swing the 2nd round picks one way or the other). Good, solid thought here though. (Grade B)
Again on the 2nd one, you’d need to add another salary like Julian Phillips to make it work. The deal saves us $7.4M in salary and does bring back a decent center option. Now before you jump on me for that take, I’m fully aware that he doesn’t defend and his age is catching up with him (34). That said, he still averaged 18 and 10 last year. He’s also an expiring contract, so no long term commitment and you might get him to resign for cheaper the following season. (Grade B-)
The 3rd one is an option that I think the team will have if they get close enough to whatever salary shaving goals that they have. A number of teams will have the ability to fit him into a trade exception and shooters are always needed. I wonder if Brad could even get a protected future 1st for him. With all that said, I’d rather not pull the trigger on this unless we have exhausted all the Jrue and KP options first. (Grade B+)
XSV15
Not sure Spotrac has updated salary info where Fanspo does
Brown and pick #28 for Jalen Green, Jabari Smith tari Eason or Whitmore and the #10 pick. Chose Cedric Coward at 32 Maxime Reynaud, Baye Ndongo Drake Powell Dink Pate Labaron Philon or Kam Jones
KP for Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate works
Hauser for Derk Jones JR
Holiday for John Collins? Jeremy Grant? Rozier or Herro? Expect Brad will move him where he wants to go unless a great offer comes. This bad extension hurting both
I’m generally against trading Jaylen Brown unless we get a haul and some young stars that have a really good chance of becoming great themselves. The Rockets seem like a reasonable destination because they have assets and a desire to consolidate them into a star. If they strike out on the bigger names, they could make a run at Jaylen (in particular because of the Ime Udoka connection). I’m really not a Jalen Green fan. If you thought fans were frustrated at Brown’s inconsistency, what do you think they’d do with Green? I do like Jabari Smith and Tari Eason though. I’m not sure if the Rockets would want to include the 10th pick. (Grade B-)
Any deal for Miles Bridges gets a fail from me. Sorry, not sorry. (Grade F-)
Hauser can be traded for no salary coming back which probably serves us better in the short term than adding another guy. (Grade C-)
I’ll just respond to your first Jrue trade. I like getting John Collins back for him. Saves us $5M in salary and he’s a useful rotation forward. Jazz might not want that deal unless they’ve already made other moves to put themselves in position to win sooner than later though. (Grade B)
BostonGreece
Between BOS-CHI n MIL, we take Giannis, Vucevic n Jevon Carter n under 2nd apron by 5,4M.
MIL takes JB n Dosunmu n also under 2nd apron.
CHI takes KP, Tillman, Connaughton n Jackson Jr…..
With also some future picks it’s great deal for us n keeping DW n Holiday.
i would like from the experts. their opinion.
P.S. was ok by the Sportac trade machine.
This one kind of broke my brain, but if you put it in the trade machine it works if you add a salary going from Chicago to the Bucks (I picked Julian Phillips). I guess I have to say that I’d drive everyone to the airport if this happened but it won’t because the Bucks can get a much better haul from several other teams. Points for creativity and effort but it just isn’t realistic. (Grade C+)
MakeWayForJays
The moves this summer to be made are around keeping JB, White and Tatum. Everything else is under consideration.
Holiday to Sacramento, DeRozan to ATL into TPE, Celtics get a pick or Valanciunas or young player (Ellis?). There’s other avenues with LAC for Derrick J JR and Bogdan but it’s not a cap saving move.
Hauser is likely moved for draft capital into other teams MLE.
I would hope we somehow keep Porzingis into the season to reclaim some of his value.
Sorry but I couldn’t get this to work in the trade machine. Something about the other teams being over the hard cap. In theory, if I’m missing something or the machines are wrong, I’d say that the Celtics would love to get off Jrue’s salary and get a pick out of it. Not sure if the Hawks want to add another wing though. Feels like they could be in the market to package a couple of their players together for someone. Or perhaps they might be willing to move on from Trae Young. Not sure what is going on down in Georgia this summer. (Grade INC)
Thanks, this was fun and creative. I appreciate everyone’s ideas. I’ll see if I can come up with a few ideas of my own, and you all can grade them as harshly as you like! It’s only fair.
