“The Celtics are under no pressure to reduce their current luxury tax bill, which they’ve budgeted for, but wouldn’t mind going below the tax for the right deal, league sources told HoopsHype.”

“With that in mind, Boston hasn’t shown a willingness to attach a first-round pick to trade Simons’ expiring contract, league sources told HoopsHype.”

“Over the summer, the Brooklyn Nets and Celtics discussed several trade scenarios involving Simons that ultimately fell through, league sources told HoopsHype. The Milwaukee Bucks also kept tabs on Simons, HoopsHype has learned.”

“It’s worth noting that Boston also planned to pursue Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe in free agency, league sources told HoopsHype. The Celtics would’ve been limited to only a minimum offer for Sharpe, but were prepared to offer a chance to compete for the starting center spot this season.”

20 comments

  1. In other words “we are going to make a trade to get under the tax, but we’re pushing this report out so we don’t sound desperate and reduce value of our outgoing player(s)”

  4. Makes sense.. C’s are clearly a play in team. JB is eventually going to miss games, might as well cut salary and try to pick up a cost controlled rookie for next year with some upside. Only problem this season is easily the most backloaded on teams tanking and or underperforming early.

  5. They definitely have a mandate to get under the tax. This is just framed in a way that aims to not tank the value of any particular player.

    The talk about having to attach compensation to Simons is crazy. The whole league knows the Celtics need to get under the tax.

    The Celtics have like 2.5 valuable pieces on the roster. 

  6. Someone smarter than I will have to figure out how they’re gonna build the next great Celtics team when they’re still trying to get under the tax and will have next to no money to spend on pieces.

  8. We would be batshit insane to attach a first to simons just to get off money, his contract expires this summer and the only penalty we’re up against is the tax which is basically irrelevant outside of an ownership spending burden

    Now if it’s attaching a first to Simon’s to get a better or more useful player that’s another thing

  10. We are going to struggle to tank. This year is more full of tankers than I can ever remember and its just not in Mazzulla’s DNA

  12. I like that they tried it before just going full savings mode, but at this point I’m fine with it. This team was more than a Anfernee Simons away from making a deep playoff run

  13. The fact the idea of adding a first to a Simons deal was floated is insane. He’s a valuable shooter that many playoff teams would love. Guys like him go for two low end firsts or a middle first and 2 seconds nowadays.

  14. We can’t tank, the league is too tank-heavy, we’d never be bad enough. The proper thing to do is soldier on and try to make the playoffs. If JT returns we could make a run. A deep playoff run should help recoup lost tax revenue.

  16. If you can get under the tax this year without paying draft assets to do so thats great.

    If they attach picks to do it thats real loser behavior and a bad sign of where new ownership priorities lie.

  17. Sharpe with his current contract is actually still a good value if Nets wouldn’t ask too much.

  18. I feel that if Bucks keeps this losing streak without Giannis, it is more possible that Bucks will attach picks to get Simons from us. They are a win-now team that need to maximize the contending window so they won’t mind to attach picks to improve their roster.

  20. I bet we attach seconds, though.

    Think, like, Simons ($27M) and a 2nd rounder for Colin Sexton (19M). Or Simons and a 2nd rounder for Nurkic (19M)

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