TRADE SEASON OPENS: Boston Celtics BUYERS or SELLERS? C’s BEST approach

TRADE SEASON OPENS: Boston Celtics BUYERS or SELLERS? C’s BEST approach

Trade season is officially here. What should the Celtics do? What can the Celtics do? Keith Smith is here to break it all down for us right now on the Locked On Celtics podcast. Uh-huh. Be ready. It’s the season. Who else could it be? What they going to say now? Screaming like JT coral. We kept the madness every game, every practice. Prime time white on the sideline. Raining J how it started. raise a business. How we finish locked on Celtics pod, home of the winners, baby. Welcome back to the Lockown Celtics podcast right here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. It is your team every day. Your team is the Boston Celtics and we’re talking about them every Monday through Friday plus bonus podcasts when they play on the weekends and there will be plenty of weekend games this week, next week. So, we’re going to be going for like two weeks straight. So, make sure you’re subscribed wherever you get your podcast, watch the show. It’s on YouTube. get into the comments section and share your thoughts with everydayers like you, people who are with me every Monday through Friday and on these weekends. If you’re new to the show, I am John Carales, beat writer for Boston Sports Journal. I’ve been covering the team for about 20 years, doing this podcast for about 10, and I’ve written a couple of books about the team as well. Today’s show is brought to you by FanDuel. If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit FanDuel to place your NFL live bets all season long. What a crazy live betting. the uh Patriots game uh was that that’s Patriots Bills was a crazy one, but we’ll get to that later. That’s that’s a whole other thing. Today, we’re talking about trade season. It’s December 15th. It’s officially trade season and there’s only one person that you got to talk to when December 15th rolls around and that’s Keith Smith of Spotrak. Keith, how are you doing, my friend? I am doing really well. I am uh you know, things are going good. Like you said, it’s trade season opens unofficially on the 15th. It’s uh it’s funny because I had somebody reach out and they’re like, “Is that like a real thing?” And I was like, “It kind of is.” Like it it’s it’s just that’s when the most of the guys who get traded over the summer. I think it’s 82 players uh this year that that signed over the summertime can be traded. So I was like that that’s we call it early trade season, unofficial opening. But, you know, most things pick up late January, early February as we get closer to the February 5th deadline. Yeah, exactly. Well, because because these restrictions open like we everybody loves to talk about a trade every every day, right? That’s that’s the most popular topic in the NBA. Um, but this is where like when we look at the the spot track trade machine, I always have to turn the restrictions off and now I don’t have to turn those restrictions off as much because guys can be getting close. Yeah. Now now we’re starting to be like, okay, now this guy Okay, good. So, um, later on we’ll get to what the Celtics realistic approach will be. We’ll talk about the Celtics assets, but let’s just start at the beginning here because where the Celtics are, it’s funny. They just came off of this big crazy stretch uh where they be, you know, 15- N and third seed and all that stuff. Then they lose to the Bucks in a very kind of humbling way. And it does, I think, reopen the question, buy or sell or Stan Pat. I guess that’s a third option here. But the the momentum was for like, hey, maybe the Celtics should be buyers. Maybe the Celtics should try to start packaging things and try to make their run now because Tatum looks like he’s coming back and the the team looks good and and why not go for it now? The East is so like wide open. So, where where do you fall on on that? Yeah, it it almost feels like we’ve had kind of two Celtics seasons and in the first third or so of the season here where the beginning part was like, okay, they’re not going to be very good. And then the long win streak happens and it’s like, all right, I’m ready to buy in on these guys. I I think this is they’re a little bit better than I thought they were going to be. I thought they’d be right around 500, you know, a few games above. Maybe they’ll be a few games better than that. And I think what you can do if you’re the Celtics is I think you’re a cautious buyer. And what I mean by that is you don’t you’re not making the all-in trade, right? There’s no Giannis trade to be made for the Celtics. It’s just way it just it’s just not happening. We can just leave it there. Just put that one away. But that there’s a miles and miles of players in between Giannis and good helpful players that could be traded that Boston could get. And I think for them is they can get into that position where I think they could still accomplish the goal of get cheaper this year, meaning save some money. That could potentially maybe even get all the way out of the tax. We’ll see about 12 million over the tax line, but get all the way out of the tax potentially, which would start helping towards cutting down on the repeater tax while still adding a helpful player because let’s face it, they’ve got Anthony Simons. I know we’re going to get into this deeper, but big contract that could be moved. That’s not going to kill your rotation. He’s been good for the Celtics, but he’s not like they’re you’re not going to be like, “Oh, no. We lost San Fran Simons. The season is over.” Like, I think they could get into a position where you you do something like that, save a little bit of money and get better, kind of, you know, plugging a hole somewhere else on the team and and move forward. But here’s my key thing. If you’re doing that, I don’t want this to be an addition that is we’re adding just for the rest of this year. It’s got to be somebody who can fit as the team moves forward and grows. Kind of like the Derek White trade of a few years where Derek White was a guy. Okay, we’re getting Derek White and then Derek White can be on the team for the next several years moving forward. That’s the kind of addition I think you need to focus on. So the it’s almost like buy and sell in a way because you can do a lot with the the Simons contract which I think I think there’s a separate Simon’s discussion to be to be had where you know he he’s his value is clearly not at 20 what is he 27 million yeah 27.7 yeah so his value is not at that he’s not a 27 million player right now. Uh maybe he can play his way back into that, but he’s not doing it this season. So, there’s a lot of where do you go from here with him? And if you can move him, can let’s just look at that the that concept of what would it look like to move Simons to save money? Like how would you see like a mechanism of that kind of trade? Yeah. So, there’s a couple ways you can do it, right? you can do almost the step down approach like what the Celtics did in getting Simons which was he makes just a little bit less than Drew Holiday. So you work with a team where they’ve got a guy who makes 22 million or so and that’s how you do it. You just kind of continue to step down. Now I don’t know that that’s going to be big enough to do anything. Just the the numbers that everybody needs to kind of know here are Celtics are 12.1 million over the luxury tax. They’re four million over the first apron. Being over the first apron at this point doesn’t really matter for them. It’s Yeah, there there’s some restrictions that come with that, but they’re not overly meaningful. They’re nothing that you should be too worried about. Getting under the second apron was obviously I mean it’s not breaking news here because he Brad Steven said it himself. It was one of the things they had to do and that was something that they were going to accomplish. getting out of the tax would be a nice bonus, but I don’t get the sense from anybody that I’ve talked to close to the team that anyone has said you got to get out of the tax this year. That has to happen. It doesn’t seem like that is a must. So, it seems more like a if we can, we will. So, with Simons, like one that I So, the nice thing about having our own trade machine on spot track, we could pull data for what trades people are making and know I’m not looking at what trades is John Corales making. We don’t have that level of data, but we have who are the teams and the players involved. It would be very stupid trades if you found what I was looking at. Yeah, publicize my fake trades. Trust me, it’s funny because I tell people all the time like like if you looked at mine and be like, I thought this guy knew the salary cap. Why does so many of his trades fail initially? So, but it’s um but one of the things when you when you pull Boston data specifically, a very popular trade, just a straight up trade that is very popular is Anthony Simons for Terrence Man with the Nets because you would use man in his contract. He comes over to Boston and that basically gets the Celtics out of the luxury tax. And I think a lot of people look at it as that’s pretty man’s not the scorer that Simons is, but that’s a helpful, you know, wing, ball handler type player who could help in the rotation. And I know for me personally, the thing I like about man is he’s got a couple more years under contract. So whether that’s you’re getting him because you like him and he can be a helpful rotation guy when Tatum is back and the team is more whole or if you say well that’s 15 million we can now use in a trade next year when we’re ready to build things back up and we’re not probably dealing with apron restrictions and all the other things we can move forward. So that’s that’s a very popular one that and that’s just an example of a deal that you that works that works because the Celtics can take him into the Porzingis exception. You could do it that way, but it also works just because they’re taking back less money and the Nets would essentially be the only time you can combine things that aren’t actual player salaries are cap space and a player salary. The Nets are still sitting on 15 million in cap space. Dan makes about 15 million. So you put together what’s that going to be about 12ish 12 13 million of uh cap space plus man’s 15 million that gets you to Simon’s salary that comes in and the Celtics would they create a big $12 million trade exception and again get themselves out from underneath the luxury tax entirely and that’s just an example of one one move. I don’t think it’s going to be a one move thing. I think it’s probably going to be more of a couple of moves if they want to go that direction. But I think that could be the way this goes. All right, so let’s let’s Okay, I like where we are here. It’s a kind of in between. You want to add to the team, but you’re not I think everybody agrees here. We You don’t want to just be like, okay, this is the this is the time to go for it. So you’re you’re going all in on something. So like you said, there’s no Giannis trade here because that would involve you have to trade Jaylen Brown or Jason Tatum, right? so many players that your team left would be Jaylen Brown, uh the injured Jason Tatum, Giannis, you and me. And then there we go. So, so that that’s why that’s not realistic. And so there are other trades to be made which we can continue as we look at the Celtics assets. What can they truly send out? What makes sense? Uh because that’s the next step in what’s Brad Stevens going to do and how how how do you kind of tow the line? Because I really think there’s a lot of towing the line here. You gotta How do you maximize this little opportunity? And how do you not be like, you know, the Clippers where some other team owns your first round pick and something’s gone horribly wrong and you’re sitting there like, “Oh no, what do we do here?” You know, or the Pelicans. Uh, we’ll do that when we come back. Today’s show is brought to you by Wayfair. The holidays show up faster than we expect. Christmas is 10 days away. If you’re still putting together gifts, last minute decor, I mean, I’m just shocked by how how quickly it came. If you’re getting your home ready for guests, Wayfair has you covered. Whether you need a quick room refresh, new bedding, or those final seasonal touches, Wayfair makes it easy to get what you need fast. It’s your one-stop shop for everything home. There’s decor, furniture, kitchen essentials, gifts for every style, budget. It’s all delivered quickly and easily. I’ve said before in the show where my one of the things my wife probably texts me the most is Wayfair Links and it’s because their selection is huge. Whenever we want new bedding or we want to refresh a room, uh you can find everything and whatever your style, whatever your budget, very easy and it’s very easy to share. It’s very easy to figure out what pieces actually fit your home. There’s no guessing involved and the items you get will instantly refresh your space. You don’t need to do like this big project. You just couple little things do a lot of work. No deliver massive delivery fees. There’s no stress. Super easy to kind of update things. And so it’s perfect. If you want to get a gift for somebody, you can do that, too. They have guides, tons of options, and something for everybody in any budget. So get lastminute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for way less. That’s wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. w a y f a iir.com wayfair every style every home today’s show is also brought to you by FanDuel NFL Sundays move fast one big play and suddenly everything feels different uh you don’t have to tell me about that watching the Patriots and Bills that was one big play over and over and over again but that’s what makes live betting with FanDuel so exciting you’re not just watching the game you’re reacting to it in real time you can place bets as the action unfolds every drive every momentum swing every highlight moment. Live betting is best when the game starts to shift. So, when a receiver gets hot, defense tightens up, or momentum flips after a turnover. You can jump into the moment with live spreads and money lines that adjust instantly, player props that update as guys heat up. And you can bet things like the next next touchdown scores, drive results, totals, and more. If you want to get into basketball, the Celtics are one and a half point favorites over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. That a little surprising that the Celtics are the favorites, but they’ve played the Pistons well at home. So check it out. If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit fanuel.com to place your live bets, NFL, NBA, all season long. When you sign up, when you sign in, they have uh the tools available there. They will ask you to set a budget. Please do so. That way when you if you hit a cold streak, if you’ve only put in the limit as what you can afford to lose, your disposable income, you’re protected, you’re safe, you’re gambling responsibly. So please do that. At FanDuel, a game moves fast and so can you. Thanks for making Lockdown Celtics your first listen every day. You already live your team every day. Now take it up to the next level and go ad free. Join the Everyday Dairer Club and get Locked On Celtics with no interruptions. Members only Discord access and more. All for just $5 a month or $50 a year. Just head on over to lockdownseltics.supcast.com. lockdownseltics.supcast.com to get signed up. And if we’re on your Spotify wrapped, tag the Locked OnPodcast Network and you can get a month free. So check it out over at lockedeltics.supcast.com. All right, let’s get back to the discussion here with Keith Smith from Spotrak and the Celtics assets. Um, they obviously have the players, right? The the any any one of these guys can be traded theoretically. Um, but beyond that, they have all of their picks. They have the Porzingis exception. They have a George Nyang exception. They have they have accept they can bring in salary if they want. They we talked about them getting under the tax, but if something happens and it’s like a no-brainer deal, like they have they have the opportunity to bring in they can just bring in a $22 million player for nothing if if they if they want. They have to send something out, right? like how how does that work with the exception? Yeah. So you they even though they’re using an exception, you still run into potential hard cap issues. Right now they’re not hardcapped at any of because all they’ve done is moves to step down uh their salary. So nothing has hardcapped them. But if you do a trade where you take back more money than you send out, you would still run in, even if you use an exception, you would still run into um a potential uh um hard cap issue with the first apron. So, it’s not quite as simple as just bring in a $22 million player. Um but having that tool allows you to do an unbalanced trade if you want to. I I firmly believe they’re not going back into the Second Apron. They didn’t do what they did to get out of Second Apron world to just jump right back in. It’s a like I I I’ve grown fond of saying the Second Apron is like Las Vegas. It’s fun to visit for a little while, but it gets painful if you stay too long and then you don’t turn around and go right back, right? Like you you’re you’re but once you leave, you’re good for your year and then you go home. So, uh then you come back a year later. So, maybe that’s where they go. But I think for now um we’re in a spot with the Celtics where yeah they have the ability to do some stuff and again like we said at the open there’s nothing I’ve been told that they are operating under you must cut salary, you must get under the tax. There’s been nothing said about that and we know in years past that has been very much a thing where it’s hey we’re not a title contender. Um if you want to spend when we are we will but if we’re not a title contender let’s try to get out. But we haven’t seen it get to that point yet. So, and and I I think part of that is the understanding that Jason Tatum is coming back. Yes. And coming back this year, coming back next year. I I’ve said it on the podcast before. I I expect him to be back this season, but I’m I am treating that as essentially a preeason to next year. And if it if it becomes more than that, then great. But I’m not looking at him as being a, okay, all of a sudden the Celtics are a rocket ship and Tatum coming back takes them to the next stratosphere. And I don’t think that’s the the way they should be approaching trade season here. I I don’t think it’s a Jason Tatum is back. Let’s make let’s make this this run this move. But I think with these assets like they don’t they own all of their picks, right? They don’t owe anything, right? They owe one one 29. They have the swap with the Spurs in 29. Yeah. So, and that’s top one protected, but anything else they go, but who knows where both of those teams would be. Like I mean, at this point, let’s let’s just in in pretty dark pencil almost ink say the Spurs and Thunder are going to be pretty good every year. So, who knows if they are even in a position to swap. Then they owe the 29 pick um from the Drew Holiday acquisition. So, but they have they said here’s the easy way to to put it. They have two tradable picks. They have they could trade the 26 or 27 and then they could trade the 30 or the 31. Um that’s the kind of easiest way to put it. Gotcha. So, that gives them leeway because you can also do swaps in those other years. uh which is a system that I think needs to change, but that’s a whole separate thing. But okay, so the Celtics have exceptions. They have tradable players. Um I don’t think aside from Jaylen Brown, Derek White sort of, but I think even in the certain situation that he might be reluctantly tradable. Uh but that would take I think a it has to be like oh my god you yes of course you have to get this guy. So I think only Jaylen would be the the untouchable one and there are other guys who are to varying degrees tradable not tradable but but they also don’t have they have Sam Hower and Payton Pritchard they don’t have a ton of like those mid-range yeah stackable contracts either. So, I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, what this just means is there’s I don’t think the Celtics are going out there and making a one forone deal, right? Like, do do you see like you you mentioned the one before with Terrence, man, but I don’t even see that as something like that like like why why would they do that? Why would why would Brooklyn do that? I I don’t know. Brooklyn, I feel like they’re they’re positioned to do more than that kind of trade. Um, so I just don’t see the Celtics as, hey, we got this guy, we’ve got Simons, we’ve got picks, we’ve got exceptions, you’ve got that guy, we’re talking one-on-one. Does that make sense to you? Yeah, I I’m with you on that. I I think a straight up one for one trade is extremely unlikely. The Simons for man one is almost one where you have the conversation and then you say, “Hey, if it’s 2:30 on deadline day and we’re still kind of sitting in these spots, then maybe we pick up the phone because if you’re the Nets, all right, that takes 15.5 million off our books for next year.” Uh, if you’re the Celtics, all right, we get a useful player who then that’s 15.5 million we have to trade. Simons is coming off the books anyway. Let’s do this. And if you’re boss and you’re if you’re if you’re put it this way, if you call the Nets today, the Nets are like, “Yeah, sure. Give us one of those first round picks to eat the 12 million and salary difference.” So if you’re the Celtics, you’re like, “No, thank you.” So then maybe you come back and it’s like, “Hey, 12 million, can you can you eat that for two seconds?” Like are you willing to do that? And then you know we’re or hey we’re taking 15 and a half off your books for next year that you probably don’t want because you’re trying to clear out still continue to clear more salary. Now you do hit a point of like all right how much cap space do the Nets need because they’re probably not building this thing up very quickly. So, but yeah, but a straight one for one trade unless it’s like something small like we’re moving Xavier Tilman in a deal for another guy that’s a minimum and that’s just, you know, we you need a big, we need a small or a guard, let’s just do a swap here. But those ones I take out of the picture. So, yeah, a straight one for one trade. No, very unlikely uh there. I think it’s more likely you see some kind of package move with this. Today’s show is brought to you by Rouette. Let’s be real, making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve all heard them before. It’s just stress. I’m tired. It happens to everyone sometimes. But when it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support. That’s where Rouette comes in. Rouette.com offers fast acting doctor prescribed treatments for ED. Designed to help you stop making excuses and start making moves. Rouette makes it easy to get started. Just connect with a board-certified doctor, 100% online. No awkward waiting rooms or in-person appointments. Your treatment ships directly to your door discreetly when you get sub uh prescribed. The process is fast, simple, and private. It’s handled by real doctors. So, get that confidence, connection, and get back to the moments that matter. Visit rouette.com, rugg.com/lockdownba to get 15% off your first order. That’s rouette.com/lockdown NBA. And don’t forget to use the code lockdown NBA so they know we sent you. Rouiette, stop making excuses and start making moves. Thanks for making Lockdown Celtics your first listen every day. Make your second listen locked on NBA and Locked on NBA Game Night. They’re both on the same feed. Game night is seven days a week covering every game in the association. I handle Wednesdays with Jake Madison. This Wednesday is going to be one game, the NBA Cup Championship game. So, catch me and Jake reacting to that. Subscribe. That is seven days a week. And Locked on NBA, they host in the afternoons. They cover the big topics there. So, check it out. It’s all in the same feed wherever you found Locked On Celtics. And I’m glad you mentioned the Tatum thing because right, I got excited too during the win streak and I was like, maybe add Jason Tatum to this. But couple things. Jason, I firmly believe he’s going to play at some point this year. I had said even if they were hopelessly out of it, right? They’re in the lottery and we’re at the end of March. If Jason Tatum is cleared, let him do what Paul George did, what Brandon Clark did. Get back on the floor just for a handful of games. All right, now I’ve done it. Now I’m not doing that again in the fall at training camp, right? I’m just I’ve done it. It’s over and done with. And now we start start fresh when the real thing starts next season. I’m going to I’m going to insert the Michael Scott thank you gift there. So, right. And then my other thing is though, I’ve also said all right now they’re clearly better than that. Right. We’re they’re going to be a um postseason team whether it’s in the playing tournament or in the playoffs. One way or another they’re going to be there. So then it becomes all right. Well, certainly, and I don’t know how many more clear the team, Tatum, everybody who reports on the team needs to make it. He will not be rushed back. And I don’t care if you think anything earlier than one year to the date of the injury is rushing him back. If they all say he’s cleared tomorrow, he can play tomorrow. It’s not going to happen, but it will be whenever they say he’s cleared, he feels like he’s ready, that’s when it’ll be. Whenever that date is, who knows? We have no no concept. I see all these people yo reporter he’s gonna play in January. He’s gonna We don’t nobody knows, right? No, no one has any idea. But I kind of look at it as all right, you get Jason Tatum back, add this. Whatever you get from him is just a bonus for the rest of this year. If he’s back and he’s Jason Tatum, well, that’s a really nice big bonus that you weren’t expecting. And and you everybody’s happy and you run off as, hey, maybe we could really be dangerous. if he gets back and he’s like, “Yeah, he’s this diminished version of Jason Tatum who’s playing his way back into shape and rhythm and all that stuff, okay, that’s still probably better than 99.9% of guys coming off the bench in the NBA.” So, um, you know, that’s kind of where I’m at with Jason Tatum. I don’t think you make any decisions on, hey, we’re going to have Tatum or not have Tatum this season. That’s more of a That’s why I like the idea of get somebody who can either help you or help you via being a contract and a trade for next season because next season you’re I’m envisioning this team has Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard, and whatever else they add to it. Then it’s now now we’re moving forward. So, let’s look at this approach because I think where I have settled on this, I’ve kind of been here all season long. The Celtics are, I think, best positioned to be the third or fourth team in on a superstar trade where Simons and his $27 million, 27 plus million are, you know, that that’s packaged with someone else to go to Milwaukee and Giannis goes to a team and they can say, “Well, look, we’ve picked up Simons. We picked up this other guy.” that team doesn’t have to send out50s something million dollars. There’s I you tell me if if if this is even feasible. I think there’s first of all I think that the second apron and the rules have made three, four, five team deals more of the norm than ever. Like Yeah. I used to say to anybody who sent me a fake trade once they put four teams in I was like I don’t care. No. Yeah, not even bothering. Yeah, two teams is hard enough. Every team you add, it’s like adding a 100 is the way it’s always explained to me. But now because of the rules, I think three and 14 trades, that’s kind of how it almost has to be. Yeah. So are am I like anywhere close with this where Simon’s 27 and change million dollars can be a big help to somebody trying to match a super max 50 $60 million salary and the Celtics in exchange simply ask for the best big making whatever little money available in this deal and the the example I’ve been using is John Mor gets traded Simons goes out and the Celtics end up landing Santel Dama in in the deal like that type of kind of scenario. Do you think that’s feasible? Is there anything anything to that? Please validate my opinions. I No, I I I think it’s I think it’s reasonable to think they jump in, especially if it’s we could kind of siphon off a little value here because, you know, it’s coming our way. What they what what I want to be clear on is the Celtics can’t offer matching salary for another team. Like if the other team is trying to get Giannis’s 54 million, they still need to send out whatever matches on 54 million because you still got to fit Giannis into your team at the end of the day. They can’t say, “Hey, well, the Celtics gave you 27 and we’re going to give you 27 and that equals out.” you still took on $27 million, which nobody can do. So, so that’s the part where it gets a little wonky, but to your point of a third team in, fourth team in in a trade, yeah, they could jump in and part of that is they can offer up a contract where it is again, hey, we’ll you know, let’s say it’s let’s say it’s the the the Bucks and the Hawks and the Bucks are like, yeah, you know, we really don’t want to take back um I’m trying to because they don’t want to do Porzingis cuz that’s weird cuz he was already with Boston. But like or like the Bucks and the Spurs. Let’s just do the Bucks and the Spurs. We don’t really want to take back Harrison Barnes contract cuz it doesn’t do anything for us or you know whatever or Kelly Ool Linux deal. The Celtics could say, “Hey, we can jump in there. You take Simons and we’ll take that money instead because that money actually doesn’t we don’t care about having that money on our books.” That’s how they can kind of jump in whether that’s using Simons, using Hower. Only reason I keep bringing those guys up, but nothing against the two players. I think people have been far too harsh on both of them um this season. So, you know, the ones who nobody’s ever good enough. Um but it’s I I think it is so you got that part, but I think there’s also the ability to kind of um use that trade exception like you said. You could use that in a way where it is, hey, we’re going to bring in some money via the trade exception and and do it that way. There are definitely options here, especially again if they’re not working under any kind of um mandate of you must get below the tax line like then then that that really opens things up. But hey, I’m going to become a broken record just momentarily. But get something that is helpful beyond this season because you’re not that close to be adding win now piece. This is not the last couple of years where it’s go get that one guy that can put you over the top or the one guy who can be a really important depth player as you chase a title or anything like that. They’re not that close to doing anything that it’s like, all right, yeah, now it’s time to go add that player. It’s not Anthony Davis. Yeah, those big ones I just Yeah, those are just too like they’re just too far-fetched for me because again, anybody if you get much over 40 million, you’re really talking about we got to you got to either it’s Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum, or gut the team. And it’s not going to be Brown or Tatum. And gutting the team just doesn’t make sense. Like they’re like especially with the uncertainty around Tatum. Not even beyond this year. I mean, I’m, don’t get me wrong, I’m as excited as the next person that Jason Tatum looks what he looks like already in these videos they keep releasing. And I think Jason Tatum is going to be fine. I don’t think the Achilles injury is an injury that kills guys careers anymore. I think that guys play I mean, Kevin Durant, look how good he still is. And his happened when he was even older than Tatum. So, I think we’re just in a spot where it is. Yeah, it’s it’s you just there is still that uncertainty, but and I I I mean I don’t think you can win a team with just two stars, three stars and a whole bunch of, you know, minimum players. Now, I think you need a 100 games of depth to win the NBA title. Now, you got to get through the regular season and then through the playoffs. And part of how you do that is you have enough depth that in the regular season you can rest some of your star guys and get by because your other guys are good enough that you don’t completely fall off a cliff when you do it. Well, let’s end on this. Is there have you settled on the most realistic? What’s the most realistic thing the Celtics can do? Have you looked into something that you have that you like right now? Yeah, I mean I kind of mentioned the Simons for man because I don’t hate it. Um, I don’t it’s I’m not don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to be jumping up and down and going crazy if they do that. I wouldn’t I also would not recommend anybody runs out and buys their Terrence man Celtics jersey if that happens because I don’t know that he’d be here beyond the rest of this season. But that’s that’s the kind of f the the player I’m like person one million to say this. Avita Zubach is somebody I would be I would be testing the Clippers on. Where are you going? Like what are you doing? like what is your plan here? Because if the Clippers are like, “Yeah, we just we’re we’re going to start the process of really tearing this thing down.” Clippers are going to have a hard reset either this summer or next summer. It’s one or the other. And one of those summers they’re going to have 100 million plus in cap space. And that’s where it really becomes right. If you’re starting the process earlier, hey, we’re happy to get Zubot. Now, if I was running the Clippers, I’d be like, Zubot is still good enough, young enough, and on a good enough contract. He’s a guy we’ll keep. Not that he’s like your franchise building block, but he’s just a nice player who’s always going to help you. But if I’m bossing, that’s the guy if you start talking about him wanting to trade a first round pick and maybe a swap in another year um plus some salary. That’s the kind of player I’d be targeting would be somebody like Avita Zubach. That’s the name. That’s that’s like the dream. So, we’ll see. We’ll see if like if you don’t want Nick Luch or like that doesn’t do none of those guys are better enough than what they’re getting out of Mia Kada that I would like at that point just roll with what you have. I’d rather have Kada get all these important minutes so then you find out like you know when we are in big games late in the season is he good enough for us? It’s like that’s the question I think the team would like to answer cuz now all of a sudden imagine if you were finishing out this year and rolling into next year and you’re like hey actually Nami Skate is okay and we’re fine with him as our starting center now imagine the play you have because you’re paying your starting center three million bucks like that’s a whole different or that’s like landing on a you know late first round draft pick. And then I’ll just say this, the other nice thing for the Celtics, they have, even though they don’t have big contracts, they’re not restricted from aggregating together contracts like they were the last couple years when they were up over the second apron. So they’re in a position where if something pops up and it’s like an $8 million player, all right, well then you can do Baylor Shyman and um you know, you could put together a couple of Baylor Shyman, Xavier Tilman, Chris Buchet because you can stack those contracts up. Yeah. And go get somebody in season. You can’t do that in the summertime. Can’t stack minimums together. Even though a couple of those guys aren’t minimums, but but you they would be able to do that. The one guy, it’s weird we didn’t talk about him in the untouchables because he certainly shouldn’t be. I think Jordan Walsh is somebody it’d be like, “All right, if I’m not he’s he’s not just a salary throwin anymore. He’s way beyond that with how well he’s played this year.” It’s so funny that he’s like in that discussion. I don’t even understand. It is the most remar one it this team has won championships. This team had Gordon Hayward’s leg snap in half on opening night. I said this to someone the other day. Jordan Walsh going from somebody where I was like this dude is running out the string to now being this like incredible starter where opposing coaches are regularly like yeah I didn’t realize he was that good. Like it’s one of the more remarkable things. It’s incredible. It is incredible. Shout out to him, man, for for getting to that level. Awesome. All right. Well, look, Spot Track’s the place to go for all his stuff. The Spot Track trade machine is the trade machine. Like, do not use anybody else’s because they’ll just be like, “Oh, yeah, this works.” Like, then you go to Spotra, you’re like, “Actually, no, it it doesn’t.” You know? So, the Spotra Trade Machine is is the one to go to. appreciate it. It’s a place to go for all of your salary cap. The way you got it all laid out is perfect. Uh Keith, appreciate you as always. Um obviously everybody knows that Keith is is is the guy when it comes to all this stuff and that’s why I always bring him on talk about this. Keith, thank you so much. I appreciate it. I hope you got me back on to break down what happened when they do some stuff. That’ll be fun. Absolutely. Absolutely, man. Absolutely. And I do want to thank everybody uh great conversation here. Thank everybody for for listening, for watching. If you are an everydayer and you want to be part of the everyday club, you can go to lockdownseltics.supcast.com. Sign up. You get $5 a month, $50 for the year. If we’re on your Spotify wrapped, then tag us, tag the Lockdown Podcast Network on social media. They will give you a month off. They’ll send you a code. So, do that if you want to be on that. This the everydayer club gets you ad free audio for locked on Celtics. It gets you an invite to the membersonly locked on everyday discord server, exclusive access to national bonus shows, membersonly uh lockdown merch store, all of that stuff. So go check that out. Now, I would love it if you share the podcast. Tell everybody they should be listening to and watching the Lockdown Celtics podcast. Here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, it’s your team every day.

Boston Celtics weigh cautious buy vs. bold moves as trade season heats up—can Brad Stevens maximize this “toe the line” window without mortgaging future assets? Keith Smith of Spotrac joins John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal to break down the impact of Anfernee Simons’ contract, exploring package scenarios and salary cap strategies to spark roster upgrades. The conversation spotlights Jayson Tatum’s upcoming return, Jaylen Brown’s untouchable status, and how Simons’ long-term fit echoes the transformative Derrick White trade from years past.

Key topics include which contracts the Celtics are likely to move, the strategic use of the Kristaps Porziņģis trade exception, and how Boston could become a pivotal third team in multi-team superstar trades this season. Insight on the true value of players like Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, plus specific trade targets like Ivica Zubac, rounds out this comprehensive analysis. Don’t miss the inside scoop on Boston’s playoff ambitions and how front office decisions today could shape the team’s future.

1:00 Trade Season Begins
3:15 Celtics’ Buy/Sell/Stagnate Dilemma
6:46 Anfernee Simons Trade Options
12:00 Celtics’ Salary Cap Tools
17:54 Celtics’ Draft Picks & Assets
25:13 Third-Team Trade Scenarios & Ideal Targets

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.

Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonceltics.supercast.com/

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
SKIMS
Shop SKIMS Men’s now at https://SKIMS.com.
When you place your order, choose “podcast” in the post-purchase survey and select our show from the dropdown to let them know we sent you.
The SKIMS Holiday Shop is open — so if you’re looking for the perfect gift this season, SKIMS has you covered.

Gusto
Try Gusto today at https://gusto.com/lockedonNBA and get three months free when you run your first payroll.

Rugiet
Visit https://rugiet.com/lockedonnba to get 15% off your first order.
And don’t forget to use our code LOCKEDONNBA so they know we sent you.
Rugiet — stop making excuses and start making moves.

Rocket Money
Take control of your finances and cancel your unwanted subscriptions with Rocket Money.
Go to https://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON today.

Wayfair
Get last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less.
Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.
Wayfair. Every style. Every home.

Robinhood
You expect more from yourself. Expect more from your money. Get started today at robinhood.com/yourmoney. Your money. Your move.

All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.

Gametime
Today’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCeltics?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

Locked On Celtics is a daily Boston Celtics podcast by Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis. It’s an inside look at the C’s from a former professional basketball player who is at practices & games.

#BostonCeltics #Celtics #NBA #JaysonTatum #JaylenBrown