The Celtics begin training camp in three weeks at Auerbach Center with the offseason all mostly in the rear view. Neemias Queta’s EuroBasket run ended with a defeat to Germany in the round of 16, Jaylen Brown appeared at the Auerbach Center training over the weekend while the training camp roster filled up during August.
Here’s where the active roster stands: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Xavier Tillman Sr., Luka Garza, Josh Minott, Jordan Walsh.
Two-ways: Amari Williams, Max Shulga, RJ Luis.
Reported training camp invites: Ron Harper Jr., Hayden Gray, Jalen Bridges, Aaron Scott.
Other outstanding moves around the league could still impact how the Celtics approach the remaining time before the season begins. As could health developments in the preseason. Brown and Queta fully recovered from offseason surgeries, though Tatum’s absence could alter the team’s usual approach of leaving its final roster spot open. Several non-guaranteed contracts, Walsh and Queta, remain until the regular season begins and the team’s salary is within striking distance of the first apron and luxury tax threshold lines. The Celtics’ interest in listening to Simons trades is widely noted.
Here’s what else to watch for in September…
- The cap space haven across the NBA on the Brooklyn Nets’ books saw a slight reduction when Cam Thomas signed his qualifying offer for one-year, $6 million last week. The Nets now have 18 players on standard contracts and $16.1 million in cap space, creating at least some intrigue with the ability to carve out as much as $24.7 million in room as they finalize their roster. That’s less than the $27.7 million that Simons makes, but Boston and Brooklyn could still execute a trade that sends a player making the minimum back to the Celtics while saving Boston between $24-26 million. That’s almost too much money coming off the books to make it worthwhile, as the Celtics would forgo Simons’ matching salary in trades that return value.
- For what it’s worth, Brad Stevens signaled earlier this summer that the Celtics aren’t interested in attaching assets to simply move below the luxury tax line, though Boston traded two second-rounders to move off Georges Niang.
- Brooklyn’s non-guaranteed contracts include Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin and Drew Timme, who all flashed positive moments last season. The Celtics would have the flexibility to add any of them if they wanted them, but their full camp roster would make it unlikely.
- The Jazz are also worth watching as a destination for Simons if the Celtics want to move off his contract. They have 16 standard contracts and are $2.5 million under the cap line. Boston could take back Jusuf Nurkić and save $8.3 million, or throw in Tillman to slide below the tax line completely.
- Boston is $4.0 million over the first apron line and $12.1 million over the tax line.
- Walsh and Tillman survived the waive-and-stretch deadline, the only players, due to their partially-guaranteed and small salaries, respectively, who made sense as a stretch option if the Celtics wanted to move on. That makes it likely both players begin the regular season on the roster, despite their limited playing time last season.
- One reason either player would go would be to sign free Ben Simmons, who’s been connected to the Celtics by multiple reports. Since, Simmons’ agent reportedly parted ways with him, the Knicks seemingly moved on from their interest and he’s reportedly considering whether he’ll continue his career. The Boucher signing already made Simmons’ fit dubious, but it’s worth monitoring his status if he’d accept a training camp contract to try out for the Celtics. Boston would offer the prospect of playing time while the Celtics could use the passing, defending and rebounding that Simmons can offer when he’s available. A one-year minimum contract would be worth $2.2 million on the books, and $3.3 million for Simmons.
- Al Horford remains a free agent despite almost an almost universal expectation that the Warriors will sign him to a two-year contract with a second-year player option when they resolve the Jonathan Kuminga situation. With Thomas accepting the qualifying offer from the Nets, and the Warriors seemingly set on their two-year offer with a team option and waiving his no-trade clause, the $8 million qualifying offer would cost Kuminga roughly $12 million while increasingly his flexibility and leverage. It would also allow Golden State the most remaining free agency flexibility this summer while effectively losing Kuminga as a prospect and salary to trade for nothing. In turn, signing Kuminga for $22-30 million average annual value long-term and seeing him stagnate as a player would hurt their ability to team-build. Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton are also expected to join the Warriors with Horford.
- The player option component of a Horford deal and his reported desire to play as long as possible makes me curious whether a 2026-27 return to Boston would be in store if all goes well. Even as the Golden State situation sits at a standstill, there’s no indication Horford could return to the Celtics this season.
- Other remaining free agents Josh Giddey and Quentin Grimes appear headed for long-term deals and the qualifying offer, respectively, though these stalemates are rapidly approach training camp at the end of the month. Other remaining unrestricted free agents: Malcolm Brogdon, Russell Westbrook, Dalano Banton, Charles Bassey, Seth Curry, Bones Hyland, Kai Jones, Markelle Fultz, Landry Shamet, Trevelin Queen, Cam Payne and Delon Wright, among others.
- Don’t count on the Celtics getting involved in sign-and-trade scenarios due to their status above the first apron, which would be difficult to slide below while executing a S&T, and Golden State, Chicago and Philadelphia seemingly having little interest in trading Kuminga, Giddey and Grimes.
