NBA & Celtic 2024 Trade Deadline thread

PedroKsBambino

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Right– but, who? Siakam and Anunoby are already off the market. Markkanen probably isn't being traded. Donovan Mitchell would be interesting, but adding a ball-dominant guard seems like it could move them back into Sixers-with-James-Harden territory. And acquiring Zach Levine might objectively make them a worse team. It's not clear that Dejounte Murray is a good two-way player at this point— I'd rather have Caruso.

I haven't watched a ton of Sixers, but my sense is that the clearest opportunities for improvement are: (1) bigger backcourt defender; (2) a heat-check option off the bench who can provide playmaking and scoring when Maxey sits (someone like Malik Monk); or (3) upgrading Tobias Harris into more of a All-Star-level version of Tobias Harris (Siakam, Aaron Gordon). It feels like acquiring a ball-dominant star carries a real risk of regressing them back to last year's team, esp given the particular stars that are out there (to our knowledge) and their lack of interest in playing defense.

edit: maybe in some weird world, there's a three-way trade that gets the Sixers Austin Reaves and the Lakers Donovan Mitchell (not that those players have equal value of course, but you can see it from a "fit" perspective). But Cavs are playing too well at the moment for that to happen.
My sense is Philly would like to upgrade now and also maintain flexibility in offseason, though if they got someone they could just consider the third star now they’d do it.
I agree the path there isn’t super clear. Which suggests they may be more likely to grab “someone” now and stay flexible (eg take on someone in $10 mil range or expirings - Caruso a great fit there)

I don’t think Kyle Kuzma is good enough—but he’s kind of an interesting fit (I worry he’s moved towards good stats/bad team guy though). Mikal Bridges is interesting—though pick side of that would be messy and I'm not sure they have enough. But he is the guy to ponder, seems like.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Any chance Clips would do Lamar Stevens for PJ Tucker? PJ doesn't fit at all there, and while Celtics only need him for very specific matchups he'd be helpful to have vs Giannis. Probably not a fit for Clips, but they need something on the wing.
 

m0ckduck

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Any chance Clips would do Lamar Stevens for PJ Tucker? PJ doesn't fit at all there, and while Celtics only need him for very specific matchups he'd be helpful to have vs Giannis. Probably not a fit for Clips, but they need something on the wing.
Tucker is a good idea on paper. But he's already been complaining about his lack of minutes in LA, right? That's what I mean— it's so hard to find a player who is good enough to contribute but humble enough to log a lot of time on the bench for us. PJ could be great for us in playoff spots but I'm not sure he'd still be engaged by the time we get to May.
 

PJ Martinez

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Tucker also makes 11 million a year, right? I don't think he's an option even just from a salary-matching perspective.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Ahh, good point - I had him as a MLE guy in my head but that isn't the case.
 

bsj

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Don’t need to do anything, just stay healthy

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Partial agree. Dont make a trade for the sake of a trade, or dont make a trade that leverages the future for a small upgrade now. But I do tend to believe that if there is a chance to upgrade that fits financially, a team going for it should try. I personally would love to see the team add a veteran off the bench who has won a title before and has the ability to help rally this team if they go into one of their famously sleepy sequences where all the guys seem to be cold at the same time. I dont know who that is, or if that person exists, but thats something I'd love to see.
 

chilidawg

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The perfect player for the Celtics to add would be Al Horford. A second one, in case the first one gets hurt or needs rest. But since there’s only one Al Horford and we already have him, it's really difficult to identify a player who provides an upgrade from Pritchard-Hauser-Kornet but doesn''t think he should be starting, won't disrupt chemistry or create subtraction-by-addition, can be assimilated into the offense and defense in a few months, and won't cost far more in draft equity than can be justified for somebody who might only see the floor for 12 min/game in the playoffs.

Caruso is plug-and-play but probably has more value to teams with more holes in their top-6, so I expect the C's to get handily outbid.
Fire up the clone machine!
 

m0ckduck

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Partial agree. Dont make a trade for the sake of a trade, or dont make a trade that leverages the future for a small upgrade now. But I do tend to believe that if there is a chance to upgrade that fits financially, a team going for it should try. I personally would love to see the team add a veteran off the bench who has won a title before and has the ability to help rally this team if they go into one of their famously sleepy sequences where all the guys seem to be cold at the same time. I dont know who that is, or if that person exists, but thats something I'd love to see.
Sam Cassell?
 

Leon Trotsky

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Any chance Clips would do Lamar Stevens for PJ Tucker? PJ doesn't fit at all there, and while Celtics only need him for very specific matchups he'd be helpful to have vs Giannis. Probably not a fit for Clips, but they need something on the wing.
Ugh, please no. PJ Tucker is the last thing this team needs. If anything they need options on offense in the playoffs to avoid getting bogged down. Our team defense can handle Giannis or Embiid enough as is.
 
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Partial agree. Dont make a trade for the sake of a trade, or dont make a trade that leverages the future for a small upgrade now. But I do tend to believe that if there is a chance to upgrade that fits financially, a team going for it should try. I personally would love to see the team add a veteran off the bench who has won a title before and has the ability to help rally this team if they go into one of their famously sleepy sequences where all the guys seem to be cold at the same time. I dont know who that is, or if that person exists, but thats something I'd love to see.
Sounds like Jrue Holiday (except the bench part).
 

JakeRae

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Hoping the Cs can develop Queta enough that he could possibly play some minutes against big centers like Embiid in the playoffs.
I don’t see this. If we’re talking like 5 minutes if there is foul trouble, he can probably do that. But if the hope is that he’s able to be part of the playoff rotation, I don’t. Queta has been a great signing because he is capable of being a semi-regular part of the regular season rotation. But Kornet is much better and will only get minutes in some playoff games in the first place. The playoff rotation will be the starters, Horford, Hauser, and Pritchard, with spot minutes from Kornet.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I don’t see this. If we’re talking like 5 minutes if there is foul trouble, he can probably do that. But if the hope is that he’s able to be part of the playoff rotation, I don’t. Queta has been a great signing because he is capable of being a semi-regular part of the regular season rotation. But Kornet is much better and will only get minutes in some playoff games in the first place. The playoff rotation will be the starters, Horford, Hauser, and Pritchard, with spot minutes from Kornet.
Agreed---and as to Embiid and Giannis, I feel Kornet and Queta are pretty bad physical fits to matchup for anything more than spot/emergency duty anyway. Those two and Jokic are the only three guys in the league I feel like you need a really strong base more than height....but we may see both, and that's why I'd think about someone who is more stout as well.
 

JakeRae

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Agreed---and as to Embiid and Giannis, I feel Kornet and Queta are pretty bad physical fits to matchup for anything more than spot/emergency duty anyway. Those two and Jokic are the only three guys in the league I feel like you need a really strong base more than height....but we may see both, and that's why I'd think about someone who is more stout as well.
That someone is Al Horford and we already have him on the roster.
 

PedroKsBambino

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That someone is Al Horford and we already have him on the roster.
I think we learned last series vs Giannis that you need more than one person (and more than six fouls). No question Horford is the primary defender, and there'll be some minutes with the starters making it work between Tatum, Brown, and Holiday too.

To be clear, this is a specialized need and one you'd meet through FAs....Blake Griffin-like profiles.
 
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DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I honestly think that Kornet has earned and will get playoff minutes. I am not trying to sell him as anything other than a respite for the others and if the C's have to rely on him for anything more, they are likely in trouble.

Also, I think people here underestimate how difficult a trade will be for this team given the financial constraints and what is out there for them. Also, there really isn't any "stout third big who can go against Embiid, Giannis or Jokic" available at their price point anyway.

Finally, this is obviously just conjecture but it feels like their chemistry bar is fairly high - they seem to have a pretty good locker-room and my guess is Brad is mindful of that dynamic, especially given recent roster experiences.
 

slamminsammya

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Kornet is a solid rim protector and a legit seven footer with length. I think he's great as a third guy to soak up punches from Embiid and Giannis if we need it.
 

Leon Trotsky

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Also, I think people here underestimate how difficult a trade will be for this team given the financial constraints and what is out there for them. Also, there really isn't any "stout third big who can go against Embiid, Giannis or Jokic" available at their price point anyway.
Seems the most effective way to disrupt the Embiid, Jokic, Giannis is to double them selectively anyway, and we already have the players on the floor to do that in Jrue, White, and maybe PP, who can recover out.
 

bakahump

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PP, SVI+ (Draft Picks) for Caruso is the only thing that makes sense from the Celts perspective. Getting another big better the Kornet/Queta (low bar I know) for the same amount of money seems unlikely. And I am not interested in sending Al out unless for an absolute Stud which again seems unlikely due to money.
1. Does that f up chemistry?
2. How much is the +
3. What do the other teams bid and how does that impact the +
4. As good as Caruso is (Jrue LITE) is the ongoing Money+Tax worth it?
5 then you add Blake to bang

+3 wins to Bos -1 Chi but saving 3.5 Mil

Hell as good as he has been at bringing energy.... I would throw in Brissett and add Torrey Craig.
 

benhogan

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Jrue and Horford will split Giannis & Embiid duties, along with tactical doubles from the JAYs with KP protecting the rim.

Luke, Brissett, & even Queta are capable of sopping up physical minutes
 

SteveF

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PP+SVI for Caruso doesn't work. The Celtics would need to add 2 more players to get to the number, because PP is poison pilled (he counts lower as dollar value in the trade for the Celtics than he does for the Bulls.)
And if PP isn't in the deal, now you need to trade 5 guys -- the entire roster, excluding two ways, outside of your top 9 (6 + PP, Hauser, Kornet), and then sign bodies off the street/convert 2 ways to get to the roster minimum. And that doesn't even get into the difficulty that would put the Bulls in roster wise.

The only realistic way the Celtics add anyone is with the TPE**. There are options, but most won't move the needle absent including significant draft capital.
For example, if you want a big, Nick Richards fits into the TPE, but I imagine will cost a lot for a guy that might not play often.
Would the Wizards trade Kispert?

**The Celtics can't trade for a player with the TPE, then include that player in a 2 for 1 for another player before the deadline. After a player is traded, you have to wait 60 days before that player can be included in an aggregation in another trade, though that player can be traded again straight up for another player (unless there's an additional restriction on players acquired with a TPE than I am unaware of.)

Edited to fix inaccuracies about the cap.
 
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lars10

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Given the current chemistry of the team I’m not sure I’d get rid of any player that’s getting regular minutes. PP has legit played himself into more minutes..as have Hauser and Kornet
 

TripleOT

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I don’t see this. If we’re talking like 5 minutes if there is foul trouble, he can probably do that. But if the hope is that he’s able to be part of the playoff rotation, I don’t. Queta has been a great signing because he is capable of being a semi-regular part of the regular season rotation. But Kornet is much better and will only get minutes in some playoff games in the first place. The playoff rotation will be the starters, Horford, Hauser, and Pritchard, with spot minutes from Kornet.
Queta would be there just to bang if KP and AL are in foul trouble, and Kornet is getting destroyed. If Queta want to play real minutes more often, he needs to be as physical as possible. He has half a season to learn how to play more consistently with force.
 

chilidawg

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Queta would be there just to bang if KP and AL are in foul trouble, and Kornet is getting destroyed. If Queta want to play real minutes more often, he needs to be as physical as possible. He has half a season to learn how to play more consistently with force.
And not foul. Those guys would be living at the line with Queta guarding them.
 

TripleOT

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And not foul. Those guys would be living at the line with Queta guarding them.
For sure. They will live at the line even with AL and KP guarding Embiid and Giannis. The idea would be to foul them hard and wear them down in a series
 

benhogan

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I can't imagine Queta would ever be on the floor with Embiid in a tight playoff game.

If needed he'd be out there for 5 minutes at most against the likes of Paul Read
 

JakeRae

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Queta would be there just to bang if KP and AL are in foul trouble, and Kornet is getting destroyed. If Queta want to play real minutes more often, he needs to be as physical as possible. He has half a season to learn how to play more consistently with force.
This is very goal post shifty. You started at developing him so he can play minutes in the playoffs. Now we’re at him being a break glass if foul trouble option. I think that position is what I suggested his potential playoff role is, so I guess we agree. But he doesn’t need to develop for that, he’s capable of playing emergency minutes in the random game where that’s necessary as is.
 

DavidTai

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Yeah, honestly, I don't think at this point he can handle playoffs, so leaving him on a two way and getting a Blake Griffin to bang with those guys would make more sense.
 

Euclis20

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Blake Griffin is no longer an NBA player. He had one appearance for 6 minutes in last year's playoffs, in that ugly game 5 loss to Atlanta. I don't understand his being mentioned at all, unless I'm missing a joke. He's basically retired, and not a day too soon.
 

128

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Blake Griffin is no longer an NBA player. He had one appearance for 6 minutes in last year's playoffs, in that ugly game 5 loss to Atlanta. I don't understand his being mentioned at all, unless I'm missing a joke. He's basically retired, and not a day too soon.
Hear, hear!
 

PedroKsBambino

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Jrue and Horford will split Giannis & Embiid duties, along with tactical doubles from the JAYs with KP protecting the rim.

Luke, Brissett, & even Queta are capable of sopping up physical minutes
Tonight was what I feared and above doesn’t seem like the case. Against Jokic—and I fear potentially also Giannis and Embiid—we need a second big with some strength. I am not sure there’s a great option easily available but Jokic made Porzingis look hopeless out there
 

benhogan

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Tonight was what I feared and above doesn’t seem like the case. Against Jokic—and I fear potentially also Giannis and Embiid—we need a second big with some strength. I am not sure there’s a great option easily available but Jokic made Porzingis look hopeless out there
Joker was motivated after Joel embarrassed him a few days ago.

Thought Horford was fine on Nikola, would have liked more Jrue instead of KP guarding him down low.

The defense was fine. The Celtics' offense in the 2nd half was the problem tonight.
 

radsoxfan

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Blake Griffin is no longer an NBA player. He had one appearance for 6 minutes in last year's playoffs, in that ugly game 5 loss to Atlanta. I don't understand his being mentioned at all, unless I'm missing a joke. He's basically retired, and not a day too soon.
Saw him in Manhattan Beach last weekend... looking quite retired!

If that dude is anything more than a Celtics fan in 2024, we are in trouble.
 

chilidawg

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Tonight was what I feared and above doesn’t seem like the case. Against Jokic—and I fear potentially also Giannis and Embiid—we need a second big with some strength. I am not sure there’s a great option easily available but Jokic made Porzingis look hopeless out there
I thought they guarded Jokic pretty well overall, he got Porzingis with a spin move a couple times, but other than that he was hitting tough shots. The first Q. back and forth between the two was great basketball. The D on Murray was a different story.
 

benhogan

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Saw him in Manhattan Beach last weekend... looking quite retired!

If that dude is anything more than a Celtics fan in 2024, we are in trouble.
Ha, I used to see him and Westbrook daily in Santa Monica a few years back.

I thought there was some way Zarren/Brad could re-sign Blake to decent-sized minimum & use him as trade filler?
or did they need to sign him last summer to manipulate the system?
 

PedroKsBambino

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I thought they guarded Jokic pretty well overall, he got Porzingis with a spin move a couple times, but other than that he was hitting tough shots. The first Q. back and forth between the two was great basketball. The D on Murray was a different story.
I was there—and he completely dominated Porzingis essentially every time they maytched up. Porzingis simply doesn’t have a strong enough base, Jokic got to his spot at will. The shots he got vs Zinger he will always always hit. Pretty clear Joe saw the same—they went double bigs early and consistently far more than they have all year solely to get Horford on him.

that matchup was a disaster and will be again…Zinger is good defensively but this matchup is a train wreck.
 
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benhogan

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I was there—and he completely dominated Porzingis essentially every time they maytched up. Porzingis simply doesn’t have a strong enough base, Jokic got to his spot at will. Pretty clear Joe saw the same—they went double bigs early and consistently far more than they have solely to get Horford on him.

that matchup was a disaster and will be again…Zinger is good defensively but this matchup is a train wreck.
Don't get me wrong, I agree. Joker was getting anywhere he wanted on KP down low

KP shouldn't be guarding Joker (or Embiid or Giannis). He should be guarding Aaron Gordon in drop and help off AG while Jrue & Horford take turns guarding those larger Alpha scorers

CJM has lots of film to see where Boston could be better last night, that is one of a couple of bad intentions last night, so not all is lost.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Don't get me wrong, I agree. Joker was getting anywhere he wanted on KP down low

KP shouldn't be guarding Joker (or Embiid or Giannis). He should be guarding Aaron Gordon in drop and help off AG while Jrue & Horford take turns guarding those larger Alpha scorers

CJM has lots of film to see where Boston could be better last night, that is one of a couple of bad intentions last night, so not all is lost.
yeah—but that had been my point. Horford can manage 25 minutes…and that leaves 15 or whatever they have no one to provide

Jrue can play Giannis ok—but not Jokic and probably not embiid in a sustained basis
 

benhogan

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yeah—but that had been my point. Horford can manage 25 minutes…and that leaves 15 or whatever they have no one to provide

Jrue can play Giannis ok—but not Jokic and probably not embiid in a sustained basis
In a playoff game I'd guess it would be something like 26-30 minutes of Horford (Al wouldn't play those first 5 minutes of Q1/Q3) and Jrue would have to front them for those 5 minutes/half (with KP roaming/rim help on the backside)

If you're saying they should acquire someone that would make Joker, Embiid, Giannis, Bron, Randle, KAT, Siakam, Zion etc lives harder sign me up. Alex Caruso is big enough to be a headache for those guys in short non-Horford minutes.

Who else is attainable for that short-minute role?
 

PedroKsBambino

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In a playoff game I'd guess it would be something like 26-30 minutes of Horford (Al wouldn't play those first 5 minutes of Q1/Q3) and Jrue would have to front them for those 5 minutes/half (with KP roaming/rim help on the backside)

If you're saying they should acquire someone that would make Joker, Embiid, Giannis, Bron, Randle, KAT, Siakam, Zion etc lives harder sign me up. Alex Caruso is big enough to be a headache for those guys in short non-Horford minutes.

Who else is attainable for that short-minute role?
you’re just thinking of a very different need and role. They need a wide body who can win position battle for 10-15 min a game against a few big scorers. Caruso and Jrie cannot do that. And we don’t need (though I am of course not opposed to getting) an all around great defender. It’s a very specific gap, shown clearly last night.

would love Caruso—though expect price too high—and he simply isn’t the answer to what I’m saying
 

benhogan

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you’re just thinking of a very different need and role. They need a wide body who can win position battle for 10-15 min a game against a few big scorers. Caruso and Jrie cannot do that. And we don’t need (though I am of course not opposed to getting) an all around great defender. It’s a very specific gap, shown clearly last night.

would love Caruso—though expect price too high—and he simply isn’t the answer to what I’m saying
You clearly don't want KP to guard them (neither do I) so that leaves Jrue, Brown, Tatum, & White to guard them out of your starting 5.

Jrue is the best option in that group and no trade (even Caruso) will change that.

Unless you feel Horford should be in the Celtics starting 5.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Which is why I said they ideally would get a wide body from FA market for that very limited and specific role. You had said no need—I just disagree

clearly a luxury pickup
 

benhogan

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Which is why I said they ideally would get a wide body from FA market for that very limited and specific role. You had said no need—I just disagree

clearly a luxury pickup
who do you want Joe to take out of the starting line-up?

one of KP, Jrue, JAYs, or White will have to guard the bigger Alpha scorers for at least 10-15 minutes a game unless you put Horford in the starting line up
 

PedroKsBambino

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I’d put Horford in to start, or make a switch first couple minutes.

you get who is announced at start isn’t really the point though, right?
 

benhogan

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I’d put Horford in to start, or make a switch first couple minutes.

you get who is announced at start isn’t really the point though, right?
I'd opt for the bolded

I'm in the camp to just leave the starting unit as is.
Have Jrue aggressively front Joker, Embiid, Giannis, etc for short minutes.
Then bring in Al Horford a little earlier in Q1/Q3 for those specific match-ups.
 

Swedgin

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you’re just thinking of a very different need and role. They need a wide body who can win position battle for 10-15 min a game against a few big scorers. Caruso and Jrie cannot do that. And we don’t need (though I am of course not opposed to getting) an all around great defender. It’s a very specific gap, shown clearly last night.

would love Caruso—though expect price too high—and he simply isn’t the answer to what I’m saying
Have not watched much Bulls this year, does Drummond have enough left in the tank? He would fit in the trade exception. I've always liked Xavier Tillman. Given that the Griz are in a lost season and (when healthy) have JJJ, Adams/ Aldama and Clarke at Center/PF maybe they would be open to moving him.