I keep seeing this everywhere and I don't get it.
If Boogie is on the market, the C's can absolutely compete for him. I know many here have soured on him but the guy is an elite, fully-realized talent who can probably play at this level for the next four to six years. I also think the guy would be an entirely different player from an emotional standpoint in a stable organization with a good coach and management. Finally, depending on what it would take to pry him loose from Sacramento, he makes the C's a lot better this year.
They can, though I doubt the Celtics would find much value in it. The pick they owe to Toronto is a lock to convey this year. Without changing anything, the Celtics would get the Clippers pick in 2019 if they make the playoffs. Unless Paul and Griffin walk this summer, the Celtics would surely rate their chances to get the pick already pretty high.
Cousins would change the whole balance of power in the NBA. Neither the Cavs nor the Warriors have anyone that can play him. If he weren't such an asshole he would be the absolute perfect fit for the Celts.
I think an interesting question is whether the C's assets would be better served by going after Butler or Cousins.
I keep seeing this statement that the Nets picks can't really be trade because nobody knows how to properly value them.
Yes, future firsts are moved all the time, but they're almost always protected. The difference between 15 and 18 in a future draft is nothing compared to the difference between 1 and 4 in a draft you've had the chance to scout for 20+ games.
With the new CBA Designated Player Contracts a 19 or 20 year old rookie with the upside of an All NBA talent is worth more than a 28 year old disgruntled Jimmy Butler. I know this is debatable, but I would much rather be set up for the next ten years than the next three with a Butler or Melo move.
Here is the thing - Butler is a top ten player in the NBA but there are questions about his durability, his attitude and I wonder how he would mesh with IT4 who is the Celtics alpha. Who defers on that team? Butler is clearly the better all around player but IT4, right now, is an elite level scorer. Finally, my last question is whether the C's can get some percentage of Butler in the form of a pick, a FA or a trade for an undervalued player. As good as I think Butler is, his skill set isn't exactly in short supply in an NBA with big, athletic wings.
I know - but IT4 was a bench guy back then. nbawowy doesn't go back that far but my recollection is that they didn't play together all that much and, furthermore, both were different players back then, each with different usage. There is a non-zero chance that they don't mesh well though Cousins is the kind of big who can clean up a lot of messes that IT4's lack of stature creates.
He played 35 minutes a game in his last season with Cousins and averaged over 20 points a game. I'm guessing there is enough there to tell if they mesh.
Maybe I should put this in the Cs regular season thread, but it's interesting that over the last 4 games with JJ and JB starting, Cs rank seventh in the NBA in rebounding percentage (.526) and their defensive rating is 101.3, which ranks fourth in the league.
Yeah obviously it is SSS but Jerebko is way more athletic than Amir is at this point in his career and is willing to do the dirty work inside (not that Amir isn't, but he just isn't athletic or strong enough to get it done consistently). I'd keep starting him, plus he spaces the floor well on offense which Amir can't do.
Around the NBA many people think Ibaka is much older than the 27 he says he is. Would explain hi decline the last few years and why he was so good at 23.
It's for the sole purpose of getting out from under a bad deal they just made.
Great trade for the Bucks in getting out of Plumlee's deal without taking any future salary. Plus Hawes could actually fill a role for them if he remembers how to shoot 3's. I know Charlotte has really missed Zeller, but hard to see how Plumlee is the answer for that particular problem.
Hornets have enough assets to trade for Marshall and Mason Plumlee? I am sure Danny will take a draft pick for Tyler...I heard Luke Zeller is free though...
I think you are right about Crowder and Bradley. An offseason deal would be a possibility for either, but it is hard to imagine the C's dealing both of them in February. Butler is an obvious upgrade in most respects, but absolutely not an upgrade from behind the arc, where Crowder and Bradley have been the Celtics' 2 best shooters (both shooting over 40% and combining on about 25% of all Celtics threes on the season). Swap them for Butler and you end up with a radically different type of team offense that it will take time for the team to figure out. This would be less of a concern next year, when they more of an oppportunity to address the rest of the roster and the benefit of a full camp/early part of season to adjust to the new personnel.
This is a really good point. Plus, the Celtics are on a six-game winning streak. They obviously need a piece or two -- they sometimes get badly shown up by some of the elite teams -- but trying to find that piece, and integrating it without disrupting the chemistry this late in the season, could be tricky. Who would've thought that the Celtics minus Sullinger and Turner but plus Horford would go from one of the NBA's best defensive teams to one of the worst?
PHI gets Bradley, Mirotic, and picks, and only has to give up Okafor? That sounds like a complete dream scenario and totally made up. They haven't been able to give Okafor away, no chance they are getting all that just for being some sort of facilitator in a Butler deal.
I doubt this is on the table honestly. Yes, Butler is very, very good. But two consecutive top 3 picks is richer than just about any trade I can think of. They have been rehashed here before, and there are special circumstances around all of them, but Butler has his own baggage and CHI management issues as well.
This year's pick alone is more than anyone else can offer. Adding to it significantly is folly.
Sorry - should have been more precise. Talk of them just being open about trading Cousins. Again.
Ah yes of course. Was too busy looking at what Boston and Chicago would get; ignored the Philly leg of the trade. Yup, that's clearly where the Boston overpay is going. Yikes.
I would think Bradley would go to NYK, but otherwise looks right. I would think Griffin would need to agree to opt-into his last year.
I am a seller of Blake Griffin at this point in his oft-injured career. He is also not a rim protector which makes him less attractive as a fit with Thomas, who needs that to justify his usage on a contending team. However my biggest problem with this trade is dealing Bradley away. He is one of the best two way players in the game and his presence also allows the Celtics to feature IT4's elite offensive skills because Bradley can help cover up for IT4's subpar defense.
Yeah id take any of those three for Okafor! And I don't like mirotic and the team has no need for him but yes still.
Please! The sixers swap and unprotected 2019 say yes please!
Agreed on Bradley. However, the Celtics are 9-4 without him on the floow this year, he is due for a large contract after next year, and the Clippers aren't going to do this hypothetical deal without getting some real value on top of Melo.
