Cavalry Candidates

[Cellar-Door]

Is Simmons even that tied into the league anymore? It feels like his contacts and pals are now more in his line of work - content creation - than playing, coaching or front office roles. That likely means he still has better color than us ham and eggers however maybe he isn't as connected as he was a few years ago.

He knows just about everybody, he has agent sources for sure, a lot of them particularly at CAA, a couple GMs (Morey notably), people in the league office, etc. etc.
If anything I'd say he's more connected now than he was at ESPN because he's got a lot more money and he's expanded his brand. He's hinted at stuff often that was accurate, and his "guesses" are often things he knows but isn't "reporting" like Ishbia, he was one of the first I saw on that, even had the price weeks before any actual reporting came out.

 

[JM3]

View: https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1623426080236535808?cxt=HHwWgIDU-eXayIctAAAA

 

[kazuneko]

Seems like a lot of the rumors have the Cs trying to pick someone up using the Schroeder TPE.
This Masslive article list 16 options that fit, most notably Vanderbilt and PJ Washington..
Mike Muscala also looks like a guy who could be worth a look as a back-up big who won’t cost much to acquire.. https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/02/16-realistic-celtics-trade-options-for-dennis-schroder-tpe.html?outputType=amp

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Muscala feels like a Brad target. Cheap alternative for another big for next year too with the club option.

 

[mcpickl]

Seems like a lot of the rumors have the Cs trying to pick someone up using the Schroeder TPE.
This Masslive article list 16 options that fit, most notably Vanderbilt and PJ Washington..
Mike Muscala also looks like a guy who could be worth a look as a back-up big who won’t cost much to acquire.. https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/02/16-realistic-celtics-trade-options-for-dennis-schroder-tpe.html?outputType=amp

I'd be very surprised if they took someone into the Schroder TPE outright.

They might do that if they're making their trade partner take Gallo back, just to extend the Schroder TPE to a new Gallo TPE.

I can't see them adding a fairly significant salary without getting off of Gallo.

I also hope Justin Jackson is already packed. There's a near 100% chance he's getting stuffed on another teams books by tomorrow.

 

[Cellar-Door]

https://www.spotrac.com/news/2023-nba-buyout-market-1783/

Keep the buyout market in mind when looking at trade targets as well.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I'd be very surprised if they took someone into the Schroder TPE outright.

They might do that if they're making their trade partner take Gallo back, just to extend the Schroder TPE to a new Gallo TPE.

I can't see them adding a fairly significant salary without getting off of Gallo.

I also hope Justin Jackson is already packed. There's a near 100% chance he's getting stuffed on another teams books by tomorrow.

I feel very certain they won't dump Gallo, and that if they see someone they want with the Schroder that Wyc will cut a check. In fact, I'd guess that's the deal Brad made with the Vonleh trade.
Everything Wyc has said and done leads to the belief he'll pay more tax this year if he think he'll get a ring out of it.

 

[bosockboy]

Pritchard lightly asking out.

View: https://twitter.com/adamhimmelsbach/status/1623395096191291396?s=46&t=UQiW_oXhLd3IHkFICsrjxg

 

[mcpickl]

I feel very certain they won't dump Gallo, and that if they see someone they want with the Schroder that Wyc will cut a check. In fact, I'd guess that's the deal Brad made with the Vonleh trade.
Everything Wyc has said and done leads to the belief he'll pay more tax this year if he think he'll get a ring out of it.

But there has to be a limit, right?

Say they add a guy at around 5M in the Schroder TPE and do nothing else.

Dumping Gallo on to someone else would save Wyc around 25M in tax/remaining salary. Moving him doesn't affect the Celtics chances of winning a title since he's not playing.

I'd be stunned if he wouldn't say to Brad, um hey I've gone above and beyond this year. Can we please move the guy in the designer suits so I can buy a few more for myself?

Maybe I'll be wrong, I didn't think they'd go this far into the tax in the first place. But I think it's a longshot he's going to add that much more. I think it's even more likely they dump Gallo without adding any salary than it is they add salary on top of him.

 

[Cellar-Door]

But there has to be a limit, right?

Say they add a guy at around 5M in the Schroder TPE and do nothing else.

Dumping Gallo on to someone else would save Wyc around 25M in tax/remaining salary. Moving him doesn't affect the Celtics chances of winning a title since he's not playing.

I'd be stunned if he wouldn't say to Brad, um hey I've gone above and beyond this year. Can we please move the guy in the designer suits so I can buy a few more for myself?

Maybe I'll be wrong, I didn't think they'd go this far into the tax in the first place. But I think it's a longshot he's going to add that much more. I think it's even more likely they dump Gallo without adding any salary than it is they add salary on top of him.

Maybe, but I think it's more likely that they move Pritchard honestly. If they're going to trade Gallo, my guess is they'd be aiming higher and combining him for an Olynyk or something. I also think they see value in Gallo next year likely.

 

[NomarsFool]

I get it from PP, fully understand, but also wish he'd just keep his mouth shut. Would he really like to be shipped off rather than enjoy a title run as the 10th player on the roster? Really?

 

[mcpickl]

Maybe, but I think it's more likely that they move Pritchard honestly. If they're going to trade Gallo, my guess is they'd be aiming higher and combining him for an Olynyk or something. I also think they see value in Gallo next year likely.

My thinking on Gallo is they deal him and say, we love you buddy but we're trying to win right now and we can't fit you on our budget while you're not playing. But hey if you opt out of that second year on your contract, we'd love to sign you back in the summer with our mini-MLE.

 

[128]

I get it from PP, fully understand, but also wish he'd just keep his mouth shut. Would he really like to be shipped off rather than enjoy a title run as the 10th player on the roster? Really?

Agreed. Plus, given Smart's and Brogdon's injury histories, there's more than a decent chance that Pritchard would end up getting significant minutes in the playoffs.

 

[BaseballJones]

Pritchard, like most players, wants more court time. I get it. But he also needs to be careful what he wishes for. Let's say the Celtics ship him off to a bad team, and he gets more minutes. Ok, now he loses out on a chance at a title, and as he plays more, he gets more and more exposed as his limitations become even more glaring. After a while, he finds himself right back in the same situation (in terms of playing time) but just on a worse team.

This scenario has a not-so-small probability of happening.

It's not my life, obviously, but there's nothing wrong with having a nice long career, making a few million dollars a year while playing for one of the best teams in the league. That's a pretty good life.

 

[Average Game James]

I get it from PP, fully understand, but also wish he'd just keep his mouth shut. Would he really like to be shipped off rather than enjoy a title run as the 10th player on the roster? Really?

Winning a championship would certainly be cool, but for Pritchard the opportunity to get minutes and put up numbers could massively influence his next contract. Rings are cool, but so is an 8-figure deal.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Pritchard, like most players, wants more court time. I get it. But he also needs to be careful what he wishes for. Let's say the Celtics ship him off to a bad team, and he gets more minutes. Ok, now he loses out on a chance at a title, and as he plays more, he gets more and more exposed as his limitations become even more glaring. After a while, he finds himself right back in the same situation (in terms of playing time) but just on a worse team.

This scenario has a not-so-small probability of happening.

It's not my life, obviously, but there's nothing wrong with having a nice long career, making a few million dollars a year while playing for one of the best teams in the league. That's a pretty good life.

honestly if he goes to a bad team he's gonna put up big scoring nights and nobody will be able to tell his defense is bad because so is everyone elses. I mean he could put up something close to Jalen Green numbers if someone gave him a starting spot and license to chuck..... and his defense wouldn't be worse.

 

[Euclis20]

Pritchard, like most players, wants more court time. I get it. But he also needs to be careful what he wishes for. Let's say the Celtics ship him off to a bad team, and he gets more minutes. Ok, now he loses out on a chance at a title, and as he plays more, he gets more and more exposed as his limitations become even more glaring. After a while, he finds himself right back in the same situation (in terms of playing time) but just on a worse team.

This scenario has a not-so-small probability of happening.

It's not my life, obviously, but there's nothing wrong with having a nice long career, making a few million dollars a year while playing for one of the best teams in the league. That's a pretty good life.

He'll be a restricted FA after next season, and short of a major injury or trade, all the same guys who are in front of him now will be in front of him next year. As it stands, he has little chance of getting a deal of any size from anyone. Sure there's a risk he's exposed with more time somewhere else, but honestly it's not much of a risk - he's already not getting even a medium sized deal. Obviously this is great for the Celtics, but it's equally crummy for Pritchard. He isn't a vet willing to give up money and playing time for a ring, he's a young guy hoping to get a chance at a real second contract. I don't begrudge him [gently] asking out, no more than I fault the Celtics for not acquiescing.

 

[Caspir]

honestly if he goes to a bad team he's gonna put up big scoring nights and nobody will be able to tell his defense is bad because so is everyone elses. I mean he could put up something close to Jalen Green numbers if someone gave him a starting spot and license to chuck..... and his defense wouldn't be worse.

No he couldn’t.

 

[Cellar-Door]

No he couldn’t.

Meh, if he got 18 shots a game I could see him putting up 20+ points. Nobody who has gotten 17 or more shots in a game this year is under 20 ppg. Only 2 players with 15 or more FGA a game are under 20 (both in the 19s.) If you give a guy enough shots he'll put up numbers.
I picked Green at random as a guy who sucks but is putting up big point numbers on crap efficiency because his team doesn't care about winning.

Green is the 10th worst FG% among all 132 qualified players, 9th worst eFG%.... if you put a guy on a bad team and let him chuck, the points will come.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I get it from PP, fully understand, but also wish he'd just keep his mouth shut. Would he really like to be shipped off rather than enjoy a title run as the 10th player on the roster? Really?

Yes absolutely. He’s playing for his first post-rookie contract and can’t afford to be stuck to the bench. His situation is very similar to Rozier when he was stuck in a bad spot here albeit with less upside in his next deal. That sucks for the player when this may be his only shot at a little payday.

 

[the moops]

Luke Kornet is good. That's all

 

[Smokey Joe]

No he couldn’t.

I agree. I think he would do better, especially in rebounds and assists.

 

[benhogan]

The Nets & Utah (PDX to a small extent) have quickly turned this from a "sellers" market to a "buyers" market.

there should be players available for Boston to sign with the $3.23M Gallo DPE

 

[bsj]

This feels like a deadline where one of two things will happen...

1- The Celtics will add a piece as well, which I think is needed as so many title (not Conference...we've been there and done that already) contenders have done just that or
2- The Celtics won't and we will hear everyone waxing poetic about how they are already the favorites and didn't need to...which I would feel better about if not for number 1

 

[128]

This feels like a deadline where one of two things will happen...

1- The Celtics will add a piece as well, which I think is needed as so many title (not Conference...we've been there and done that already) contenders have done just that or
2- The Celtics won't and we will hear everyone waxing poetic about how they are already the favorites and didn't need to...which I would feel better about if not for number 1

Don't forget that buyouts will come later, and Boston should be an appealing spot to land for ring-chasers.

 

[Devizier]

I like Crowder as a depth guy if he will accept that role here (unlikely?) and if the Celtics are willing to move Gallinari. Other than that, I wonder if there’s another underappreciated defensive specialist out there like White last year. I thought Vanderbilt might be that guy but the Lakers got him.

 

[Saints Rest]

The Nets & Utah (PDX to a small extent) have quickly turned this from a "sellers" market to a "buyers" market.

there should be players available for Boston to sign with the $3.23M Gallo DPE

Or the Schroder $5.9M TPE

 

[benhogan]

Or the Schroder $5.9M TPE

The TPE is good for trades &

the DPE is good for signing players that get bought out

 

[DJnVa]

Yes absolutely. He’s playing for his first post-rookie contract and can’t afford to be stuck to the bench. His situation is very similar to Rozier when he was stuck in a bad spot here albeit with less upside in his next deal. That sucks for the player when this may be his only shot at a little payday.

Yeah--and he obviously does have a high-level NBA skill with his shooting--I would assume he knows he's not going to be an All-Star, but he can sign his next contract for the money to set him up for life and then still have a longish NBA career chasing rings as a bench shooter.

 

[CreightonGubanich]

Meh, if he got 18 shots a game I could see him putting up 20+ points. Nobody who has gotten 17 or more shots in a game this year is under 20 ppg. Only 2 players with 15 or more FGA a game are under 20 (both in the 19s.) If you give a guy enough shots he'll put up numbers.
I picked Green at random as a guy who sucks but is putting up big point numbers on crap efficiency because his team doesn't care about winning.

Green is the 10th worst FG% among all 132 qualified players, 9th worst eFG%.... if you put a guy on a bad team and let him chuck, the points will come.

I don't want to overrate Jalen Green here, or overanalyze the comparison, I'd just say the issue for Pritchard would be how does he even get 18 shots off on a bad team without superstars commanding the defense's attention. Jalen Green, for all his flaws, can create his own shot. Pritchard can't.

Averaging 18-20 shots a game in the NBA is a skill in itself. It doesn't necessarily make you good, in the sense you're contributing to winning, but you have to have a threshold combination of size, athleticism, and handle that I don't think Pritchard has.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Yes absolutely. He’s playing for his first post-rookie contract and can’t afford to be stuck to the bench. His situation is very similar to Rozier when he was stuck in a bad spot here albeit with less upside in his next deal. That sucks for the player when this may be his only shot at a little payday.

Yeah he has to look out for himself. Sucks for him that they brought in two legit NBA players at guard in the last year. He would probably get paid on a bad team where he can chuck and duck. People overpay for pointz. He won't get that chance here. At his peak (40-50 games ago) he topped out at a .75 DARKO, which is basically current Donte DiVincenzo for a comp (.77 - yes, I know it's a lazy comp). But he has mostly lost his minutes since then and played somewhat poorly when he got them. He's not good, but he does one really important thing really well.

 

[RSN Diaspora]

I like Crowder as a depth guy if he will accept that role here (unlikely?) and if the Celtics are willing to move Gallinari. Other than that, I wonder if there’s another underappreciated defensive specialist out there like White last year. I thought Vanderbilt might be that guy but the Lakers got him.

Crowder was shipped to BKLN in the Durant deal. Maybe the Nets acquired him with the expectation of flipping him for someone, but unless conversations were already in the works with Brad (and they very well could have been), I don't see how they flip Crowder before the deadline.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Crowder was shipped to BKLN in the Durant deal. Maybe the Nets acquired him with the expectation of flipping him for someone, but unless conversations were already in the works with Brad (and they very well could have been), I don't see how they flip Crowder before the deadline.

Crowder has been on the block for 6 months so I would guess PHX let BKN know who was offering what.
I bet they flip him to the Bucks personally

 

[BigMike]

Crowder was shipped to BKLN in the Durant deal. Maybe the Nets acquired him with the expectation of flipping him for someone, but unless conversations were already in the works with Brad (and they very well could have been), I don't see how they flip Crowder before the deadline.

Crowder will almost certainly get moved again today

 

[CreightonGubanich]

I really don't understand Jae Crowder's career at the moment. It's been 6 years since he was with us in Boston, and I remember having the distinct impression then that he could no longer really defend opposing wings - that he had gone from a 3-and-D guy who was elite at defending all types of wings to a guy who wasn't quick enough laterally, and really should be played as a small-ball four, guarding guys like Grant Williams. He's apparently proven me wrong. His Darko numbers definitely tell the story of a guy who fell off, and has had a bit of a resurgence the last couple of years. I'm not sure I'd give up significant assets for him. He also apparently wants to start, and that's not happening in Boston.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

I don't want to overrate Jalen Green here, or overanalyze the comparison, I'd just say the issue for Pritchard would be how does he even get 18 shots off on a bad team without superstars commanding the defense's attention. Jalen Green, for all his flaws, can create his own shot. Pritchard can't.

Averaging 18-20 shots a game in the NBA is a skill in itself. It doesn't necessarily make you good, in the sense you're contributing to winning, but you have to have a threshold combination of size, athleticism, and handle that I don't think Pritchard has.

Jalen Green is averaging 17.3 shots per 26 minutes. PP is averaging 12.6. Given the way PP can chuck the ball, I don't think it would be difficult for him to get to Green's numbers if he was on a team that didn't care about winning.

 

[RSN Diaspora]

Crowder will almost certainly get moved again today

Sorry--I don't see how he gets flipped to the Celtics, not overall. I can't imagine BKLN sees him as part of a rebuild, and it's not like we'd offer too many rebuildable assets (maybe PP with an extension?) for a Crowder rental.

 

[Justthetippett]

Jalen Green is averaging 17.3 shots per 26 minutes. PP is averaging 12.6. Given the way PP can chuck the ball, I don't think it would be difficult for him to get to Green's numbers if he was on a team that didn't care about winning.

That's what, Orlando? Although I don't know how much he'd play there either. For a guy like PP, minutes are almost always going to be competitive/scarce. With our current injury situation, his best chance at significant minutes is actually likely in Boston.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Nets re-set opens some interesting options for wings...
Sadly Bridges makes too much to trade for, but....

DFS at $12.9M makes a lot of sense... once BKN clears some spots Gallo/Pritchard/Jackson is a salary match. And you can have him as insurance on Grant's offer sheet... if you like the $ for Grant you can move DFS for something, if you don't he replaces a lot of what Grant does.

Cam Johnson makes a bit less sense, unless you like him a lot more than Grant, since you'd only pay 1 of them.

Crowder is a decent rental, though I'd guess other teams can offer him more in terms of role and he'd be pretty unhappy here.

O'Neal is a bit smaller than I think they'd like in their wing, but he's a role fit and he's in a good salary range for 2 years.

Other guys who probably weren't available and now are based on yesterday's trades:
Damian Jones- not sure he's better than Kornet, but he's probably close to free.
Nickeal Alexader-Walker- already was available, but I'd guess he still is, don't think he was a big part of the trade for MInny.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I think Yuta Watanabe is an interesting depth option at wing now---would guess Nets willing to move, but at his salary hard to know. He is, to me, a better version of Hauser (though the counter is he's bascially the same profile)

 

[lovegtm]

Nets re-set opens some interesting options for wings...
Sadly Bridges makes too much to trade for, but....

DFS at $12.9M makes a lot of sense... once BKN clears some spots Gallo/Pritchard/Jackson is a salary match. And you can have him as insurance on Grant's offer sheet... if you like the $ for Grant you can move DFS for something, if you don't he replaces a lot of what Grant does.

Cam Johnson makes a bit less sense, unless you like him a lot more than Grant, since you'd only pay 1 of them.

Crowder is a decent rental, though I'd guess other teams can offer him more in terms of role and he'd be pretty unhappy here.

O'Neal is a bit smaller than I think they'd like in their wing, but he's a role fit and he's in a good salary range for 2 years.

Other guys who probably weren't available and now are based on yesterday's trades:
Damian Jones- not sure he's better than Kornet, but he's probably close to free.
Nickeal Alexader-Walker- already was available, but I'd guess he still is, don't think he was a big part of the trade for MInny.

Can DFS be moved for 3 players? I thought he'd have to be a 1-for-1 since he was just traded. I like him, and would sign up.

If Johnson were available for a reasonable price, I'd do it in a heartbeat and figure out what to do wrt him and Grant later. You can always re-sign guys and then trade them after 6 months anyway, so I'd lean towards stockpiling talent.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Can DFS be moved for 3 players? I thought he'd have to be a 1-for-1 since he was just traded. I like him, and would sign up.

If Johnson were available for a reasonable price, I'd do it in a heartbeat and figure out what to do wrt him and Grant later. You can always re-sign guys and then trade them after 6 months anyway, so I'd lean towards stockpiling talent.

He can't be traded WITH anyone else, he can be traded for as many players as you want. Key is he has to be the only player on the Nets' side of the deal.

 

[lovegtm]

He can't be traded WITH anyone else, he can be traded for as many players as you want. Key is he has to be the only player on the Nets' side of the deal.

Interesting, good to know.

The Nets have like 3-4 guys I'd be interested in at the wing, and they have to be willing to move some of them for a reasonable price.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

That's what, Orlando? Although I don't know how much he'd play there either. For a guy like PP, minutes are almost always going to be competitive/scarce. With our current injury situation, his best chance at significant minutes is actually likely in Boston.

Maybe BRK once they are done selling off assets?

I mean you get to the real structural issue that PP is facing. Sure he could chuck up 15 shots a game but that would probably mean the team isn't very good. And teams that aren't very good usually have a couple of other players who are more heralded who will be trying to get their 15 shots per game.

So no, it's not like PP is going to ORL and taking shots away from Banchero or Wagner (etc.) or going to DET and taking shots away from Green and Cade and Bey (etc.),

Will be interested in seeing who trades for PP and what they are willing to give.

 

[benhogan]

I'm not liking the idea of the Nets fattening up the Celtic's competition with wings and shooting

 

[RSN Diaspora]

I'm not liking the idea of the Nets fattening up the Celtics' competition with wings and shooting

If they're blowing the team up, as it appears they are, you want them sending their assets out west, so at least there's that.

 

[jon abbey]

View: https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1623725682323865601?s=46&t=KbM8lG1Jb8gYbHUfWfR2eA

 

[boca]

Woj -

Muscala to Celts for 2 two 2nds and J Jackson

Apologies - It's Shams reporting above and below

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1623725822824615936?s=20&t=zE26bzRwd7hg_lozzV05Ew

 

[benhogan]

Nice pickup.

Muscala had been speculated around here just the other day.

 

[JM3]

Woj -

Muscala to Celts for 2 two 2nds and J Jackson

Apologies - It's Shams reporting above and below

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1623725822824615936?s=20&t=zE26bzRwd7hg_lozzV05Ew

Woj still sleeping after a late-night Durant bender.