Would you approve of this trade (assume the incoming pick is top 3 protected):
http://tradenba.com/trades/H1nJR6LMH- Epic transitional backcourt at times with Kemba at the 2 and Ball as the 1 (although Kemba starts at the 1 and Smart at the 2).
- With Ball and Smart, we almost always have a lock-down defender in our backcourt to complement Kemba’s offensive game.
- Depth at PG: Kemba and Lonzo with Smart spelling them when one is hurt.
- There is only one ball so we could use a pass-first/strong defender guard more than a wing who is redundant relative to Tatum, particularly with our top scorer being Kemba and Tatum poised to be the number two guy.
- We lose a better scorer in Brown, but Ball is superior defensively and certainly at passing.
- This would signal to Tatum he’s the man after Kemba and can become THE man if he seizes the opportunity.
- No more pseudo-intellectualism in Boston.
- Ball is on a cost-controlled contract one year longer than Brown. Whereas Brown is getting a max in 2020, Ball is more likely to get a Smart-esque contract in 2021, potentially giving us greater flexibility in free agency in 2021, and certainly lowering the probability of exceeding the tax in 2021-2022.
- Ball will be intrinsically motivated to become an all-time great Celtic after being banished by the Lakers. Let’s not forget Pierce was a lifelong Lakers fan before coming to Boston, so I’d love to repeat that cycle.
- Heir apparent to Kemba in four years.