We need AD to keep saying he won't resign here and we want his value low. Makes dealing for him cost less. Even if he wanted to come here he needs to stick to the story to ensure C's don't have to deal Tatum.
Maybe it allows team to make it Brown, Horford and 3 first of Grizz(we protect it top 3), Kings, Clippers/C's.
It might reduce what the Celtics are willing to give, but why would it change what the Pelicans are willing to take?
Other teams can come up with better offers than Jaylen and picks.
A single player maybe but Im not so sure about the whole package though. Brown, Horford and 3 first is tough to beat.
I really don't understand this board's mission to trade Horford. Guy is so underrated and would actually fit perfectly alongside AD in our hypothetical front court.
You have to give to get Horford is a huge piece not a throw in. Hayward you can't trade. Smart and Irving are good together. Who else is left? Not much choice if you want AD
Even assuming that Horford would allow himself to be traded -- which is up for debate -- why would New Orleans value him highly? He'd be a 33 year old short-timer who wouldn't move the needle for NOP. They'd no doubt try to retrade him, but it's difficult to match $30+ million salaries, especially without taking long-term salary back. Not many contenders are going to have cap space / matching expiring contracts, plus positive assets to trade for Horford.
But, again, my speculation is that Horford would opt out if he suspected he might be traded to a going-nowhere franchise.
Horford is a glue guy and formerly recent all star. He has two or three years left if they keep him long term. If they don't keep him he provides cap relief which helps towards rebuilding. Plenty of reason to want him. I don't think he will opt out of 30 million
You are absolutely dead wrong about Horford opting out of his final year. Horford wants to win a title and he and his family love Boston. If Boston says they are trading him somewhere he doesn't want to go, and who in their right mind wants to play NBA basketball for the Pelicans without Davis there, especially if you are a veteran hoping to win a title, Horford will opt out and sign elsewhere. And no trade.
People need to stop thinking with their love of certain players.
Tatum is gone in a Davis trade.
Smart could/will also be going for salary matching reasons.
Horford controls where he plays next year and New Orleans is definitely not where he wants to play.
Hayward still has injury concerned and has 2 years at more than $30 million a year on his contract. New Orleans let it be known the would like some salary relief if they can get it. They don't want to be responsible for Hayward's remaining contract.
Brown could well be gone to NOP instead of Smart.
Williams could be gone as well since NOP might want him as a perspective Davis defensive replacement.
This all might suck to you if you want Tatum, Smart, Brown or Williams a Celtic long term, but it's what it is, reality. It's the cost of getting a top three player in the league.