1. Don't touch the core and trade for a center - Gorat, Okafor as example. Likely it will take one of Sully, Melo and a 1st round pick. Danny will have to overpay for this quick but possible "glue" solution
I agree this is the most likely solution. I also think it's possible we need a backup point guard. We'll see in the coming month what gets done.
Agree, this would probably be the type of trade we see mid-season. if this type of deal doesn't fix things this year, I'd expect a few more in the offseason to get players that fit together better.
2. Paul Pierce is traded for picks and youth. Give Jeff Green a chance to start. Also frees up money next year to sign Josh Smith.
Probably not as many picks and/or young players as you'd think. Pierce has a big contract with another year on the end. I know there is an option but I'm not sure that works post-trade. I really don't know. I also can't really see where he fits in on a championship contender. The only team I have heard that makes even a sliver of sense is Golden State and I'm not sure how much they sink into 1 or 2 years of Pierce as far as trading young guys or picks.
PP is only going to bring in just so much based on his play this year. maybe a couple of low first rounders or a young prospect and a pick. Moving PP to let Green start, that's a horrible reason to trade PP. he's still more effective than Green. As for the piece about cap space for Josh Smith, the C's don't get anywhere near enough cap space to sign any FA that's looking for close to max $.
3. Fire Rivers. Would our team be better if Greg Popovich was coaching instead? Rivers is an ok coach that has had the luxury to have hof players KG, Pierce, Ray Allen. But when you don't have an optimal team, Rivers can only get you 500 or less. San Antonio has key players that are as old and injured as the ones on our team. They also have several no name guys pops developed that have done the job. No wasting millions of dollars.
No. This is silly. The Popovich argument is silly. He's not available and there is no history with him here. Doc has the locker room. There is really nothing here as far as ideas.
Never been a fan of Rivers so I wouldn't miss him. His supposed skills at motivating players have been non-existent since Sheed hit town and infected the team with his "only the playoffs matter" attitude. Ainge should line up a good new coach before firing Doc though.
Scal as new coach
R O F L. Love Scal. This is a goofy idea.
Scal is enjoyable as a color man on the games but no way I'd hire him as a head coach--until he's proven himself as a coach at some level at a bare minimum. A team of vets needs an experienced coach to make them productive. Scal isn't the answer here.
Trade Rondo, KG, Sully to ATL for Horford and Jeff Teague
That is an absolutely awful trade for the Celtics. Atlanta should do it as soon as the words leave Ainge's mouth. Horford isn't a top center, he's just not. He's actually not really a center. Teague is extremely unproven. He's averaging 13/6 on 43% shooting this season. That is pedestrian. Rondo could fetch a lot more in my opinion. The thing I liked was trading Rondo and KG in the same blockbuster. That would not only be interesting but might also be worth more because their chemistry.
this deal is so bad I'm trying not to vomit. Rondo alone would be worth Horford and Teague. They're 2 solid players but not a top 5 PG. I've always wanted Horford on the C's but not in this deal. He's not a Center but a PF being forced to play there. Teague is an adequate PG, not spectacular. more of a combo guard in reality. The thought of adding KG AND Sully to this deal is just mindbogglingly bad for the C's.
trade Pierce and Lee to Den for Corey Brewer, Mozgov, Chandler, 1st round pick
You know I'd have trouble not saying yes to that even outside of a rebuild. Maybe not for a 2013 1st rounder. 2014 would be extremely tempting. Unfortunately Denver doesn't want Pierce at all.
Not sold on Brewer. Thought he'd be a much better player out of college. Now he seems to have improved to the point he's not a complete liability on offense. he's a taller Lee with less offense (based on Lee's output prior to joining the C's). Mozgov is intriguing but let's face it, he's not getting big minutes in Denver for a reason. Chandler and a low pick help sweeten the deal but I'd have to really think about this one. I wouldn't do this one in a vacuum -- would have to be part of an overall plan to totally revamp the team.
Jeff Green to IND for Tyler Hansborough, 1st round pick + salary fill in
That is interesting an again I'd consider doing that around the deadline if only to get out of the contract. The problem is that the Pacers have an overpaid SF in Granger and also a young talented prospect in Paul George. They don't want Green. George is playing great too.
not enough for Green. Hansbrough, though tough and active, is a bench guy at best. any thoughts that he's going to break out with playing time are hugely speculative at best. if he was that good, they wouldn't have felt the need to sign David West. Green's the better player by far and an Indy 1st rounder isn't nearly enough to make up the difference in talent.
Jason Terry to OKC for Reggie Jackson + salary fill in
I'd ask more for Terry. I think he'd be better in OKC and they'd be smart to trade for him. I'd ask for PJIII or Jeremy Lamb. It would be tough to make the $ work and not get too little but here is another idea:
Terry and Sully/Melo (not both)
for
Perkins
That fits point #1 pretty well.
moving Terry for a prospect is an idea I like but I don't see the monies working out. moving him with Sully or Melo to get back Perk is not a good deal. I love Perk but he's not what he once was. JET for a good prospect like PJIII or Lamb is preferable but I can't see OKC's need to get him. They'll need cheap, good, young talent and that's what I think those prospects will become. Someone's got to step into Harden's shoes in the next year or two and allow them to keep Ibaka and be under the luxury tax too.