Retool Around Tatum

[radiohead]

I'd be fine with Trae, but I wouldn't trade Brown for him.  I don't like that value enough. 

That said, I had proposed something like this before and I still think it makes a lot of sense for all 3 teams

Boston - Lillard, Collins, Little
Atlanta - Smart, Brown, Kornet
Portland - Young, Gallinari, Pritchard

Other players and draft picks could be included.

The Blazers get a young star signed long term to be the new face of the franchise.  He will sell tickets and put butts in the seat and he has led the Hawks to the playoffs (including the ECF).  The Hawks get out of the Young headache and fit for a local star that should fit better with Murray.  And the Celtics get their closer and more big depth.

Boston post trade

Starters - Lillard, White, Tatum, Collins, Rob
Main Bench - Brogdon, Hauser, Little, Grant, Muscala, Horford
Deep Bench - Davison, Champagnie, #35

Still 1 open roster spot and that assumes all 3 deep bench make the actual roster and 2 aren't the 2-way players.

I love that team. I would probably start Horford with Collins to allow Collins to operate in the paint, where I think he’s best. Lillard & Tatum would be unguardable together

I have warmed to the idea of JB for Dame. Reminds me of the Al Jeff for KG trade to some extent. We’d have a shorter window with Dame but he might be the one who can bring us over the top. It might also be better contract wise. With the new CBA, it makes it very hard for the Cs to give supermax contracts to JT and JB.

[Who]

I'd be fine with Trae, but I wouldn't trade Brown for him.  I don't like that value enough. 

That said, I had proposed something like this before and I still think it makes a lot of sense for all 3 teams

Boston - Lillard, Collins, Little
Atlanta - Smart, Brown, Kornet
Portland - Young, Gallinari, Pritchard

Other players and draft picks could be included.

The Blazers get a young star signed long term to be the new face of the franchise.  He will sell tickets and put butts in the seat and he has led the Hawks to the playoffs (including the ECF).  The Hawks get out of the Young headache and fit for a local star that should fit better with Murray.  And the Celtics get their closer and more big depth.

Boston post trade

Starters - Lillard, White, Tatum, Collins, Rob
Main Bench - Brogdon, Hauser, Little, Grant, Muscala, Horford
Deep Bench - Davison, Champagnie, #35

Still 1 open roster spot and that assumes all 3 deep bench make the actual roster and 2 aren't the 2-way players.

I love that team. I would probably start Horford with Collins to allow Collins to operate in the paint, where I think he’s best. Lillard & Tatum would be unguardable together

Yeah, that is an awesome team.

Tatum and Lillard would offer a phenomenal two man game. Just imagine running PnRs with Tatum as the screener = nightmare.

I'd start Horford as well to aid Collins. I also love Muscala off the bench. That four big man combo of Timelord, Horford, J Collins and Muscala has great interchangeability of pieces.

Still have Brogdon to create a good foundation on the perimeter off the bench. Easier to find less talented bench players to function around him given how talented he is.

That team would be incredibly difficult to play against.

[RJ87]

this GM never did believe in having a big who can dominate down low to punish teams and then open everything  else up mid to deep range. shoulda traded brown for KD. were pizzing JT away with this clown management and coaching. and maybe ownership. a real big woulda destroyed bam down low.

Who is this dominant post big that's been available that we've refused to acquire?

Yeah, I can't think of many. There aren't many high-scoring bigs (Embiid, Jokic, Giannis (?), Markannen, Randle, Porzingis), even less of which are low-post oriented.

Maybe a fringe big like Siakam, or a lesser scorer like Vucevic/Ayton?

Which is my point, those players don't really exist in today's NBA. The legit post dominant guys (Jokic and Embiid) aren't available. After that, you get a bunch of guys that are more perimeter oriented and shoot a ton of 3s too.

Posters are begging for players who simply don't exist. So when posters start clamoring for "a big who can dominate down low to punish teams," they need to attach the names of these mythical players.

Ayton
He can score and rebound down low

Does, um... Does Ayton know that?

[Muzzy66]

Brown is a two time all star coming off a disastrous ECF with a less than ideal contract situation. I don't think his value is going to be higher than Trae, himself a two time all star and two years younger to boot.

I think Brown's value may be a tough higher then Trae not because he's a better player necessarily, but because he's a more versatile player who might have more potential suitors out there (driving the price up).

Trae's lack of size and defensive abilty makes him a very "specialised" player who will need to be in specific types of situations to excel.  Brown is not that far off Trae offensively but also can impact the game on the defensive end, can guard multiple positions, and can help out on the boards.  I feel in today's game (where positionless basketball is so desired) a young two-way wing like Brown would be highly valued. 

[Who]

Brown is a two time all star coming off a disastrous ECF with a less than ideal contract situation. I don't think his value is going to be higher than Trae, himself a two time all star and two years younger to boot.

I think Brown's value may be a tough higher then Trae not because he's a better player necessarily, but because he's a more versatile player who might have more potential suitors out there (driving the price up).

Trae's lack of size and defensive abilty makes him a very "specialised" player who will need to be in specific types of situations to excel.  Brown is not that far off Trae offensively but also can impact the game on the defensive end, can guard multiple positions, and can help out on the boards.  I feel in today's game (where positionless basketball is so desired) a young two-way wing like Brown would be highly valued.

JB is very far from Trae offensively. They may be similar scorers but Trae is one of the finest playmakers in the league. He is an 8-10apg guy who creates a huge number of open looks for his teammates.

Trae is one of the best offensive players in the league. Certainly top 10. Maybe top 5.

Unfortunately, he is also the worst defensive player in the league which saps a good chunk of his offensive value. And to maintain his huge offensive value he needs to dominate the ball - as you said, be put in specific situations in order to excel. Still a huge net positive so long as he is in the right role.

I am convinced Jaylen's weak passing not only fails to add to the positives of his shot creation but actually detracts from it. Below average passing, high turnovers, high volume shot taker. A guy who takes a lot from his team (shot attempts, turnovers) without giving much to others (passing).

[Celtics4ever]

Lillard would be Kemba 2.0 at 33 years of age.   He is too old, and will fail as his body fails.    He isn't a guy who is going be to able to adapt his game with age.

[gouki88]

Lillard would be Kemba 2.0 at 33 years of age.   He is too old, and will fail as his body fails.    He isn't a guy who is going be to able to adapt his game with age.

He is exactly that kind of player. Please provide an argument as to why you think otherwise.

Lillard is also much better than Kemba ever was. Lillard is a Curry-esque talent

[dannyboy35]

Brown is a two time all star coming off a disastrous ECF with a less than ideal contract situation. I don't think his value is going to be higher than Trae, himself a two time all star and two years younger to boot.

I think Brown's value may be a tough higher then Trae not because he's a better player necessarily, but because he's a more versatile player who might have more potential suitors out there (driving the price up).

Trae's lack of size and defensive abilty makes him a very "specialised" player who will need to be in specific types of situations to excel.  Brown is not that far off Trae offensively but also can impact the game on the defensive end, can guard multiple positions, and can help out on the boards.  I feel in today's game (where positionless basketball is so desired) a young two-way wing like Brown would be highly valued.

   I’ve thought a lot of Trae here , myself after looking up and down rosters. I don’t love the idea of trading Jaylen . This would be something I’d consider because of our system that I really hate.
  Trae’s percentage was nothing to write home about from 3 last year but I think that was an aberration.
   Offensively , I like it because I think he’s a real point guard that will get us better stuff in crunch time. He’d be a good lob partner with Rob. Defensively , ouch. Personally I want Smart off this team. I think a Trae deal would require additional somewhat big moves.
  Really, Rob is already wasted in this system.