4-Team Trade is submitted/confirmed. Just awaiting announcement from league office.
I'm now listening to offers for the following pieces
My 2016 1st round Pick - My draft pick has ended up #2 for two years in a row. The Ben Simmons draft should be a big one.
Nik Stauskas - He was picked 8th. He shot 47%/44%/82% in College. Not unlikely his predecessor, Ben McLemore, he struggled as a rookie in a Rudy Gay-dominated culture. McLemore saw a dramatic improvement from year 1 to 2. Stauskas has already displayed positive signs. First half of the season shot an uncharacteristic 33%/26%/86% .... Post-All-star he saw an increase in both minutes and production, shooting 42%/42%/86%. We have more evidence to support Stauskas as an elite shooter than not. He has legit size at 6'6 205 for the SG position. His last game he put up 14 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
Bismack Biyombo - He's long been a binkie of mine. Still only 22 years old. When given minutes, he's been productive. In 2013-14, he had Per-36 minute averages of 7.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 61% shooting. Last year, it was more of the same. His defensive-rating of 99 would actually put him in the top 10 in the league with qualified minutes. Yet he found himself Hornet team somewhat loaded with big prospects. Al Jefferson getting the bulk of minutes and Cody Zeller seemingly a higher development priority due to being selected #4 a year prior. Despite this, Biyombo made the most of his minutes and eventually found himself starting for the final month of the season. In 21 starts, he averaged 27 minutes, 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks with 55% shooting. HIs numbers over the past month were even better (averaging 30mpg and 30FP in the process). He's proved that he will average a FP per minute... the question is just whether he'll get the minutes next year. This summer he's a restricted free agent that the Hornets might let go. If someone gives him 35+ minutes, you can fully expect him to generate 35+FP.
Both Stauskas (via trade) and Biyombo (via free agency) would make for great buy-low acquisitions for Ainge this Summer. It's worth noting here that long-time forum member ssspence randomly posted in March that Biyombo would be a target for the Celtics:
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=76899.msg1845145#msg1845145Just calling it now. I have it on good authority the Cs org feels they can work him into a better, more rounded player, and therefore leverage his shotblocking ability more consistently. If they strike out on a marquee big man early in FA, look for this to happen.
I genuinely like both Stauskas and Biyombo, but I'm open to listening to offers.