Idea: Courtney Lee for Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee

[lightspeed5]

mega downgrade.

[LooseCannon]

this isn't a terrible idea, but we have so many unproven bigs as it stands . .. it seems we are the ones who need to make 2 for 1 trades in the other direction.

The problem is excess PFs and SGs.

Would some people warm up to this idea if it meant being able to dump Fab Melo on the Pacers?

[Celtics18]

Wait, what?  Theidea is to fix the "mistake" of Gerald Green's 3.5 million contract by offering them a worse contract of equal length, and asking them to throw in a developing big who is under team control for multiple years for their troubles? And you want to get a pick, too?! That's just _not_ the way trades happen in the NBA.

To put things in perspective, last year Gerald Green gave the Pacers about 75% of Courtney Lee's contribution to the Celtics for 70% of the cost.

It's trading a player they don't like anymore on a contract they don't like who plays the same position as free agent signing Chris Copeland and first round pick Solomon Hill for a player they have liked in the past at a position where they need some depth who is signed to a contract that many think is reasonable.

I'm not sure if the Pacers are willing to give up Plumlee as the price of doing a deal, but I definitely think they would be willing to move their fifth-string small forward for a primary back-up shooting guard.

for some reason, Plumlee strikes me as more of a PF than C.  I'd prefer to get a more-legit C prospect.  Plumlee just underwhelms me for some reason.

The reason I proposed the idea is precisely because Plumlee is underwhelming.  I don't think a more-legit center prospect will be available without giving up a draft pick or similar value, so for a rebuilding team, I'd be looking for a guy who hasn't cracked his team's rotation yet but who isn't a complete lost cause.

I was whelmed by him watching him in Summer league, wouldn't be surprised if he takes a step forward next year.

TP for "whelmed."

[Geo123]

I don't think the Pacers are interested in trading Ian Mahinmi unless they feel Plumlee is capable of being almost as good as a backup for less money.  Although Larry Bird seems to love him and is reported to be the reason that Indy drafted Plumlee in what was perceived to be a reach, perhaps they would be more willing to deal Plumlee.  It might be a stretch to think the cost-conscious Pacers are looking to deal a player on a rookie contract.

Courtney Lee is from Indianapolis and fellow local product George Hill tried to recruit Lee as a free agent.  He's also considered to be a good fit for their system.

Meanwhile, the Pacers would like to be freed from the mistake that is Gerald Green's contract.  Finding someone to take Green off their hands is the only reason I think a trade might be doable.

The Celtics would get rid of one of their excess shooting guards, get back a player on a shorter and small contract, and pick up a young "asset" in Plumlee.  I'd argue they should also try to pick up a future second-round pick as part of the deal.  I could also see including Fab Melo if Ainge can get back more draft considerations.

Arguably, the Celtics could get more for Lee elsewhere, but the Pacers are one of the teams that would be interested in a backup shooting guard who can shoot threes and Plumlee is one of the few third-string centers who might be an interesting trade target (I don't expect any team to be willing to do a trade for Lee that leaves a gaping hole in their backup center spot unless there are salary cap considerations).

The trade isn't good for either of us.  First of all they are a little light up front after losing Psycho T.  Plus neither player helps us and repeat after me.  We need to shed players, not do 2 for 1 trades.