Idea: Celtics facilitate Gortat to OKC

[connor]

As I've said before I think the Celtics' best chance at rebuilding quickly is to set themselves up to make major moves in the 2015 offseason, which has a deep free agent class and we could have ridiculous cap room and assets to facilitate trades.

As such I think the best thing the Celtics can do is facilitate trades for other teams by taking on bad contract expiring 2015 and collecting extra assets for their trouble.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m5jfuuf

Boston out:
Lee, Randolph, Crawford, Melo
Boston in:
Perkins, Beasley, Adams, Dallas 2014 pick

Phoenix out:
Gortat, Beasley
Phoenix in:
Lee, PJ3, Melo 6m TE from Boston

OKC out:
Perkins, Adams, PJ3, Dallas 2014 pick
OKC in:
Gortat, Randolph, Crawford

Very similar to a BOS/HOU/OKC trade I floated a while ago, except that I think that this is more plausible as the Suns won't have a problem sending Gortat to OKC since they aren't competing, while, after talking to Rockets fans, they most likely wouldn't consider helping their rival fix their greatest weakness.

Boston fills a need at C with Perk and lets Olunyk focus on being a stretch 4. Beasley's been a disaster and I'm not suggesting a trade in the hopes of him turning things around, just that he won't be as much oaf a cancer at 25 years old as he nears his next contract. In exchange for taking on the two big contracts we get a better raw center project in Steven Adams and another future first.

OKC gives up the Dallas pick for moving Perk's deal and then Adams and PJ3 for Gortat. They take on 11m in expiring deals and get a huge upgrade.

The Suns get rid of Beasley in return for a trade exception, pick up a talented SF project in PJ3 who I think fits well with Len and a solid 3 and D SG in Lee, who is only 27 and still has good basketball left in him and could potentially be a trade chip later on. 

[connor]

Also I realize we are hard capped and can't use the trade exception unless we move out other bodies, which is why this deal would be in conjunction with other trades: ideally sending Bass to a team who can absorb his deal and pairing Humphries with Wallace hoping the 12m expiring negates the need to add a pick to any trade jettisoning Wallace.

[gpap]

I like the idea of getting Perk back.

I wouldn't even mind Beasley.

However, I don't think OKC deals Adams. They just drafted him, didn't they?

[connor]

I like the idea of getting Perk back.

I wouldn't even mind Beasley.

However, I don't think OKC deals Adams. They just drafted him, didn't they?

Yeah, but he is still extremely raw in terms of talent. I think they'd move him in a heartbeat if they could bring in some actual talent at the center position.

They're built to win now, keeping Perk and waiting for a kid to develop is really just going to be stunting their growth as a team.

[gpap]

I like the idea of getting Perk back.

I wouldn't even mind Beasley.

However, I don't think OKC deals Adams. They just drafted him, didn't they?

Yeah, but he is still extremely raw in terms of talent. I think they'd move him in a heartbeat if they could bring in some actual talent at the center position.

They're built to win now, keeping Perk and waiting for a kid to develop is really just going to be stunting their growth as a team.

If that's the case, then yes, I would make this deal.

We definitely need a center (or five) and this plantar fasciatis thing with Olynyk kinda scares me.

I do agree that OKC would be a great team for Gortat and it be nice to have Perk back home.

As for Phoenix, they certainly seem to be involved in the tankapalooza sweepstakes. Only issue I possibly see is Phoenix taking on Courtney Lee's contract.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Lee, Crawford and Melo wont be getting us all of that, they should be able to find better from another team if they need help (PHX, to me, is getting a raw deal).

Really just look at what you have coming to us... look at it.

The only throw-in you give us is Adams b.c he is unproven but for sending out Lee, Craw and Melo we get Perk, Beasley, and a pick? LOL Dallas may not make the playoffs and even if they do, they probably get around the 16-20th pick... no sir, I wouldn't do it if I'm PHX.

Safe to say I pay for our guy's tickets and make sure they get to their team safely, while I'm holding their hands all the way there... I do this in a heartbeat.

[D.o.s.]

I don't think OKC does it, because the Thunder are absolutely in love with Perkins.

[crimson_stallion]

I wouldn't do this.  If there's a deal in involving Gortat and Boston is involved then I want Gortat coming here, im not helping the Thunder get their greasy hands on him.

Gortat is exactly the type of center we need right now.  The only reason his numbers dropped last season is due to reduced role in phoenix.  Considering our lack of Duluth at center he'd get a big time role here and would likely go back to his previous 15 point, 9 rebound days. 

He's a very good center who is relatively available, relatively young, very skilled and is on a bargain contact.  He's on about $7m right now which is a bargain considering the type of bigs you see getting $10m these days.

Not to mention the fact that center is our weakest position right now.

Perkins...no.  People need to stop glorifying the guy - he is and always was nothing but a role player, he wouldn't even be staying if OKC want so weak at center.

[slamtheking]

I don't see Phx doing it and not sold on it for the C's either.

Although dumping Beasley is a plus for PHX, Gortat should bring in more than what they're getting.  They'd probably want Adams too.  If C's don't get Adams, the deal is a non-starter.

As the deal's constituted, C's are taking on 2 bad contracts while only getting Adams and a 1st.  I love Perk but he's a shell of his former self and Beasley is a headache.  Not to mention Beasley is a 3/4 where we're already overstocked.  Unless Dallas is really expected to stink and end up in the lottery (lottery, probably, but just barely) this deal just hoses the C's financially past the point of making this a reasonable deal

I'm ok with not getting Gortat in the deal since he's more of a 'win-now' acquisition and we're in a rebuild phase.

[aporel#18]

I like the reasoning of the trade. I think the Cs could help OKC to get an upgrade at C, either by getting Asik, or as you've posted, Gortat. That would mean eating Perk's terrible contract. We love the guy, but he's not worth all that money... unless we are getting a good return.

I reworked your trade idea, because right now we can't use the TPE:

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=kr29psp

Boston out: Courtney Lee, Brandon Bass, Shav, Crawford.
Boston in: Beasley, Perk, PJ3, Dallas 2014 1st rounder from OKC, Lakers 2015 1st rounder from PHO

Phoenix out: Beasley, Gortat, Lakers 1st rounder
Phoenix in: Courtney Lee, Adams (Lamb in trade machine), Shav and Jordan Crawford.

OKC out: Perk, PJ3, Adams, Dallas 2014 first rounder
OKC in: Gortat, Bass

You could send Orton from OKC to Phoenix if needed to, but I think it would work. Boston could send money to Phoenix, to sweeten the deal/waive Randolph and Crawford.

why for Phoenix? They could get a better offer for Gortat, but getting rid of Beasley is worth the Lakers first rounder, which could probably be in the late teens or even twenties in 2015. They also get a good player/valuable trade piece in Lee, and a prospect in Adams, plus they keep right on the Tanking Highway with the guys they're getting.

why for OKC? Obvious, they're getting the best two players in the deal, and giving away 3 prospects in PJ3, Adams and the Dallas pick puts their frontcourt in very good shape: Gortat/Ibaka with Collison/Bass off the bench and Thabeet or whoever they pick at the deadline as 3rd stringers they solve a big hole in their Championship aspirations.

why for Boston? One, they keep cap flexibility, as they're commiting to uglier contracts which aren't longer than the ones they're sending. Two, they fix the SG logjam, keeping Bradley/Brooks/Bogans. Three, they get a fan favorite in Perk, and a quality knucklehead in Beasley, as well as two first rounders and a prospect in PJ3.

Celtics roster at camp:

Rondo/Pressey
Bradley/Brooks/Bogans
Green/Crash/PJ3(D-League)
Sully/Humphries/Beasley
Olynyk/Perk/Fav/Fab(D-League)

Seems like a lateral move, but opens some minutes at the PF slot and when Danny is able to move Humphries and/or Bogans for semiretired bodies plus picks it will be ok. During next season, Perk and Beasley are expiring contracts, and with Humphries money off the table, Danny will have a lot of options.