Imagine If We Had Traded Brown and Picks for Harden

[Moranis]

Given that we would have the MVP partnered with Tatum, would we have the best record in the league or the second best after Utah? Would Griffin and Aldridge have just joined us instead of New Jersey? Speaking of the Nets, would Kyrie have mentally imploded by now?

Our worst move of the year, and likely the 2020s, was not moving Jaylen for Harden when the opportunity was there. Now we’ve got zero shot at a title this year and next. It does not matter that we “beat” the Nets in a trade in 2013 that ultimately produced no titles, not even an eastern conference title. That’s ancient history and nobody cares anymore. The Nets get the last laugh, and Danny let it happen because Harden was ours if we parted with Jaylen.

Danny is clearly toast (the big move is trading for Fournier, who’s not even able to play for who knows how long?). When will Wyc tell Danny it’s time to retire? This off-season or do we need to put with another 1-3 years of this abject nonsense?

We would've got Jokic?

We would've got Lillard?

I'm convinced that Lillard could average 40/10 and still evade MVP discussion. Sad stuff

except for westbrook, the MVP is from a top 3 team and while Portland has had a couple of those, they were in years when Lillard wasn't lighting it up and people generally felt there were far superior teams.  I do think if Lillard can lead the Blazers to top 3 in the West this year, especially given all the injuries, both to his team and other top contenders, that Lillard will actually have a real shot at it this year.

[Somebody]

Given that we would have the MVP partnered with Tatum, would we have the best record in the league or the second best after Utah? Would Griffin and Aldridge have just joined us instead of New Jersey? Speaking of the Nets, would Kyrie have mentally imploded by now?

Our worst move of the year, and likely the 2020s, was not moving Jaylen for Harden when the opportunity was there. Now we’ve got zero shot at a title this year and next. It does not matter that we “beat” the Nets in a trade in 2013 that ultimately produced no titles, not even an eastern conference title. That’s ancient history and nobody cares anymore. The Nets get the last laugh, and Danny let it happen because Harden was ours if we parted with Jaylen.

Danny is clearly toast (the big move is trading for Fournier, who’s not even able to play for who knows how long?). When will Wyc tell Danny it’s time to retire? This off-season or do we need to put with another 1-3 years of this abject nonsense?

We would've got Jokic?

We would've got Lillard?

I'm convinced that Lillard could average 40/10 and still evade MVP discussion. Sad stuff

except for westbrook, the MVP is from a top 3 team and while Portland has had a couple of those, they were in years when Lillard wasn't lighting it up and people generally felt there were far superior teams.  I do think if Lillard can lead the Blazers to top 3 in the West this year, especially given all the injuries, both to his team and other top contenders, that Lillard will actually have a real shot at it this year.

And still be a Westbrook/Rose type of MVP (he's a better offensive player than both of them though).

[Vermont Green]

I am not sure that the core premise is correct; that we could have gotten Harden if we were willing to give up Brown.  That may be true, but I don't see it as a statement of fact.

To recap, Houston got the following:

Victor Oladipo (from Pacers), Dante Exum (from Cavs), Rodions Kurucs (from Nets) plus Brooklyn's three unprotected first-round draft picks -- 2022, 2024 and 2026 -- in the deal, plus pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. Also, Milwaukee's 2022 first-round pick, via Cleveland.

Houston didn't even want LeVert and Allen, two pretty promising young players, they clearly favored expiring contracts that could be flipped and picks.  I guess there could have been a deal there that involved Brown but I am not sure it is as binary as assuming there was a deal on the table for Brown and all our picks and other picks acquired from other teams and Danny said no.

Danny was willing to offer Tatum in a deal for Davis (or so the reporting was).  But now it is being assumed as fact that Danny was not willing to give up Brown for Harden?  That it was a done deal except for Danny?  My understanding is that Danny said the price was too high in general.  "Reports" were that Houston asked for Brown + Smart plus who knows how many picks (assuming 3 firsts would be reasonable).

I am sure the debate will rage on for years to come, the "what if" discussions as well.  Harden is really good, generational.  But this isn't just a Brown for Harden discussion.

He [Danny Ainge] went on to say that the price for Harden was too high, essentially confirming many sources and fans’ opinions on the situation.  Later on, it was reported that the asking price from Houston was Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and draft compensation.

[Neurotic Guy]

TP to Vermont Green.  I think you got it right.  Definitely not certain that trading Jaylen would have gotten it done — or that Danny didn’t make an offer that included Jaylen.  OR that such a trade would have the C’s currently a favorite to come of the East.  Lots of OP assumptions that aren’t fact and spun to make Danny look worse than he is.   

[Big333223]

imagine the fireball in here when Harden bolted and we lost Jaylen for nothing.
I think it would spontaneously combust.

DA absolutely did the right thing.  Take the long view.  Keep JB and JT together, find complimentary players, set us up for multiple runs, not one year until Harden bolts.

I'm not super familiar with Harden's contract but, yeah, this.

[Moranis]

TP to Vermont Green.  I think you got it right.  Definitely not certain that trading Jaylen would have gotten it done — or that Danny didn’t make an offer that included Jaylen.  OR that such a trade would have the C’s currently a favorite to come of the East.  Lots of OP assumptions that aren’t fact and spun to make Danny look worse than he is.

Assuming it was Brown and Smart plus future draft picks, the Celtics would absolutely be favored to come out of the east.  Especially if part of the trade was also acquiring Eric Gordon with the TPE, but even without him a starting 5 of Walker, Harden, Tatum, Theis, and Thompson with guys like Williams on the bench would have been the favorites in the East.  If Gordon wasn't acquired, Fournier would have still been possible as well. 

So you end up with Walker, Harden, Tatum, Theis, Thompson, Fournier, Williams, Teague, Pritchard, Nesmith, Langford.

That team is the favorites in the East.  Not a surefire slam dunk by any stretch as Brooklyn, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia are all very good teams, but especially with Durant being banged up I do think that team is the favorites as it has all of the components you would need to win the title i.e. a top 5 player, another top 15 player, another top 25 player and solid depth.