I'm not against trading Jaylen

[todd_days_41]

No one is off the table but I don't get the "trade Jaylen" discussions.

An all star wing who can score from anywhere on the court and guard 1-4 who keeps getting better every single year. Getting a guy like Jaylen is the dream.

Would I trade him for Giannis or Luca? Of course. Would I trade him for Beal or Simmons? No.

Spot on here.  Good post.

I agree as well. Where I start to rub my chin is on the notion of two very good young players at positions that compliment Tatum better. Those deals are a little harder to conjure and generally unlikely,but food for thought nonetheless.

I continue to believe, however, that the Cs have to package Smart and some smaller assets to find complimentary player to both Js and the Williams boys before they do anything else.

[nickagneta]

I look at the Phoenix Suns sitting with the best record in basketball and ask myself...how? Three years ago they were the door mats of the West. When you look at their core players, their individual starting five aren't anymore talented than a healthy Celtic team. The bench is a little stronger.

Then I remember basketball is a team sport, and chemistry has a great deal to do with how a team functions. Much like a musical band. (Can you picture the Beatles with Kieth Moon on drums?) The pieces must mesh and balance so the outcome is positive.

Yes, Jaylen is a special talent but he just doesn't mesh consistently with Tatum, not yet anyway.

What made the chemistry in Phoenix was the addition of a top notch floor general with years of experience. Without Chris Paul and his capabilities, Phoenix is Boston. If Boston could add a Chris Paul/Mike Conley/Kyle Lowry type vet PG to drive the offense, Boston jumps to the top of the Eastern Conference.

And no, a Fox/SGA/D.Murray young PG without the years of NBA experience isn't going to do it. They need a guy that commands respect. A guy the Jays will defer to. They need a guy that knows the NBA with lots of playoff experience.

Besides Lillard, I am not sure that guy is available right now.

[Somebody]

Well this is the first Celtics game I've watched in weeks and Jaylen had a fantastic half by mixing in three-level scoring with high-leverage passing in a hybrid on/off-ball game that fits well on a variety of team setups. Yet the box score fails to capture this because his teammates can't finish anything that's not a wide open layup and Tatum got two assists because he's in a role where passing windows like those come by more often while Jaylen is limited to making kickouts and tough interior passes where more skill is required to convert those shots.

[celts55]

Well, if it’s a no brainer, one would have to consider it. Hence the no brainer part

[GreenlyGreeny]

I look at the Phoenix Suns sitting with the best record in basketball and ask myself...how? Three years ago they were the door mats of the West. When you look at their core players, their individual starting five aren't anymore talented than a healthy Celtic team. The bench is a little stronger.

Then I remember basketball is a team sport, and chemistry has a great deal to do with how a team functions. Much like a musical band. (Can you picture the Beatles with Kieth Moon on drums?) The pieces must mesh and balance so the outcome is positive.

Yes, Jaylen is a special talent but he just doesn't mesh consistently with Tatum, not yet anyway.

This is precisely why I’ve been advocating for moving Jaylen for a facilitator on par with Chris Paul or even just Mike Conley: It would dramatically improve our team chemistry, so we can play the type of ball that has the Warriors, Suns and Jazz at the top of the league.

The new 25 year old version of Mike Conley (possibly Chris Paul if he continues to grow) is Dejounte Murray, who is ascending to superstar status. If we could trade Jaylen for him, we’ll instantly play better team ball and, if Rob Williams continues to grow and stay healthy and becomes our version of Ayton, there’s a possibility we could be the new Suns this time next year.

Or we can continue to go on about how valuable wings are even when the team has .500 chemistry with these two wings who seem only concerned with having the most PPG on the team rather than our W/L. With Tatum as the unquestionable leader and top PPG guy, and a facilitator like Murray, we would be a force to be reckoned with. This window is closing…

[Moranis]

Phoenix is a lot deeper than Boston and has 2 of the top 3 players if not 3 of 4 depending on you view Ayton vs. Brown and then Bridges is next.  The deeper rosters are very similar.  So Phoenix has more talent at the top, equal  or better depth, and has been very healthy.

Boston quite simply just doesn't have enough talent.  It has been this way for years so I don't get all these posts wondering what is wrong with the team. Nothing, it just isn't very good after Tatum and Brown who simply aren't a great fit.

[PhoSita]

I think if you trade Jaylen you may as well trade JT, too.

You're not getting a better player in return for Jaylen.  As things stand, Jayson and Jaylen isn't enough. So why would trading Jaylen for a lesser player help things?

If you're going to trade one, trade both. Get a boatload of picks and start over.

I don't think the time has come for that, yet. I think we're probably about two years away from doing that. But unless things change, the Celts are going to be in a position where trading the Jays while they still have a year or two left on their deals and getting a rebuilding package in return is the only smart option left.