Trade Idea: Celtics - Suns

[Roy H.]

Only if the Suns are cutting CP3 and he's signing here for the MLE.

[Birdman]

Why would Suns break up a good thing

[Moranis]

Why would Suns break up a good thing

What if they lose in the 1st or 2nd round?  What if they decide they don't want to pay Ayton a max contract?

I'm not sure either team would do the trade but it makes sense on some level.  Brown is the best player in the trade, but Bridges and Ayton are both not that far behind him.  So the Suns get a talent upgrade at the top, while the C's get more talent depth on the roster.  Suns still get a solid starting center as well.  This might be one of those trades that really does benefit both teams.  Again I don't know that either one does it, but I don't think the valuation is off.

[Vermont Green]

I'm sure the Suns could figure out another way to get under the luxury tax during the offseason, while keeping their core intact. This trade makes no sense for Phoenix, who have the best record in the league this season, and were only one game away from having the best record last season. Why would they trade away two of their five starters?

I don't think they would and I don't think there is any chance they are going to trade Bridges after they have just signed an extension with him but you never know.

The more interesting and potentially realistic target is Ayton.  They did not extend him but I expect that they will give him the Qualifying Offer (QO).  He will then be in pretty much the same situation as Markkanen was last season.  Teams will be able to try to sign him (although PHO would be able to match) or they can try to do a S&T.

PHO is probably more likely to match and keep him than it was for CHI and Markkanen.  And much like Markkanen, I am not sure there will be all that many teams throwing money at Ayton.  We could send back Horford and some useful players/picks but I don't really see why PHO wouldn't just match Ayton vs. bringing in Horford.  If we could get him for say Schroder and picks at the deadline, count me in.

Cap gurus, I think we could actually offer Schroder and Williams and picks, correct?  I am not sure this is the best that PHO could do in a trade but it would need to be something like this from the Celtics side of things.

[Ed Monix]

Why would Suns break up a good thing

You’ve got to remember that Sarver is notoriously cheap & meddlesome.

- He let Joe Johnson go because he didn’t want to pay him.

- He gave away a Suns pick (for cash) to the Celtics…Ainge used it to select Rajon Rondo.

- He sold Rudy Fernandez’s draft rights to Portland for cash.

- He let Kurt Thomas go to save money.

- Most recently, he relinquished the rights to lottery pick Jalen Smith, which is unheard of in today’s nba.

[Celtics2021]

I'm sure the Suns could figure out another way to get under the luxury tax during the offseason, while keeping their core intact. This trade makes no sense for Phoenix, who have the best record in the league this season, and were only one game away from having the best record last season. Why would they trade away two of their five starters?

I don't think they would and I don't think there is any chance they are going to trade Bridges after they have just signed an extension with him but you never know.

The more interesting and potentially realistic target is Ayton.  They did not extend him but I expect that they will give him the Qualifying Offer (QO).  He will then be in pretty much the same situation as Markkanen was last season.  Teams will be able to try to sign him (although PHO would be able to match) or they can try to do a S&T.

PHO is probably more likely to match and keep him than it was for CHI and Markkanen.  And much like Markkanen, I am not sure there will be all that many teams throwing money at Ayton.  We could send back Horford and some useful players/picks but I don't really see why PHO wouldn't just match Ayton vs. bringing in Horford.  If we could get him for say Schroder and picks at the deadline, count me in.

Cap gurus, I think we could actually offer Schroder and Williams and picks, correct?  I am not sure this is the best that PHO could do in a trade but it would need to be something like this from the Celtics side of things.

Yes, that would work capwise.

[dannyboy35]

I wouldn’t but that’s a good one .

[johnnygreen]

Why would Suns break up a good thing

You’ve got to remember that Sarver is notoriously cheap & meddlesome.

- He let Joe Johnson go because he didn’t want to pay him.

- He gave away a Suns pick (for cash) to the Celtics…Ainge used it to select Rajon Rondo.

- He sold Rudy Fernandez’s draft rights to Portland for cash.

- He let Kurt Thomas go to save money.

- Most recently, he relinquished the rights to lottery pick Jalen Smith, which is unheard of in today’s nba.

There's a massive difference between an owner being willing to pay the luxury tax for a title contender, and not wanting to pay the tax when the team is not a contender. As it stands, the Suns are legit title contenders, which is why I don't believe they would ever make that trade.

Wyc and the Celtics have been trying to get under the tax for two years now. Are they cheap too? Or realistic for what the team is, and unwilling to pay the tax for a non-contender?

[johnnygreen]

Why would Suns break up a good thing

What if they lose in the 1st or 2nd round?  What if they decide they don't want to pay Ayton a max contract?

I'm not sure either team would do the trade but it makes sense on some level.  Brown is the best player in the trade, but Bridges and Ayton are both not that far behind him.  So the Suns get a talent upgrade at the top, while the C's get more talent depth on the roster.  Suns still get a solid starting center as well.  This might be one of those trades that really does benefit both teams.  Again I don't know that either one does it, but I don't think the valuation is off.

I agree that Brown would be the best player in the trade. However, his style of being so iso heavy, would not work with the Suns team. Those guys also make quick decisions with the ball, which is another area where Brown struggles.

[gouki88]

Eh, massive overpay as far as I’m considered. Brown is better than Ayton and Williams is much more impactful than Bridges.

[Ed Monix]

Why would Suns break up a good thing

You’ve got to remember that Sarver is notoriously cheap & meddlesome.

- He let Joe Johnson go because he didn’t want to pay him.

- He gave away a Suns pick (for cash) to the Celtics…Ainge used it to select Rajon Rondo.

- He sold Rudy Fernandez’s draft rights to Portland for cash.

- He let Kurt Thomas go to save money.

- Most recently, he relinquished the rights to lottery pick Jalen Smith, which is unheard of in today’s nba.

There's a massive difference between an owner being willing to pay the luxury tax for a title contender, and not wanting to pay the tax when the team is not a contender. As it stands, the Suns are legit title contenders, which is why I don't believe they would ever make that trade.

Wyc and the Celtics have been trying to get under the tax for two years now. Are they cheap too? Or realistic for what the team is, and unwilling to pay the tax for a non-contender?

Every deal listed was done in a title window…all but one was in Steve Nash’s prime.