forget brand names, get us Robin Lopez+Boris Diaw+Barbosa

[nora gretz]

We've all experienced it at one point in our lives...
that feeling of when you arrived to the breakfast table totally stoked & ready to take the first bite out of what you thought were your favorite bowl fruit loops..

our parents couldn't afford our favorite name brand that week, so we had to do with the store brand, which we were told was just as good, much to our chagrin...

that's how our celtics must approach this offseason...it's proven that you'd rather have dependable/serviceable role players that won't tear apart a lockeroom over touches or demand more $ from uncle Ainge & co.

our team was built this year to combat the lakers length & dwight...not the young athletic legs of wade & lebron..

all this team needs is;
perimeter D, athleticism, bench scoring, rebounding, shot-blocking, & a temporary kg back-up

with the "store brand" Robin Lopez, we get proven better rebounding, shot blocking, & a legit 7" big man that will run the floor faster & harder than Perkins ever could

with Boris Diaw, we get a forward that has more lift than Big Baby & can finish around the rim, & can spell kg by stretching the floor & rebounding

with barbosa we get bench scoring & more rest for the well conditioned ray allen...

all three players mentioned have what we need at the moment, & have played at a 'Suns' tempo suited to Rondo & Jeff Green..


Rondo+Ray+Pierce+Kg are all locked up, & ainge has 'plans' for green starting, so that leaves everyone else in play to get shipped...

Toronto was stupid enough to give "the jordan of turkey" hedo 'turkey-glue' a 50mil contract..& MJ specifically traded again for the 2nd time for kwame brown...

[celts55]

Not being rude, but how do you suggest the Celtics aquire these 3 guys?

[Evantime34]

So we trade Robin Lopez and split the MLE between Diaw and Barbosa? (I believe they are both free agents). I don't think we have the pieces to trade for Robin Lopez, they like him a lot in Phoenix.

[Who]

I'm with you on the Leandro Barbosa part. I think he'd make an excellent backup PG / combo guard.

[jdub1660]

Lopez lost minutes in Phoenix due to his inability to pull in rebounds consistently. Not so sure about this one

[Who]

Lopez lost minutes in Phoenix due to his inability to pull in rebounds consistently. Not so sure about this one

Poor rebounding + poor defensive play ... fails in both areas

Robin Lopez still has a lot of work to do. It's a shame to see him take a step back after a very solid sophomore campaign. Hopefully he'll recover well next year.

[GreenEnvy]

I'd take them for BBD.

But not for Rondo, any of the Big Three, or even Green.

It's a star-oriented league. You just don't trade all-stars for role players, and that's what all of them are.

[Lucky17]

Lopez is one of the few players who would slot into the trade exception from the Marquis Daniels trade.

Question is, would Phoenix accept a 2011 draft pick and cash from Boston for him? I suspect not.

[birdwatcher]

I like the idea of bringing role players instead of concocting a far fetched blockbuster trade(s). Barbosa would be a great pick up (but isn't he on Toronto?).

[nora gretz]

Lopez lost minutes in Phoenix due to his inability to pull in rebounds consistently. Not so sure about this one

Poor rebounding + poor defensive play ... fails in both areas

Robin Lopez still has a lot of work to do. It's a shame to see him take a step back after a very solid sophomore campaign. Hopefully he'll recover well next year.

It does take some time before big men mature in this league & learn the game..

exhibit a - andrew bogut (no pun intended)
robin lopez has the tools to become a bogut jr. with his shot blocking  ability, something that kg & baby cannot do on a consistent basis

it would have to be a 4-team trade & i'm pretty sure we'd have to include our 1st rounder acquired from okc to get him

but i wouldn't mind our roster looking like this for the time being if it eliminates all of big babys iso's & blocked dunk attempts...we'll sure miss your ability to draw charges though

rondo
ray/barbosa
pierce/green
kg/diaw
r.lopez

[Who]

Lopez lost minutes in Phoenix due to his inability to pull in rebounds consistently. Not so sure about this one

Poor rebounding + poor defensive play ... fails in both areas

Robin Lopez still has a lot of work to do. It's a shame to see him take a step back after a very solid sophomore campaign. Hopefully he'll recover well next year.

It does take some time before big men mature in this league & learn the game..

exhibit a - andrew bogut (no pun intended)
robin lopez has the tools to become a bogut jr. with his shot blocking  ability, something that kg & baby cannot do on a consistent basis

it would have to be a 4-team trade & i'm pretty sure we'd have to include our 1st rounder acquired from okc to get him

but i wouldn't mind our roster looking like this for the time being if it eliminates all of big babys iso's & blocked dunk attempts...we'll sure miss your ability to draw charges though

rondo
ray/barbosa
pierce/green
kg/diaw
r.lopez

Will Robin Lopez make enough progress to be a quality contributor in those areas next season?

I am more interested in Lopez as a long term project than an immediate difference maker.

After his struggles last season, I don't have much confidence in his ability to turn around and come good right away ... but he has shown ability / potential in the past and he would be an interesting big man to try and develop. Acquiring him for the post Big Three era would be interesting.

I think he can still become an above average defender. I just don't have much confidence in it happening right away. I don't know what to make of his rebounding, it goes up and down like a yo-yo. No idea what to expect there.

I like his offensive game. He's got good hands, is a very good finisher and has a little move or two down low. As limited offensive (garbage men) centers go, he is pretty good offensively.

Trade wise, I agree, I think he'd cost the Clippers top 10 protected pick.

The Suns might trade him straight up for the pick. They seem pretty happy with Gortat + as well as disappointed with Lopez' play over the last year + they may view the draft pick as a superior asset to R.Lopez.

[mc34]

I think you'd be very disappointed after watching Lopez play... He has a grand total of 22 assists in three SEASONS in the NBA, is a poor rebounder, and doesn't have much of an offensive game.

Diaw is solid but he's very passive and is a pretty mediocre rebounder (Jeff Green, anyone?).

[mgent]

What are we building, the 08 Suns' bench?

Send us Matt Barnes and Dragic too.

[SHAQATTACK]

WHO

[gar]

Like the general premise. Not a bad start; but not sure how we get it done.

Rondo / Barbosa / Bradley
Allen / West /
PP / Green /
KG / Diaw /
RLopez / JO /