Whose the Isaiah Thomas of this year

[KG Living Legend]

 Who's not a huge name that's underutilized, or stacked at a particular position like Thomas was last year.

 Are there any Power Forward or centers in that situation? The only guy that fits the mold for me is McLemore, but he's the last position we need, although he is a shooter and we could always use that. How's Ben's defense? Anyone have input on his D.

 Tp to Defensive stats and first poster.

[saltlover]

 Who's not a huge name that's underutilized, or stacked at a particular position like Thomas was last year.

 Are there any Power Forward or centers in that situation? The only guy that fits the mold for me is McLemore, but he's the last position we need, although he is a shooter and we could always use that. How's Ben's defense? Anyone have input on his D.

 Tp to Defensive stats and first poster.

No one on the Kings plays defense, Ben included.  It's pretty impossible to tell, although he had a decent rep in college with regards to defense.  Still, it would take some time before he'd be reliable in that end of the floor.

[Dino Pitino]

 Who's not a huge name that's underutilized, or stacked at a particular position like Thomas was last year.

 Are there any Power Forward or centers in that situation? The only guy that fits the mold for me is McLemore, but he's the last position we need, although he is a shooter and we could always use that. How's Ben's defense? Anyone have input on his D.

 Tp to Defensive stats and first poster.

I think the first poster was this guy:

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=82664.0

In other words, it's basically the same topic. I had the same idea as you earlier today to start a Next Isaiah thread and I searched this subforum to see if any thread like that already existed, and it did, and so I bumped it.

[j804]

Nobody Ryan just gifted Ainge him last year

[rondohondo]

i'll say big al

bos sends lee and dal pick

[GreenFaith1819]

Wasn't he like the last pick of the 2011 NBA draft?

And he's an All-Star? On a soon-to-be consecutive year's playoff team?

To answer the question - no one, I don't think.

It is quite an accomplish for him to be where he's at, and still be hungry. I don't think it's ever been done - a last pick draft NBA All-Star.

[max215]

I'll say Monroe. I could see him being moved for very little, putting up excellent numbers on a good team, and getting consideration as an All-Star next year.

[alldaboston]

I'll say Monroe. I could see him being moved for very little, putting up excellent numbers on a good team, and getting consideration as an All-Star next year.

I'd like him, if it wasn't for the fact that both Detroit and Milwaukee have been better off without him. Detroit is looking like a legit playoff team without him, and Milwaukee has fallen off big time from their great season last year. I'm scared he could have a similar impact on us this/next year.

[max215]

I'll say Monroe. I could see him being moved for very little, putting up excellent numbers on a good team, and getting consideration as an All-Star next year.

I'd like him, if it wasn't for the fact that both Detroit and Milwaukee have been better off without him. Detroit is looking like a legit playoff team without him, and Milwaukee has fallen off big time from their great season last year. I'm scared he could have a similar impact on us this/next year.

I generally agree with you on that (Rudy Gay), but pretty much all advanced numbers indicate that Monroe has been really good this year. I'm inclined to believe that other people are the problem in Milwaukee and he was victim to playing out of position in a bad fit in Detroit.

[BDeCosta26]

Alex Len is one for me. Phoenix seems to just be in a fire sale kind of situation right not. Maybe you trade them Zeller or Sully and the Minny or our own pick for him and plug him in here for 15-20 Mpg and see what he can do.

A lot of guys I respect around here really like Monroe. I think he could certainly be available, but I worry about his lack of defensive effort and lack of any jump shot. Though I think if you could spring a trade of Lee, Sully or Zeller and a 1st for him he could almost be like a Sully on steroids if he bought into our defensive team-first mindset. Maybe he could give us the rebounding Sully gives us while giving us a 2nd go-to option when we need a bucket.

Nic Batum is a guy, whom I know Charlotte likes, but is a guy who fits the mold of what we want perfectly. If we could give them something like Lee, Turner, Young and a 1st for Batum and TJ Warren I'd probably be all over that. If we plugged Batum into Turner's place, it would be like all the things we like about Turner without 90% of the things we hate about him.

Whenever I've seen Orlando mentioned, I've seen them connected with offering Oladipo. I'd love to see what it would take to get him. I'd give them AB, Rozier and a 1st, maybe two for him. His shot is improving the way Bradley's did, he's able to play both on and off the ball, and like Bradley he's a defensive dynamo. Plus he makes up for a little of the size advantage Bradley gives up at 6'2. Very Smart like body.

Keep an eye on Shabazz Muhammad. He's a formerly very highly touted player and Ainge loves those kinda guys. He may think that there's Harrison Barnes like potential in Bazz

And Kosta Koufos. Been his steady self on a Kings team he just doesn't belong on. I think he'd be pretty good in Sully's role and is cost controlled for a couple years. Still only in his mid-20's I think

[vjcsmoke]

Monroe's main weakness is his defense.  We'd need to have a strong defensive power forward to mask that weakness.

Question would a frontcourt of Monroe-Mickey or Monroe-Johnson work well for the Celtics?  Of course being forced to play the more defensive PF means we bench Sullinger and Olynyk.  The 2nd string would then be Zeller-Olynyk / Zeller-Sullinger?

I'm not sure the tradeoff is worth it.
http://en.yibada.com/articles/104280/20160215/nba-trade-rumors-greg-monroe-knicks-predicted-bucks-shops-center.htm

Is Okafor or Noel available?  I'd give up more to get one of those guys to cement our 5 spot.

Oladipo of Orlando would also really interest me.  He offers a little more height than AB, while still being a dynamic athlete.  Could be a piece that really helps us moving forward.  Question of course is asking price.

[danglertx]

My votes for potential guys who could really show what they can do in a new situation would be Omri Cassipi, Will Barton, Evan Fournier and Jeff Withey.