Woj: Brooklyn trades Crabbe and two 1sts to Atlanta for Prince and a 2nd

[SparzWizard]

If Smart is our starting PG next season, we are in big trouble

i guess we ll go back to a 40 win team ,  play for 8 seed at best and be a top 10 lottery team .  No stars ....no chance in playoffs , regress post KG PP .

The Celts with Kyrie the last two years were 1st and 6th in defensive efficiency.


They're going to be a top 5 defense again next year.  Book it.


I believe Brad will find a way to put together an offense that is at least around league average despite Kyrie leaving, even if they don't trade for AD.


Top 5 defense plus league average offensive is too good for the team to end up around 40 wins.  They will be a 45-50 win team with a shot at winning a playoff series if their main guys are healthy.

I don't believe in Brad Stevens 3-point offense. It needs to change for the Celtics to have any title contention.

[ozgod]

If rozier is back on this team next year as the result of kyrie leaving I will be super angry.

If Rozier starts in place of brown or smart imma punch someones baby

Yep, the worst thing about this situation, after the fact we would be losing kyrie for nothing, would be having to bring back rozier talk about rubbing salt in the wound

[Moranis]

Well, if it’s Irving and Durant to Brooklyn, I get it and can see him moving there, though that’s clearly still not the best team in the East. I think they’re still behind both Toronto and Milwaukee and right there in that grouping with Philly, Boston, and Indiana, though likely the best of that group dependent upon what everyone else does.

Otherwise, what would make Brooklyn more desirable than Boston? Outside of him being spiteful at Boston and Brooklyn being a bigger market, it makes no sense for him to go there if he’s wanting to win.

And that’s why I’ll be fine moving on from Kyrie if he goes to one of the NYK teams by himself. All of his talk about staying here, wanting his name in the rafters, blah, blah, blah, will all prove to be just hollow talk, demonstrating that his head isn’t in the right place to begin with and he’s not the one to lead us to banner 18.

The Nets won 7 less games than Boston this year and that is with LeVert playing only 40 games.  Before his injury LeVert liked a real monster in the making.  Russell came into his own this year.  Allen looks like a real star in the making down low.  RHJ is 24, Dinwiddie just turned 26, and Harris is only 27.  They just added Prince who is 25.  There is a lot of young talent on that team.  More than Boston (though Tatum certainly has the highest ceiling, he isn't currently as good as Russell is right now).  Boston obviously has Horford and Hayward, but Hayward isn't back yet and may never be and Horford is getting old.  In other words, Irving might believe that the Nets are set up to win far longer than Boston is and he might not be wrong.

[SparzWizard]

If rozier is back on this team next year as the result of kyrie leaving I will be super angry.

If Rozier starts in place of brown or smart imma punch someones baby

Yep, the worst thing about this situation, after the fact we would be losing kyrie for nothing, would be having to bring back rozier talk about rubbing salt in the wound

He's gonna bash on Hayward and Morris.

[RJ87]

Well, if it’s Irving and Durant to Brooklyn, I get it and can see him moving there, though that’s clearly still not the best team in the East. I think they’re still behind both Toronto and Milwaukee and right there in that grouping with Philly, Boston, and Indiana, though likely the best of that group dependent upon what everyone else does.

Otherwise, what would make Brooklyn more desirable than Boston? Outside of him being spiteful at Boston and Brooklyn being a bigger market, it makes no sense for him to go there if he’s wanting to win.

And that’s why I’ll be fine moving on from Kyrie if he goes to one of the NYK teams by himself. All of his talk about staying here, wanting his name in the rafters, blah, blah, blah, will all prove to be just hollow talk, demonstrating that his head isn’t in the right place to begin with and he’s not the one to lead us to banner 18.

The Nets won 7 less games than Boston this year and that is with LeVert playing only 40 games.  Before his injury LeVert liked a real monster in the making.  Russell came into his own this year.  Allen looks like a real star in the making down low.  RHJ is 24, Dinwiddie just turned 26, and Harris is only 27.  They just added Prince who is 25.  There is a lot of young talent on that team.  More than Boston (though Tatum certainly has the highest ceiling, he isn't currently as good as Russell is right now).  Boston obviously has Horford and Hayward, but Hayward isn't back yet and may never be and Horford is getting old.  In other words, Irving might believe that the Nets are set up to win far longer than Boston is and he might not be wrong.

This is something I brought up awhile ago. When Irving declared he'd resign, it was right when Gordon was about to return and everything was on an upswing. But our 2nd best player looks like shell of himself, our 3rd best player is getting older and his knees needed a lot of maintenance this year, and the youth didn't make the leap everyone expected. Kyrie might've taken a step back and been like, "this is a solid situation, but not nearly as great as I thought it was going to be."

[ObjectivityOverBias]

I am not sure the Nets have much of anything to offer for AD.

They are looking to add 2 max players (IMO it will be Kyrie and Butler) while keeping Russell.

Kyrie and Russell don't make any sense together.

It is fair to say Boston media printed more stories about Kyrie's chemistry, mind-set, and media disdain more than Boston? I think that is a fair observation. If your very own town  printed not so flattering stories about you, that is a bad look. Not a awesome welcoming wagon.

Keywords to Kyrie's announcement: "If you guys will have me."

He did not say I was coming back, but if you guys will have me back. Sounds like he did not feel wanted.

[ozgod]

I am not sure the Nets have much of anything to offer for AD.

They are looking to add 2 max players (IMO it will be Kyrie and Butler) while keeping Russell.

Kyrie and Russell don't make any sense together.

It is fair to say Boston media printed more stories about Kyrie's chemistry, mind-set, and media disdain more than Boston? I think that is a fair observation. If your very own town  printed not so flattering stories about you, that is a bad look. Not a awesome welcoming wagon.

Keywords to Kyrie's announcement: "If you guys will have me."

He did not say I was coming back, but if you guys will have me back. Sounds like he did not feel wanted.

I agree. He's a polarizing guy and unfortunately I don't think most Boston fans took to him. Boston fans want a certain type of player to play for Boston teams. Winning papers over personality differerences but the lack of winning just turned him into a figure of hate for the fanbase. Unless there's a silent majority the vocal minority is largely negative, not just here but on Reddit and on Boston sports radio (hosts and callers). Most of those people hate his style of play, hate his leadership style, hate his guts in general and can't wait for him to leave. I mean we called the Kyrie free agency thread the "Kyrie Irving Complaint thread" because there were so many complaints that should say it all 

[Walker Wiggle]

There is too much doom and gloom in this thread. Irving still has to leave Boston (not at all a given, still) and there’s a whole summer’s worth of potential moves for Ainge and the front office. I’m as nervous as all of you, but just keep in mind that everything is fluid and in a constant state of flux in today’s NBA. And keep in mind that when the Celtics landed the #5 pick in the 2007 lottery, things looked even more bleak. Stay calm.

[jpotter33]

Well, if it’s Irving and Durant to Brooklyn, I get it and can see him moving there, though that’s clearly still not the best team in the East. I think they’re still behind both Toronto and Milwaukee and right there in that grouping with Philly, Boston, and Indiana, though likely the best of that group dependent upon what everyone else does.

Otherwise, what would make Brooklyn more desirable than Boston? Outside of him being spiteful at Boston and Brooklyn being a bigger market, it makes no sense for him to go there if he’s wanting to win.

And that’s why I’ll be fine moving on from Kyrie if he goes to one of the NYK teams by himself. All of his talk about staying here, wanting his name in the rafters, blah, blah, blah, will all prove to be just hollow talk, demonstrating that his head isn’t in the right place to begin with and he’s not the one to lead us to banner 18.

The Nets won 7 less games than Boston this year and that is with LeVert playing only 40 games.  Before his injury LeVert liked a real monster in the making.  Russell came into his own this year.  Allen looks like a real star in the making down low.  RHJ is 24, Dinwiddie just turned 26, and Harris is only 27.  They just added Prince who is 25.  There is a lot of young talent on that team.  More than Boston (though Tatum certainly has the highest ceiling, he isn't currently as good as Russell is right now).  Boston obviously has Horford and Hayward, but Hayward isn't back yet and may never be and Horford is getting old.  In other words, Irving might believe that the Nets are set up to win far longer than Boston is and he might not be wrong.

Yeah, that is some complete, grade-A bologna, Moranis lol

Quantity of talent =/= quality of talent. Not counting Russell, because it makes no sense to pair him and Kyrie and that isn’t happening, the overall talent level may be close to equal due to Brooklyn having more overall younger guys, but the top-end talent is dominated by Boston.

Tatum and Brown are clearly the best of that bunch while also being the youngest and not even near their prime, and to be honest it’s not even that close. Top-end talent wins in this league, and just because a team has a similar cumulative amount of talent does not mean they’re in the same boat as a team with top-end talent (see Celtics from 2015 - 2017).

And all that is not even considering the fact that we have two former All-Stars in Horford abd Hayward, significant draft capital, and the best chance at AD moving forward.

So, no, to any logically thinking person those situations are not anywhere close together. Granted, Kyrie has not always been the most logical person, so...

[Pvictor11]

Well, if it’s Irving and Durant to Brooklyn, I get it and can see him moving there, though that’s clearly still not the best team in the East. I think they’re still behind both Toronto and Milwaukee and right there in that grouping with Philly, Boston, and Indiana, though likely the best of that group dependent upon what everyone else does.

Otherwise, what would make Brooklyn more desirable than Boston? Outside of him being spiteful at Boston and Brooklyn being a bigger market, it makes no sense for him to go there if he’s wanting to win.

And that’s why I’ll be fine moving on from Kyrie if he goes to one of the NYK teams by himself. All of his talk about staying here, wanting his name in the rafters, blah, blah, blah, will all prove to be just hollow talk, demonstrating that his head isn’t in the right place to begin with and he’s not the one to lead us to banner 18.

The Nets won 7 less games than Boston this year and that is with LeVert playing only 40 games.  Before his injury LeVert liked a real monster in the making.  Russell came into his own this year.  Allen looks like a real star in the making down low.  RHJ is 24, Dinwiddie just turned 26, and Harris is only 27.  They just added Prince who is 25.  There is a lot of young talent on that team.  More than Boston (though Tatum certainly has the highest ceiling, he isn't currently as good as Russell is right now).  Boston obviously has Horford and Hayward, but Hayward isn't back yet and may never be and Horford is getting old.  In other words, Irving might believe that the Nets are set up to win far longer than Boston is and he might not be wrong.

Maybe these young guys played well because they didn't have to deal with Kyrie in the team. Let's see how they adjust to Kyrie.
Maybe without Kyrie Tatum and Brown take big leaps next year and show that their development was harmed by Kyrie. I think Tatum and Brown have better ceiling than Levert and Allen and I don't think Russell comes back

[nickagneta]

People need to remember something. Teams opened up a lot of space to add two or more stars back when LeBron, Bosh, Wade, Amar'e and others were free agents and Melo was forcing his way out of Denver. A few teams that did that didn't have very good results

This is no guarantee of Brooklyn landing anyone. It's just the Nets doing what they have to do to make themselves a possible landing spot. Clearly, this trade made way more sense to Brooklyn than any sign and trade with GSW or Boston.

I think they have made themselves an alternative to the Knicks. Knicks are still the Knicks and the allure of turning that franchise around could still lure Kyrie and Durant or really any huge talent, but the Nets have a core in place to compliment two stars.

I am not convinced this is a sign of anyone signing anywhere. It's just Brooklyn doing what they have to do to make themselves an excellent option.

Gotta wonder how happy Kyrie would be with most of a team under 26 years old. He wasn't happy with so many young players this year(given his comments criticizing youth and comments about having good vets on the team).

[LarBrd33]

Someone on Reddit claimed the Nets are going to sign Kyrie and Jimmy Butler while the Knicks are signing Durant and Kemba.

Imagine if that happened?  Boston could reasonably be behind the Sixers, Bucks, Raptors (if kawhi stays), Knicks, Nets... maybe also the Pacers.   6-8 seed ... maybe lotto.

Unless some kids make a leap, our peers will be the Magic and Pistons.

[jpotter33]

Well, if it’s Irving and Durant to Brooklyn, I get it and can see him moving there, though that’s clearly still not the best team in the East. I think they’re still behind both Toronto and Milwaukee and right there in that grouping with Philly, Boston, and Indiana, though likely the best of that group dependent upon what everyone else does.

Otherwise, what would make Brooklyn more desirable than Boston? Outside of him being spiteful at Boston and Brooklyn being a bigger market, it makes no sense for him to go there if he’s wanting to win.

And that’s why I’ll be fine moving on from Kyrie if he goes to one of the NYK teams by himself. All of his talk about staying here, wanting his name in the rafters, blah, blah, blah, will all prove to be just hollow talk, demonstrating that his head isn’t in the right place to begin with and he’s not the one to lead us to banner 18.

BUT...the two factors not associated to competitiveness I always thought might sway the decision would be a) how accepted he feels with the Celtics and the fans; and b) his chemistry with Brad Stevens and Brad's style of play.

Earlier in the season and through most of last season he was relatively well-received by the fans, and he said all the right things about wanting to be here, wanting to get his number retired, about the team's history, etc. But as the season deteriorated the fan perception of him just became more and more negative to the point where for most people his playoff flameout was unforgivable and he was the root cause of everything wrong with the team (certainly he bears his share of the blame as the leader but I don't think it's all his fault). Kyrie says he doesn't do social media but I think even he would find it hard not to feel all the hate and anger from the fanbase. Who wants to play for fans who hate you anyway?

If that’s his reasoning for leaving, I’ll help him pack his bags, because I’ll get hours of entertainment seeing how he responds to a much, much larger market full of more casual fans that are much less educated about basketball. 😉

Seriously, though, the more I hear about all of this stuff the more I hope we just go young and build through our young guys, as I really don’t know how enjoyable another season like last will be if we trade for AD and Kyrie signs a 1 + 1, leading to a year’s worth of speculation about them leaving. They weren’t nearly as good, but those Celtics teams from 2015 - 2017 were so much more enjoyable to watch abd root for than this team, and I suspect the same would happen if we didn’t try to make a big splash this year and just built through Tatum and Brown and kept our current vets.

[Never Nervous Pervis]

Someone on Reddit claimed the Nets are going to sign Kyrie and Jimmy Butler while the Knicks are signing Durant and Kemba.

Imagine if that happened?  Boston could reasonably be behind the Sixers, Bucks, Raptors (if kawhi stays), Knicks, Nets... maybe also the Pacers.   6-8 seed ... maybe lotto.

Unless some kids make a leap, our peers will be the Magic and Pistons.

Well, if someone said it on Reddit then it must be true.

[jpotter33]

People need to remember something. Teams opened up a lot of space to add two or more stars back when LeBron, Bosh, Wade, Amar'e and others were free agents and Melo was forcing his way out of Denver. A few teams that did that didn't have very good results

This is no guarantee of Brooklyn landing anyone. It's just the Nets doing what they have to do to make themselves a possible landing spot. Clearly, this trade made way more sense to Brooklyn than any sign and trade with GSW or Boston.

I think they have made themselves an alternative to the Knicks. Knicks are still the Knicks and the allure of turning that franchise around could still lure Kyrie and Durant or really any huge talent, but the Nets have a core in place to compliment two stars.

I am not convinced this is a sign of anyone signing anywhere. It's just Brooklyn doing what they have to do to make themselves an excellent option.

Gotta wonder how happy Kyrie would be with most of a team under 26 years old. He wasn't happy with so many young players this year(given his comments criticizing youth and comments about having good vets on the team).

Or with Butler, who seems like he would fit.... awkwardly with someone like Kyrie.