We Would Be NBA Champs This Week If...

[Fierce1]

Also, if the Celts got Kawhi last summer, there would be ZERO chance the Celts get Anthony Davis in a trade now.

[gpap]

If I recall, the chatter was the Spurs wanted a package highlighted by Kyrie for Kawhi.

I don't think it was as simple as some donut assortment of Brown, Smart, Tatum, Rozier, etc for Kawhi.

It may have been Kyrie and Brown and/or draft picks...I don't know.

But regardless, I wouldn't have dealt Kyrie for Kawhi.

We needed to see what Kyrie could give us post knee surgery and Kawhi's reputation last season wasn't the greatest. He appeared (at least to me) as an injury prone player who quit on his teams.

The Raptors took the risk and good for them. But for all things to be concerned about right now with the team, I don't lose much sleep over the Celts not acquiring Leonard last summer.

[gpap]

The trade for Kawhi was supposed to be for Jaylen Brown, Smart, and picks.

I'm not sure we would be champs this week if we had Kawhi, but I believe the Celts would have advanced to the east finals if Kawhi was a Celtic this season.

It was?

[Fierce1]

If I recall, the chatter was the Spurs wanted a package highlighted by Kyrie for Kawhi.

I don't think it was as simple as some donut assortment of Brown, Smart, Tatum, Rozier, etc for Kawhi.

It may have been Kyrie and Brown and/or draft picks...I don't know.

But regardless, I wouldn't have dealt Kyrie for Kawhi.

We needed to see what Kyrie could give us post knee surgery and Kawhi's reputation last season wasn't the greatest. He appeared (at least to me) as an injury prone player who quit on his teams.

The Raptors took the risk and good for them. But for all things to be concerned about right now with the team, I don't lose much sleep over the Celts not acquiring Leonard last summer.

If the Celts missed an opportunity to get Kawhi then miss out on Anthony Davis now then that will make me lose a lot of sleep.

[Fierce1]

The trade for Kawhi was supposed to be for Jaylen Brown, Smart, and picks.

I'm not sure we would be champs this week if we had Kawhi, but I believe the Celts would have advanced to the east finals if Kawhi was a Celtic this season.

It was?

https://www.inquisitr.com/5472764/nba-rumors-celtics-offered-kawhi-leonard-jaylen-brown/

NBA Rumors: Celtics Were Offered Kawhi Leonard Last Year For Jaylen Brown And Marcus Smart

Per Pro Basketball Talk, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on a Stitcher podcast this week that when the Spurs had Leonard on the trading block last summer, the Celtics had a chance to acquire him for a package centered around forward Jaylen Brown and guard Marcus Smart. Smart was a free agent at the time and ended up re-signing, so the trade would have been a sign-and-trade.

Mannix said he had heard from sources in both organizations about the talks and noted some regret that the trade did not happen.

[gpap]

If I recall, the chatter was the Spurs wanted a package highlighted by Kyrie for Kawhi.

I don't think it was as simple as some donut assortment of Brown, Smart, Tatum, Rozier, etc for Kawhi.

It may have been Kyrie and Brown and/or draft picks...I don't know.

But regardless, I wouldn't have dealt Kyrie for Kawhi.

We needed to see what Kyrie could give us post knee surgery and Kawhi's reputation last season wasn't the greatest. He appeared (at least to me) as an injury prone player who quit on his teams.

The Raptors took the risk and good for them. But for all things to be concerned about right now with the team, I don't lose much sleep over the Celts not acquiring Leonard last summer.

If the Celts missed an opportunity to get Kawhi then miss out on Anthony Davis now then that will make me lose a lot of sleep.

Two different scenarios though. Ainge has been targeting Davis for years. The Kawhi thing kinda came out of nowhere and there was alot uncertainty, including his health and injury history.

I'd be alot more disappointed if we didn't get AD than not getting Kawhi.

[gpap]

The trade for Kawhi was supposed to be for Jaylen Brown, Smart, and picks.

I'm not sure we would be champs this week if we had Kawhi, but I believe the Celts would have advanced to the east finals if Kawhi was a Celtic this season.

It was?

https://www.inquisitr.com/5472764/nba-rumors-celtics-offered-kawhi-leonard-jaylen-brown/

NBA Rumors: Celtics Were Offered Kawhi Leonard Last Year For Jaylen Brown And Marcus Smart

Per Pro Basketball Talk, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on a Stitcher podcast this week that when the Spurs had Leonard on the trading block last summer, the Celtics had a chance to acquire him for a package centered around forward Jaylen Brown and guard Marcus Smart. Smart was a free agent at the time and ended up re-signing, so the trade would have been a sign-and-trade.

Mannix said he had heard from sources in both organizations about the talks and noted some regret that the trade did not happen.

Well, if that's true, then I guess Ainge screwed up royally and needs to stop overvaluing Jaylen Brown. Again, assuming that story and what Mannix is stating is accurate.

[PhoSita]

No.  The remaining supporting cast wouldn't have been good enough.  Hayward would still have been very limited.

[Fierce1]

The trade for Kawhi was supposed to be for Jaylen Brown, Smart, and picks.

I'm not sure we would be champs this week if we had Kawhi, but I believe the Celts would have advanced to the east finals if Kawhi was a Celtic this season.

It was?

https://www.inquisitr.com/5472764/nba-rumors-celtics-offered-kawhi-leonard-jaylen-brown/

NBA Rumors: Celtics Were Offered Kawhi Leonard Last Year For Jaylen Brown And Marcus Smart

Per Pro Basketball Talk, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on a Stitcher podcast this week that when the Spurs had Leonard on the trading block last summer, the Celtics had a chance to acquire him for a package centered around forward Jaylen Brown and guard Marcus Smart. Smart was a free agent at the time and ended up re-signing, so the trade would have been a sign-and-trade.

Mannix said he had heard from sources in both organizations about the talks and noted some regret that the trade did not happen.

Well, if that's true, then I guess Ainge screwed up royally and needs to stop overvaluing Jaylen Brown. Again, assuming that story and what Mannix is stating is accurate.

But if the Celts got Kawhi then the Celts would have ZERO chance going after Anthony Davis now.

I still prefer AD over Kawhi.

[Fierce1]

No.  The remaining supporting cast wouldn't have been good enough.  Hayward would still have been very limited.

I think the Celts would be the #2 seed if they got Kawhi.

Kawhi, Horford, Tatum, Kyrie, and Hayward would be a terrific starting 5.

[gpap]

The trade for Kawhi was supposed to be for Jaylen Brown, Smart, and picks.

I'm not sure we would be champs this week if we had Kawhi, but I believe the Celts would have advanced to the east finals if Kawhi was a Celtic this season.

It was?

https://www.inquisitr.com/5472764/nba-rumors-celtics-offered-kawhi-leonard-jaylen-brown/

NBA Rumors: Celtics Were Offered Kawhi Leonard Last Year For Jaylen Brown And Marcus Smart

Per Pro Basketball Talk, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on a Stitcher podcast this week that when the Spurs had Leonard on the trading block last summer, the Celtics had a chance to acquire him for a package centered around forward Jaylen Brown and guard Marcus Smart. Smart was a free agent at the time and ended up re-signing, so the trade would have been a sign-and-trade.

Mannix said he had heard from sources in both organizations about the talks and noted some regret that the trade did not happen.

Well, if that's true, then I guess Ainge screwed up royally and needs to stop overvaluing Jaylen Brown. Again, assuming that story and what Mannix is stating is accurate.

But if the Celts got Kawhi then the Celts would have ZERO chance going after Anthony Davis now.

I still prefer AD over Kawhi.

Same here. And maybe that had something to do with Ainge not going all in on Kawhi. I am not really sure.

[Fierce1]

The trade for Kawhi was supposed to be for Jaylen Brown, Smart, and picks.

I'm not sure we would be champs this week if we had Kawhi, but I believe the Celts would have advanced to the east finals if Kawhi was a Celtic this season.

It was?

https://www.inquisitr.com/5472764/nba-rumors-celtics-offered-kawhi-leonard-jaylen-brown/

NBA Rumors: Celtics Were Offered Kawhi Leonard Last Year For Jaylen Brown And Marcus Smart

Per Pro Basketball Talk, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said on a Stitcher podcast this week that when the Spurs had Leonard on the trading block last summer, the Celtics had a chance to acquire him for a package centered around forward Jaylen Brown and guard Marcus Smart. Smart was a free agent at the time and ended up re-signing, so the trade would have been a sign-and-trade.

Mannix said he had heard from sources in both organizations about the talks and noted some regret that the trade did not happen.

Well, if that's true, then I guess Ainge screwed up royally and needs to stop overvaluing Jaylen Brown. Again, assuming that story and what Mannix is stating is accurate.

But if the Celts got Kawhi then the Celts would have ZERO chance going after Anthony Davis now.

I still prefer AD over Kawhi.

Same here. And maybe that had something to do with Ainge not going all in on Kawhi. I am not really sure.

But it would be a disaster if the Celts end up NOT getting Kawhi or AD.

All these years of accumulating assets will be all for naught if the Celts don't cash in.

[tazzmaniac]

I can't see how you argue that Danny screwed this up based on the info he had and the assets we were giving up.

The argument is that top-5 players become available maybe a couple of times per decade.  If you have a chance to land one, it's better to pay the price and figure out how you'll retain that star later.

The crazy thing is, if we had traded Kyrie for Kawhi, we would have still been able to make a move for Davis.

Step 1 (summer of 2018):  Kyrie for Kawhi

Step 2 (summer of 2019):  Trade Tatum + Smart + picks for AD

Horford / Baynes
Davis / Morris
Kawhi / Hayward
Brown
Rozier

Fill in the blanks with the TP-MLE and vet minimums. 

I understand why Danny didn't want to flip Kyrie last summer, but I think it would have made for a better team.

The Spurs wouldn't have traded Kawhi for Kyrie because there is zero chance that Kyrie would re-sign with them. 

[gouki88]

I can't see how you argue that Danny screwed this up based on the info he had and the assets we were giving up.

The argument is that top-5 players become available maybe a couple of times per decade.  If you have a chance to land one, it's better to pay the price and figure out how you'll retain that star later.

The crazy thing is, if we had traded Kyrie for Kawhi, we would have still been able to make a move for Davis.

Step 1 (summer of 2018):  Kyrie for Kawhi

Step 2 (summer of 2019):  Trade Tatum + Smart + picks for AD

Horford / Baynes
Davis / Morris
Kawhi / Hayward
Brown
Rozier

Fill in the blanks with the TP-MLE and vet minimums. 

I understand why Danny didn't want to flip Kyrie last summer, but I think it would have made for a better team.

The Spurs wouldn't have traded Kawhi for Kyrie because there is zero chance that Kyrie would re-sign with them.

The Spurs were on his "list" of preferred teams though, weren't they?

[IDreamCeltics]

No.  The remaining supporting cast wouldn't have been good enough.  Hayward would still have been very limited.

True, a lot of people are ignoring the fact that Brad would have still started Hayward over Kawhi... "Sorry Kawhi, we have Marcus Morris and Hayward here so you're going to have to deal with your minutes staying in the 20's."