Rumor: Celtics refused to make Tatum available in trade talks with New Orleans

[nickagneta]

Un-effing-believable.

I've heard that Danny wanted to do this trade, but one of the owners blocked it. I swear, if we just missed out on AD because Pags wanted to keep his Duke boy who played with his son...

If this is true, Danny needs to come out and flat out say so. "I wanted to make the Davis trade, but the owners nixed it." Otherwise it's his head on the chopping block.

Danny gets paid the big bucks to make the hard decisions. If, after a 15 year tenure, he still can't put his foot down and draw a line in the sand, then what is he even good for? Otherwise were just at the whim and mercy of a non-basketball guy's ideas of how to run a successful basketball franchise.

[dang], can you provide a link for that?

Yes, please expand on this. Lol

Nah, I can't really provide a source for this. There's a supposed insider on the realgm forum who has broken a few trades before they happened, LarryBirdsFingr. People consider him credible, but there's no real source.

last post on the first page
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1853484

You can choose to believe it, or you can choose to believe the Deli guy, but the rumor is out there...

I have an inside source who, since January, was saying the Celtics really love Tatum, not just his talent but his attitude, work ethic and mindset, and there were discussions ongoing about handing over the keys to Tatum and letting Kyrie walk. A lot of the Celtics brass were fed up even back then with Kyrie and could not see him leading the team long term.

I didn't buy into what he was saying much back then, but looking back now, I believe it.

This source is a name most of you would recognize who worked for the Celtics and still has ties to them FWIW.

How do you guys get all of these inside sources lol.

Yeah, it was just a random occurrence. The source frequents my cousin's place of business practically every day, and they became good friends, so he introduced him to me and this guy has basically no filter on his thoughts and inside info on the team. I keep most of this stuff out of the message boards and internet forums, etc though, but this one is harmless and has stuck in my mind with recent events. He kept insisting back in January that the organization really, really loves Tatum and he was adamant that they should ditch Kyrie and hand the keys over to Tatum. I thought it was crazy talk, but it looks plausible now.

TP and neat story! It’s always cool when these things happen in real life.

On the topic of random occurrences and reliable legit sources, my uncle has a friend too who works at a pretty high position (not with the C’s, unfortunately) and used to be with the Kings. While he didn’t spill any thoughts on current players (like yours did with Tatum), he did share some stuff regarding IT4. Apparently, not the easiest guy to handle and had some major problems with boogie. Similar to Kyrie (assuming Irving is gone) I guess in that the brass didn’t think he was worth the locker room rift and so they shipped him off.

Fortunately for us, IT landed in our laps in a perfect situation where he could finally be the man and make the locker room all about him, rather than clashing with another strong personality. The whole personality “issue” makes sense too when you think about his stint with LeBrons Cavs. LeBron was able to keep that ship fairly steady (albeit unhappy) but it became a powder keg of selfishness and finger pointing when IT got there.

Never bothered sharing this before because he was mostly beloved by this board but figured I’d do it now since were campfire sharing haha

Two of my best friends are higher ups in major Division I sports programs. I get a ton of dirt on college players from them that never sees the light of day. Two examples: I knew just after they were drafted that JR Giddens had huge off court issues and had an ego to big for his skills and that basically, James Young had an IQ just north of a potato. Heck, my buddy told me about Malcolm Brown getting drafted by he Pats before it happened because my buddy was standing right next to him when Belichick called him. It's cool, but I don't share that info.

[footey]

Un-effing-believable.

I've heard that Danny wanted to do this trade, but one of the owners blocked it. I swear, if we just missed out on AD because Pags wanted to keep his Duke boy who played with his son...

If this is true, Danny needs to come out and flat out say so. "I wanted to make the Davis trade, but the owners nixed it." Otherwise it's his head on the chopping block.

Danny gets paid the big bucks to make the hard decisions. If, after a 15 year tenure, he still can't put his foot down and draw a line in the sand, then what is he even good for? Otherwise were just at the whim and mercy of a non-basketball guy's ideas of how to run a successful basketball franchise.

[dang], can you provide a link for that?

Yes, please expand on this. Lol

Nah, I can't really provide a source for this. There's a supposed insider on the realgm forum who has broken a few trades before they happened, LarryBirdsFingr. People consider him credible, but there's no real source.

last post on the first page
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1853484

You can choose to believe it, or you can choose to believe the Deli guy, but the rumor is out there...

I have an inside source who, since January, was saying the Celtics really love Tatum, not just his talent but his attitude, work ethic and mindset, and there were discussions ongoing about handing over the keys to Tatum and letting Kyrie walk. A lot of the Celtics brass were fed up even back then with Kyrie and could not see him leading the team long term.

I didn't buy into what he was saying much back then, but looking back now, I believe it.

This source is a name most of you would recognize who worked for the Celtics and still has ties to them FWIW.

How do you guys get all of these inside sources lol.

Yeah, it was just a random occurrence. The source frequents my cousin's place of business practically every day, and they became good friends, so he introduced him to me and this guy has basically no filter on his thoughts and inside info on the team. I keep most of this stuff out of the message boards and internet forums, etc though, but this one is harmless and has stuck in my mind with recent events. He kept insisting back in January that the organization really, really loves Tatum and he was adamant that they should ditch Kyrie and hand the keys over to Tatum. I thought it was crazy talk, but it looks plausible now.

TP and neat story! It’s always cool when these things happen in real life.

On the topic of random occurrences and reliable legit sources, my uncle has a friend too who works at a pretty high position (not with the C’s, unfortunately) and used to be with the Kings. While he didn’t spill any thoughts on current players (like yours did with Tatum), he did share some stuff regarding IT4. Apparently, not the easiest guy to handle and had some major problems with boogie. Similar to Kyrie (assuming Irving is gone) I guess in that the brass didn’t think he was worth the locker room rift and so they shipped him off.

Fortunately for us, IT landed in our laps in a perfect situation where he could finally be the man and make the locker room all about him, rather than clashing with another strong personality. The whole personality “issue” makes sense too when you think about his stint with LeBrons Cavs. LeBron was able to keep that ship fairly steady (albeit unhappy) but it became a powder keg of selfishness and finger pointing when IT got there.

Never bothered sharing this before because he was mostly beloved by this board but figured I’d do it now since were campfire sharing haha

Two of my best friends are higher ups in major Division I sports programs. I get a ton of dirt on college players from them that never sees the light of day. Two examples: I knew just after they were drafted that JR Giddens had huge off court issues and had an ego to big for his skills and that basically, James Young had an IQ just north of a potato. Heck, my buddy told me about Malcolm Brown getting drafted by he Pats before it happened because my buddy was standing right next to him when Belichick called him. It's cool, but I don't share that info.

Sure wish your friends would call Danny LOL.

[Silky]

Dont know if anyone else noticed but some sites are claiming people in the celtics org wanted team to make the jays the main priority moving forward and was against any deals involving them

[gpap]

Dont know if anyone else noticed but some sites are claiming people in the celtics org wanted team to make the jays the main priority moving forward and was against any deals involving them

Again, I find this hard to believe. Believe me, I'm not defending Ainge but if he thought there was even the slimmest chance he could've kept Davis beyond this season, then I would think Tatum and/or Brown would be on the table.

Again, Davis wanted to go to LA and has wanted to go there for a long time (I posted a youtube clip yesterday on another thread about how Rachel Nichols said AD told her a year ago that he wanted to go there)

This stuff about how the Celts preferred to build around the "jays" is happy horse manure.

[Celtics4ever]

I think this is fact, not rumor , I think Ainge drove up the Laker price though.

[slamtheking]

Dont know if anyone else noticed but some sites are claiming people in the celtics org wanted team to make the jays the main priority moving forward and was against any deals involving them

Again, I find this hard to believe. Believe me, I'm not defending Ainge but if he thought there was even the slimmest chance he could've kept Davis beyond this season, then I would think Tatum and/or Brown would be on the table.

Again, Davis wanted to go to LA and has wanted to go there for a long time (I posted a youtube clip yesterday on another thread about how Rachel Nichols said AD told her a year ago that he wanted to go there)

This stuff about how the Celts preferred to build around the "jays" is happy horse manure.

got to agree with this.  I think what probably killed any deals for the C's was not being able to get AD to even consider resigning with Boston.  if he were at least open to it, I think Danny pulls the trigger but maybe at a cost that was less than what many here have guessed at.  I do think NO used as much leverage as possible to squeeze as much out of the Lakers as possible.  maybe it's just me but I can see the Lakers struggling to get another big FA to go there and those picks becoming highly valuable to NO as the Lakers flop in the standings.

[nickagneta]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

[Fafnir]

I think this is fact, not rumor , I think Ainge drove up the Laker price though.

Sounds like Tatum's name was floated according to a couple of media sources. But whatever firm offer the C's had on the table didn't include him.

Aka I think they were feeling out if the KD injury changed Kyrie's thoughts on staying initially so Tatum was "potentially" on the table. When they heard back he was still gone, he was no longer mentioned.

[Silky]

Dont know if anyone else noticed but some sites are claiming people in the celtics org wanted team to make the jays the main priority moving forward and was against any deals involving them

Again, I find this hard to believe. Believe me, I'm not defending Ainge but if he thought there was even the slimmest chance he could've kept Davis beyond this season, then I would think Tatum and/or Brown would be on the table.

Again, Davis wanted to go to LA and has wanted to go there for a long time (I posted a youtube clip yesterday on another thread about how Rachel Nichols said AD told her a year ago that he wanted to go there)

This stuff about how the Celts preferred to build around the "jays" is happy horse manure.

Well, some would look at it as the sum of the pieces is greater than the part.

Last season alone the combinations for tatum and Brown combined was equal than Davis, but being an absolute to remaining under teams control with the potential to get closer to Davis' impact individually that Davis' potential to improve upon his current impact.

[Fafnir]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

Yeah I don't see any way the C's throw in complete control of all their future drafts the full 7 year window like the Lakers did.

[nickagneta]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

Yeah I don't see any way the C's throw in complete control of all their future drafts the full 7 year window like the Lakers did.

Wow, was it seven years?!?!?! That is even more sick. After what Ainge did to Brooklyn, he would never agree to that.

[Fafnir]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

Yeah I don't see any way the C's throw in complete control of all their future drafts the full 7 year window like the Lakers did.

Wow, was it seven years?!?!?! That is even more sick. After what Ainge did to Brooklyn, he would never agree to that.

Through 2025 they have first bite at any choice picks the Lakers might get.

2025!!!!

[heyvik]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

Yeah I don't see any way the C's throw in complete control of all their future drafts the full 7 year window like the Lakers did.

Wow, was it seven years?!?!?! That is even more sick. After what Ainge did to Brooklyn, he would never agree to that.

everywhere I read...I keep seeing that's what broke talks down. NOLA wanted draft picks PLUS Tatum. I can understand wanting Tatum but with the picks included...no way.

[Donoghus]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

Yeah I don't see any way the C's throw in complete control of all their future drafts the full 7 year window like the Lakers did.

Wow, was it seven years?!?!?! That is even more sick. After what Ainge did to Brooklyn, he would never agree to that.

everywhere I read...I keep seeing that's what broke talks down. NOLA wanted draft picks PLUS Tatum. I can understand wanting Tatum but with the picks included...no way.

It would've been borderline criminal to pull the trigger on that trade with all the uncertainty.  In the high likelihood that Kyrie walks & AD walks after next season, the Celtics would've be screwed.    The risk was just too darn high, IMO.  Celtics sans Kyrie with one year rental AD before he walks, does not win an NBA title.  The reward wouldn't have been there.

[nickagneta]

I think it's also important to look at the draft stash New Orleans got. My guess is Danny probably would have given them every pick we had this year but not a string of firsts over a 5 year period, which is what probably closed the deal with the Lakers.

Yeah I don't see any way the C's throw in complete control of all their future drafts the full 7 year window like the Lakers did.

Wow, was it seven years?!?!?! That is even more sick. After what Ainge did to Brooklyn, he would never agree to that.

Through 2025 they have first bite at any choice picks the Lakers might get.

2025!!!!

Unreal.