Danny must have a deal in place

[rollie mass]

Letting Baynes go to save 5 million and receive only a 2020 first from the Bucks. Only way that gets a boost is if Giannis gets hurt.
Danny wouldn't put this team without an experienced durable center must just be a formality.
Last year we had Horford ,Baynes and Theis.
 I question Robert Williams durability and endurance. He is still to young
He is nowhere near ready for anything but a backup to a backup

[Fierce1]

Letting Baynes go to save 5 million and receive only a 2020 first from the Bucks. Only way that gets a boost is if Giannis gets hurt.
Danny wouldn't put this team without an experienced durable center just a formality.
Last year we had Horford ,Baynes and Theis.
 I question Robert Williams durability and endurance. He is still to young
He is nowhere near ready for anything but a backup to a backup

Trading Baynes was a salary dump.

It's looking like the Celts will go on a quasi rebuild.

But the Celts are also going after Vucevic in free-agency, so I don't think Rob Williams will be the starting Center next season.

[footey]

How about Towns and Wiggins for Williams, Hayward, Brown and Memphis pick? Would our cap space enable this deal to work cap wise? Sota trying to dump Wiggins. Maybe they regret signing Towns to such a big contract?

Or we could give them the Bucks pick to dump Wiggins, and take back Towns for the above assets assuming we don’t want Wiggins contract.

Dunno if Towns worth it really. Or whether Sota would give him without more back, such as more picks.

[jambr380]

How about Towns and Wiggins for Williams, Hayward, Brown and Memphis pick? Would our cap space enable this deal to work cap wise? Sota trying to dump Wiggins. Maybe they regret signing Towns to such a big contract?

Or we could give them the Bucks pick to dump Wiggins, and take back Towns for the above assets assuming we don’t want Wiggins contract.

Dunno if Towns worth it really. Or whether Sota would give him without more back, such as more picks.

If we end up with a team with Tatum, Towns, and whatever, I would be very happy. I don't really care how we get to that point or the bad contracts we would have to take on, just having those two players to begin our rebuild would be incredible.

[mctyson]

How about Towns and Wiggins for Williams, Hayward, Brown and Memphis pick? Would our cap space enable this deal to work cap wise? Sota trying to dump Wiggins. Maybe they regret signing Towns to such a big contract?

Or we could give them the Bucks pick to dump Wiggins, and take back Towns for the above assets assuming we don’t want Wiggins contract.

Dunno if Towns worth it really. Or whether Sota would give him without more back, such as more picks.

If we end up with a team with Tatum, Towns, and whatever, I would be very happy. I don't really care how we get to that point or the bad contracts we would have to take on, just having those two players to begin our rebuild would be incredible.

I do not think a "rebuild" is in the Celtics future.  I think both Ainge and Stevens want to challenge for the Eastern Conference again next year.

[Emmette Bryant]

Danny and Mike are detail guys so I'm sure they've had plan B, C, and D ready for the past year.

[dreamgreen]

I think the point is why trade Baynes to dump salary if you're not going after someone and I agree you don't do that without a plan to land a bigger fish.

[jambr380]

I think the point is why trade Baynes to dump salary if you're not going after someone and I agree you don't do that without a plan to land a bigger fish.

Yeah, it seems like they have something very specific in mind. I would guess they either have a plan to acquire Adams and pick(s) or have already spoken to the agent of a player who is interested in signing here for the max. I wouldn't be thrilled if we signed Vucevic, but I do understand that he is a very good player.

It seems to me in both cases, they are trying to keep Terry's cap hold.

I don't necessarily think the plan is to sign two very good players for less than the max (like Brogdon and Randle). There is just too much variation in what these players could make on the make on the open market.

[donawalt]

How about Towns and Wiggins for Williams, Hayward, Brown and Memphis pick? Would our cap space enable this deal to work cap wise? Sota trying to dump Wiggins. Maybe they regret signing Towns to such a big contract?

This trade could work on the cap side, but I doubt Minnesota would do it - this analysis shows immediate effect is +9 wins for Celtics and -7 wins for the Timberwolves, and the Memphis pick doesn't do nearly enough to even that out.

[SparzWizard]

How about Towns and Wiggins for Williams, Hayward, Brown and Memphis pick? Would our cap space enable this deal to work cap wise? Sota trying to dump Wiggins. Maybe they regret signing Towns to such a big contract?

Or we could give them the Bucks pick to dump Wiggins, and take back Towns for the above assets assuming we don’t want Wiggins contract.

Dunno if Towns worth it really. Or whether Sota would give him without more back, such as more picks.

If we end up with a team with Tatum, Towns, and whatever, I would be very happy. I don't really care how we get to that point or the bad contracts we would have to take on, just having those two players to begin our rebuild would be incredible.

I do not think a "rebuild" is in the Celtics future.  I think both Ainge and Stevens want to challenge for the Eastern Conference again next year.

Then he would've went all in on Anthony Davis, re-sign Kyrie Irving. Next season would have been win or bust for the Celtics.

[keevsnick]

How about Towns and Wiggins for Williams, Hayward, Brown and Memphis pick? Would our cap space enable this deal to work cap wise? Sota trying to dump Wiggins. Maybe they regret signing Towns to such a big contract?

This trade could work on the cap side, but I doubt Minnesota would do it - this analysis shows immediate effect is +9 wins for Celtics and -7 wins for the Timberwolves, and the Memphis pick doesn't do nearly enough to even that out.

The wolves are not trading Towns. Towns is just starting a five year extension. With NO player option. FIVE FULL YEARS.

[Bobshot]

I think they're gearing up their cap situation to go after a major free agent. Maybe a center like Cousins or Vucevic or Horford.

I know the media has Horford going someplace else, but free agency hasn't started yet and he isn't committed anywhere. That doesn't mean he doesn't wind up back in Boston. He is playing the field--like every FA is doing. It's just the Celtics get so much negative media these days you think nobody wants to play for them. Nonsense. They have a fine young core.

A big issue with Horford is his age, and the Celtics may not want him even for 3 years, much less 4.  They are playing the field, too.

Danny just  had an excellent draft--for the pick level  he was dealing with. These so-called draft "grades" the media gives out disregard where a team is picking. Of course the teams drafting highest should have the best grades. Ainge always manages to have a good draft.

I wonder what he has in mind with Tacko.  This guy could be a giant tree in front of the basket.  No more easy layups for the opposition.

Should be an interesting free agency for the Celtics. It's a guessing game where Ainge is going. One thing for sure, he's going to have at least $34M in cap space from the numbers I've seen.

[rondofan1255]

ready to see which max players receive his sales pitches 

[dreamgreen]

Is there a Free Agent list thread yet? Personally I'm thinking he uses the space to acquire players via trade but what do I know?

[Evantime34]

Completely agree a deal is in place.

Danny said “Wish I could tell you everything I know, but I can’t.” in an interview.

For what it's worth I think Baynes chose to leave more than he got traded. Zach Lowe said "I know that when he (Baynes) opted into this contract about a week ago, the goal for him was to try to find another team."

In terms of who the starting center is, I expect them to bring in a big at 20 million+ to play like 30-35 minutes a game. Then they will probably bring in someone at the room exception as well. I think they will end up with one of Capela, Adams, Vucevic, Randle, or Cousins (some of those guys would be in trade). In addition to that I expect the Celtics to add at least one immediate rotation big. Either Robert or Grant Williams will probably be the third big though.