Who should close games at Center?

[Fierce1]

I did not vote because I believe Ainge will still make a move on or before the trade deadline.

You can think that, but what expiring contract center who makes no more than about $12 million is he bringing on?  At least give a list of plausible centers who he could get.

Celts can execute a 4 for 1 trade by January.

Tristan Thompson is a good candidate because he has an expiring contract and I don't think the Cavs will give him big money after the season.

An offer of Theis, Ojeleye, Poirier, Kanter, and a draft pick works for a trade for Thompson.
I think it will depend on what kind of pick the Celts offer the Cavs.

4-for-1 midseason trades are simply not realistic.

It can be a 3-team trade.

Celts only need to come up with 14m to make the trade for Thompson's 18.5m.

The point is trade 4 guys for 1 guy almost never happens because it requires massive roster turnover mid season when most rosters are locked in. Saying it ca be a three team trade only makes it more complicated because now you need to convince at least one additional team to believe the trade in in their interest while also increasing the number of overall moving parts.

In short, a 4 for 1 trade is very, very hard to do midseason. For that reason its better to look at options that can be had by combining no more than say two contracts. Theis and Kanter for instance would get you to around 12 million in returning salary.

But all that aside off roster options are not presented, I made another thread about that. This is a thread about who on our roster should be closing games because even if we make a move it likely wont be till the deadline and there are a lot of games until then.

I think Ainge can pull it off.

Ainge has done more complicated trades in the past.

So my Center who will close games will be the one Ainge trades for on or before the trade deadline.

[Somebody]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

[saltlover]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

[Fierce1]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Agree.

That's why I want Tristan because if it doesn't work out, Celts will get some cap relief from his expiring 18.5m contract.

[Somebody]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Eh it's not too bad of a deal, his skillset is really valuable for a team like ours. Or is it impossible to stay under the luxury tax line if we trade for him? If so that changes the equation quite a bit.

[saltlover]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Eh it's not too bad of a deal, his skillset is really valuable for a team like ours. Or is it impossible to stay under the luxury tax line if we trade for him? If so that changes the equation quite a bit.

Staying under the luxury tax with Dedmon would only be possible if we moved on from another core player.

[Somebody]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Eh it's not too bad of a deal, his skillset is really valuable for a team like ours. Or is it impossible to stay under the luxury tax line if we trade for him? If so that changes the equation quite a bit.

Staying under the luxury tax with Dedmon would only be possible if we moved on from another core player.

Ah, then forget about it lol. Any guys you'd like us to trade for?

[Evantime34]

Against Toronto, the C's finished with their best 5. Kemba, Smart, Hayward, Tatum, and Jaylen (with Jaylen defending Ibaka who was the opposing 5). This is going to make people on here really mad but if the other team doesn't have a big that is a problem in the interior I expect that they will finish with that group.

Otherwise, Grant Williams has been our best big. In general, besides Embiid, most teams finish with bigs that can score and defend on the perimeter as well as defend the pick and roll. Right now Grant is a better option than Thompson to close games because he can stretch the defense on offense.

If we are playing against Embiid a healthy Kanter is our best option. Otherwise, it's probably Grant and Thompson isn't an upgrade to close games which is the most important thing we need from a big.

I'm all for Thompson, as a buyout candidate though.

[saltlover]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Eh it's not too bad of a deal, his skillset is really valuable for a team like ours. Or is it impossible to stay under the luxury tax line if we trade for him? If so that changes the equation quite a bit.

Staying under the luxury tax with Dedmon would only be possible if we moved on from another core player.

Ah, then forget about it lol. Any guys you'd like us to trade for?

Aside from bringing back Aron Baynes, no.  Theis and a second for Baynes would be a fine deadline deal, although I’m still in favor of going with the starters plus Smart at the end of games.

[Somebody]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Eh it's not too bad of a deal, his skillset is really valuable for a team like ours. Or is it impossible to stay under the luxury tax line if we trade for him? If so that changes the equation quite a bit.

Staying under the luxury tax with Dedmon would only be possible if we moved on from another core player.

Ah, then forget about it lol. Any guys you'd like us to trade for?

Aside from bringing back Aron Baynes, no.  Theis and a second for Baynes would be a fine deadline deal, although I’m still in favor of going with the starters plus Smart at the end of games.

Isn't it impossible for us to re-acquire Baynes this season? And if Smart has bulked back up to 220-230 pounds I'd like him to be our C in crunch time lol.

[saltlover]

We might as well go for DeWayne Dedmon if the Kings continue to stink it up. Good volume 3 point shooting big man who can protect the rim and defend in space.

Dedmon just signed a 3-year, $40 million deal.  I don’t think Ainge is looking to take on that kind of salary given the Celtics’ other long-term obligations.

Sorry keevsnick — all center threads inevitably lead to trade ideas here on CelticsStrong.

Eh it's not too bad of a deal, his skillset is really valuable for a team like ours. Or is it impossible to stay under the luxury tax line if we trade for him? If so that changes the equation quite a bit.

Staying under the luxury tax with Dedmon would only be possible if we moved on from another core player.

Ah, then forget about it lol. Any guys you'd like us to trade for?

Aside from bringing back Aron Baynes, no.  Theis and a second for Baynes would be a fine deadline deal, although I’m still in favor of going with the starters plus Smart at the end of games.

Isn't it impossible for us to re-acquire Baynes this season? And if Smart has bulked back up to 220-230 pounds I'd like him to be our C in crunch time lol.

My mistake, I for some reason thought the re-acquisition rule applies only to signing releases players who had been traded away.

[td450]

Right now, Theis provides the best team defense, and is a decent shooter and finisher on offense.

Robert Williams is coming along nicely. He's showing more intensity and attention to detail. He's running pick and rolls better, and he can pass, which shows he has some court sense. He will be a defensive force as he improves his rotations, because he's super quick and long. Before the end of this year, I would expect we'd all rather play him than the likes of Demon or Thompson.

[tstorey_97]

I don't think there's a simple answer to the below:

The Bucks were too big for the Celtics in the playoffs

Stevens had no answer for the lineups the Bucks trotted out...none.

I don't think the Williams brothers are the solution anymore than anyone else on the forum. Poirier/Kanter could be "part" of the answer if paired with a legit defensive big.

This assumes that Poirier isn't far better than what I've seen on youtube and the 6 minutes he's played in the NBA.

On a similar note, I don't really know what a "legit defensive big" is.
Perkins was big, defensive and somewhat legit, but, he was on the court with three hall of famers.

Ainge rules on a trade and the only legit big he's ever "gone out and gotten" was Kevin.

[arctic 3.0]

Our closing lineup against the raptors was Marcus, Kemba, Jaylen, Jayson, and Gordon. So smart, skilled, and tenacious.

I think the real question is “how will other teams possibly match up with The Celtics death lineup”

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I don't think there's a simple answer to the below:

The Bucks were too big for the Celtics in the playoffs

Stevens had no answer for the lineups the Bucks trotted out...none.

I saw that too, but I will make a prediction about the Bucks right now--they will be too slow and tired come playoff time unless they make a big move.

Other than Giannis and Bledsoe, their top rotation players are all some of the most unathletic players at their position in the league at this point in their career--Korver, Middleton, Hill, Lopez brothers, Matthews, and Illyasova.

In my opinion, that means a few things: 1) few will be able to run the fast break with Giannis, limiting one of the best advantages Giannis has, 2) They will struggle to defend come playoff time, especially against sharp offenses, and 3) the way to beat them will be to put speed on the court, not size.

Imagine a lineup of Matthews-Korver-Middleton-Lopez-and Giannis trying to keep up with our playmaking wings, Kemba Walker, and Grant Williams. I also don't think that Brook Lopez can hurt teams inside offensively that much anymore, which means we can go small on him compromising our defense much.

I think the Bucks made their moves primarily with Philly in mind, knowing they needed size, but they might have forgotten about us in the process.

Philly, however, provides a unique challenge (to everyone in the NBA, not just the Cs).