If the Celts are going to make a blockbuster...

[slamtheking]

If and only if Ainge decides to really make a blockbuster trade, I think it should be for a tier 1 big man.

KAT is not available.

But the next best thing could be Andre Drummond.

Celts will have to give up Smart, Kanter, Langford, Poirier, and a draft pick.

I consider Marcus Smart as the early season MVP of the Celts.
But once the Celts have everybody back and healthy, the Celts' best 5 will be Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, Brown, and Smart.

So what I'm trying to point out is replacing Smart and his great defense with a true tier 1 big man like Drummond.

Drummond, Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, and Brown is like a team of 5 All-Stars.

That's like GSW's Curry, KD, Klay, Draymond, and Cousins.

And Drummond is also only 26 years old.

What you guys think?

can always count on you posting on it.

[Sophomore]

KAT or bust imo.

Exactly!! KAT or bust!

Bust it is, then!


I don't like the trade either. Drummond reminds me a little bit of Howard. He isn't a talented offensive player, yet he demands the ball in the paint. I wouldn't want him taking shots away from our big 4 (Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Hayward).

Imo, we need a defensive big man who can play off the ball on offense. Ideally, a guy like Myles Turner who can stretch the floor. I wouldn't be against going after a pick n roll specialist either. Kemba is a good passer at the pick n roll. I would love us to have a guy like Jarrett Allen setting screens for Kemba on the perimeter.

If they switch/blitz --> Allen rolls to the basket.
If they go under --> Kemba shoots the 3

Basically a guy like Theis, but better than Theis.

Still, Turner would be my #1 priority, cause he can do everything that Theis does plus he's a good shooter from the perimeter. Having said that, he's a worse rebounder than Theis.

They're similar in that sense, but Howard's defence is in another universe compared to Drummond's.

Agreed with the type of big man we need, but I don't see Turner moving the needle for us. He's an upgrade on Theis, but he still can't defend Embiid and Giannis, which is what we really need from our centres right now. If I were Danny I'd go for KAT hard at the deadline with Tatum as the centrepiece, he's really the big man we need. He'd give any team transcendent offence and improved defence that gives us enough cover against the leviathans of the league

Tatum for KAT is a trade that only favors the Celtics.

It's easier to get great wing players than bigs like KAT.

Every year there's always a wing player with star potential entering the draft.

A transcendent player like KAT only enters the draft once every few years.

I didn't say what would be added to Tatum in a package for KAT. The Celtics can certainly make it interesting by adding multiple picks and prospects to the deal alongside Tatum imo.

You also have to deal with the difference in salaries - about $20 million. So you’d also have to send Smart and then find about five million more. Maybe two of our younger players like Langford and RWilliams. Maybe a borderline starting center for them like Theis (he can’t be moved now but I think he can after the deadline). I’d laugh like heck if they took Kanter but I don’t see it.

So the deal could be Tatum-Smart-Theis and picks.

Leaving us Kemba-Jaylen-Hayward-???-KAT. That’s a very, very good big four, but we’d be incredibly thin on the bench. I haven’t seen KAT play but the risks are too great for me. Prefer to stand pat.

[Jvalin]

If I'm making a deal today, I would easily choose Turner over Drummond in a Smart deal. He fits much better in to the offense and defense the Cs run.

Yep. We can't have 5 alphas in the starting lineup. There won't be enough shots for everybody and we 'll end up a dysfunctional team, like we were last season.

Pacers would be asking for Smart or Hayward if you want Turner.

Are you willing to trade Smart or Hayward for Turner?

Yes, I am. You have to lose something in order to gain something else. That's how trades work. It would suck to lose Smart/Hayward, but it would be great to add Turner.

I've posted this idea a couple of times before: Smart + Langford for Myles Turner. Who says no?

Kemba - Brown - Tatum - Hayward - Turner

At the end of the day, this would be a much more balanced lineup than the one that we have right now.

If I were Danny I'd go for KAT hard at the deadline with Tatum as the centrepiece

Good luck convincing the Wolves to trade him. You would have my moral support.

No interest in Turner really. Averages 1 less rebound than Theis, despite playing 10 more minutes. He's also not a very good passer. I get that he can shoot and he's a really good defender, but he's absolutely not worth giving up Smart and a lotto pick for

Fair enough, I said it myself that Theis is the better rebounder. Thing is, Turner is playing next to Sabonis who's averaging 13.1 boards per game whereas Theis is playing next to Tatum (6'8, undersized at the PF position). I would expect Turner to be averaging better rebounding numbers if he were playing for the C's.

[Somebody]

KAT or bust imo.

Exactly!! KAT or bust!

Bust it is, then!


I don't like the trade either. Drummond reminds me a little bit of Howard. He isn't a talented offensive player, yet he demands the ball in the paint. I wouldn't want him taking shots away from our big 4 (Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Hayward).

Imo, we need a defensive big man who can play off the ball on offense. Ideally, a guy like Myles Turner who can stretch the floor. I wouldn't be against going after a pick n roll specialist either. Kemba is a good passer at the pick n roll. I would love us to have a guy like Jarrett Allen setting screens for Kemba on the perimeter.

If they switch/blitz --> Allen rolls to the basket.
If they go under --> Kemba shoots the 3

Basically a guy like Theis, but better than Theis.

Still, Turner would be my #1 priority, cause he can do everything that Theis does plus he's a good shooter from the perimeter. Having said that, he's a worse rebounder than Theis.

They're similar in that sense, but Howard's defence is in another universe compared to Drummond's.

Agreed with the type of big man we need, but I don't see Turner moving the needle for us. He's an upgrade on Theis, but he still can't defend Embiid and Giannis, which is what we really need from our centres right now. If I were Danny I'd go for KAT hard at the deadline with Tatum as the centrepiece, he's really the big man we need. He'd give any team transcendent offence and improved defence that gives us enough cover against the leviathans of the league

Tatum for KAT is a trade that only favors the Celtics.

It's easier to get great wing players than bigs like KAT.

Every year there's always a wing player with star potential entering the draft.

A transcendent player like KAT only enters the draft once every few years.

I didn't say what would be added to Tatum in a package for KAT. The Celtics can certainly make it interesting by adding multiple picks and prospects to the deal alongside Tatum imo.

You also have to deal with the difference in salaries - about $20 million. So you’d also have to send Smart and then find about five million more. Maybe two of our younger players like Langford and RWilliams. Maybe a borderline starting center for them like Theis (he can’t be moved now but I think he can after the deadline). I’d laugh like heck if they took Kanter but I don’t see it.

So the deal could be Tatum-Smart-Theis and picks.

Leaving us Kemba-Jaylen-Hayward-???-KAT. That’s a very, very good big four, but we’d be incredibly thin on the bench. I haven’t seen KAT play but the risks are too great for me. Prefer to stand pat.

Oh yeah the salary is a problem - but we don't have to give up Smart to make a deal happen. We can take advantage of the 125% rule and trade Tatum, Langford, Kanter, Theis and Poirier to match KAT's salary in a trade without taking too much of a hit in terms of depth (sure we'd lose two good centres, but we'll have KAT to eat up 30+ MPG at the 5 and we'll likely be able to sign a vet big off waivers after that trade, as the acquisition of KAT to a quartet of Walker/Smart/Brow/Hayward will make us contenders).

A rotation of:
PG: Walker, Wannamaker
SG: Brown, Smart
SF: Hayward, Brown, Semi
PF: Semi, Grant, Hayward/Brown
C: KAT, vet big off waivers/Robert
Has a ton of top end talent while not lacking too much depth imo.

[mrceltics2013]

i honestly am not sure who will be traded but I strongly feel like;

Smart
Walker
Brown
Tatum

Are completely untouchable due to chemistry. I strongly WANT to throw Hayward on this list, but he’s been out the lineup so much it’s just hard for me to ignore that we win a lot of games without him.

[Fierce1]

I think talking about trading for KAT is moot at this point in time.

It just doesn't make sense for the Wolves to do it.

They already paid Wiggins the max.

So the Wolves are going to pay Tatum the max too?

Look at it from the Wolves' point of view.

Are the Wolves better with Tatum over KAT?

The answer is "no".

[Fierce1]

i honestly am not sure who will be traded but I strongly feel like;

Smart
Walker
Brown
Tatum

Are completely untouchable due to chemistry. I strongly WANT to throw Hayward on this list, but he’s been out the lineup so much it’s just hard for me to ignore that we win a lot of games without him.

Not true.

Celts only lost 1 game when Hayward was healthy.

When Hayward was out, Celts lost 4 games.

[Somebody]

i honestly am not sure who will be traded but I strongly feel like;

Smart
Walker
Brown
Tatum

Are completely untouchable due to chemistry. I strongly WANT to throw Hayward on this list, but he’s been out the lineup so much it’s just hard for me to ignore that we win a lot of games without him.

Not true.

Celts only lost 1 game when Hayward was healthy.

When Hayward was out, Celts lost 4 games.

He's also the ceiling raising piece we need to raise our offence to true contender status imo. Our team will be fine without a ceiling raiser like Hayward because of our solid top 5, but he's our final piece to the puzzle if we want to start rolling teams over with our offence to be a real threat to win the title (I don't think our defence is elite enough to win playoff games all by itself, we need a really good offence that can roll over any team when we're clicking).

[Fierce1]

If and only if Ainge decides to really make a blockbuster trade, I think it should be for a tier 1 big man.

KAT is not available.

But the next best thing could be Andre Drummond.

Celts will have to give up Smart, Kanter, Langford, Poirier, and a draft pick.

I consider Marcus Smart as the early season MVP of the Celts.
But once the Celts have everybody back and healthy, the Celts' best 5 will be Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, Brown, and Smart.

So what I'm trying to point out is replacing Smart and his great defense with a true tier 1 big man like Drummond.

Drummond, Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, and Brown is like a team of 5 All-Stars.

That's like GSW's Curry, KD, Klay, Draymond, and Cousins.

And Drummond is also only 26 years old.

What you guys think?

can always count on you posting on it.

You can check the history of the Celtics.

Celtics never won a championship when they didn't have a tier 1 big man or tier 1 big men.

In the 1990s, the Celts won ZERO championships when their big men were Radja, Potapenko, and Battie.

Even in the 2010s, Celts have no championships to show for.

That's two decades now that the Celts have failed to win a championship.

Out west the Lakers kept winning championships because they would always end up with a star big man.

Celts got an MVP big man in KG and the Celts won a championship and went to the Finals twice.

I think it's very obvious why there's a need for the Celts to get that tier 1 big man.

[mrceltics2013]

i honestly am not sure who will be traded but I strongly feel like;

Smart
Walker
Brown
Tatum

Are completely untouchable due to chemistry. I strongly WANT to throw Hayward on this list, but he’s been out the lineup so much it’s just hard for me to ignore that we win a lot of games without him.

Not true.

Celts only lost 1 game when Hayward was healthy.

When Hayward was out, Celts lost 4 games.

Ok I didn’t say we were better without Hayward, the point is we can obviously survive without him. He’s been in and out the lineup since he’s been in Boston whereas everyone else has been pretty consistent.  When I think of the Celtics I don’t think of Hayward much because he’s always gone. We need a big more than we need Hayward and I know Hayward is arguably  the best player on our team when heathy, but we can get so much back if he’s the one who is traded.

[Somebody]

If and only if Ainge decides to really make a blockbuster trade, I think it should be for a tier 1 big man.

KAT is not available.

But the next best thing could be Andre Drummond.

Celts will have to give up Smart, Kanter, Langford, Poirier, and a draft pick.

I consider Marcus Smart as the early season MVP of the Celts.
But once the Celts have everybody back and healthy, the Celts' best 5 will be Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, Brown, and Smart.

So what I'm trying to point out is replacing Smart and his great defense with a true tier 1 big man like Drummond.

Drummond, Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, and Brown is like a team of 5 All-Stars.

That's like GSW's Curry, KD, Klay, Draymond, and Cousins.

And Drummond is also only 26 years old.

What you guys think?

can always count on you posting on it.

You can check the history of the Celtics.

Celtics never won a championship when they didn't have a tier 1 big man or tier 1 big men.

In the 1990s, the Celts won ZERO championships when their big men were Radja, Potapenko, and Battie.

Even in the 2010s, Celts have no championships to show for.

That's two decades now that the Celts have failed to win a championship.

Out west the Lakers kept winning championships because they would always end up with a star big man.

Celts got an MVP big man in KG and the Celts won a championship and went to the Finals twice.

I think it's very obvious why there's a need for the Celts to get that tier 1 big man.

If your definition of tier 1 big man is an MVP candidate I'll tell you that the 80s Celtics never had an MVP tier big in their three title runs, and when they did (McHale's peak year in '87) they failed to win it all (although they were definitely good enough to win the title imo).

[GreenFaith1819]

Marcus Smart is not our best shooter, scorer, rebounder, passer....he IS our best defender, IMO.

He also makes things happen.

He reminds me of what "Celtic Mystique" was like back in the 80s....he causes WEIRD things to happen...oftentimes in OUR favor...

He oftentimes does these things when they are most needed...deciding the outcome of games in BOS's favor.





Marcus Smart is our Captain America.



Tony Stark and Thor already called BOS and Coach Stevens told them "Smart ain't available"....so there's that.

The Universe (and the NBA) is safer because of Marcus Smart.

Marcus Smart embodies to ME what it means to be a Boston Celtic.

To ME he is unavailable.

[Fierce1]

i honestly am not sure who will be traded but I strongly feel like;

Smart
Walker
Brown
Tatum

Are completely untouchable due to chemistry. I strongly WANT to throw Hayward on this list, but he’s been out the lineup so much it’s just hard for me to ignore that we win a lot of games without him.

Not true.

Celts only lost 1 game when Hayward was healthy.

When Hayward was out, Celts lost 4 games.

He's also the ceiling raising piece we need to raise our offence to true contender status imo. Our team will be fine without a ceiling raiser like Hayward because of our solid top 5, but he's our final piece to the puzzle if we want to start rolling teams over with our offence to be a real threat to win the title (I don't think our defence is elite enough to win playoff games all by itself, we need a really good offence that can roll over any team when we're clicking).

I think the Celts can be a great regular season team with Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, Brown, and Smart.

But in the playoffs, if the Celts put that 5 on the court, the opposing team will be able to exploit the Celts' lack of size.

It's all about adjustments in the playoffs.

We might shock a team like the Sixers in Game 1, but in Game 2, the opposing coach will make adjustments to counter what the Celts did in Game 1.

A more balanced Celtics team will get to the Finals.

If it's always small ball every time, opposing teams will figure it out sooner or later.

[Fierce1]

If and only if Ainge decides to really make a blockbuster trade, I think it should be for a tier 1 big man.

KAT is not available.

But the next best thing could be Andre Drummond.

Celts will have to give up Smart, Kanter, Langford, Poirier, and a draft pick.

I consider Marcus Smart as the early season MVP of the Celts.
But once the Celts have everybody back and healthy, the Celts' best 5 will be Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, Brown, and Smart.

So what I'm trying to point out is replacing Smart and his great defense with a true tier 1 big man like Drummond.

Drummond, Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, and Brown is like a team of 5 All-Stars.

That's like GSW's Curry, KD, Klay, Draymond, and Cousins.

And Drummond is also only 26 years old.

What you guys think?

can always count on you posting on it.

You can check the history of the Celtics.

Celtics never won a championship when they didn't have a tier 1 big man or tier 1 big men.

In the 1990s, the Celts won ZERO championships when their big men were Radja, Potapenko, and Battie.

Even in the 2010s, Celts have no championships to show for.

That's two decades now that the Celts have failed to win a championship.

Out west the Lakers kept winning championships because they would always end up with a star big man.

Celts got an MVP big man in KG and the Celts won a championship and went to the Finals twice.

I think it's very obvious why there's a need for the Celts to get that tier 1 big man.

If your definition of tier 1 big man is an MVP candidate I'll tell you that the 80s Celtics never had an MVP tier big in their three title runs, and when they did (McHale's peak year in '87) they failed to win it all (although they were definitely good enough to win the title imo).

Tier 1 means star big man.

McHale and Parish are both Hall of Famers.

You don't become a Hall of Famer if you're not a star in the NBA.

Guys like Joe Kleine don't make it to the Hall of Fame.

[Somebody]

i honestly am not sure who will be traded but I strongly feel like;

Smart
Walker
Brown
Tatum

Are completely untouchable due to chemistry. I strongly WANT to throw Hayward on this list, but he’s been out the lineup so much it’s just hard for me to ignore that we win a lot of games without him.

Not true.

Celts only lost 1 game when Hayward was healthy.

When Hayward was out, Celts lost 4 games.

He's also the ceiling raising piece we need to raise our offence to true contender status imo. Our team will be fine without a ceiling raiser like Hayward because of our solid top 5, but he's our final piece to the puzzle if we want to start rolling teams over with our offence to be a real threat to win the title (I don't think our defence is elite enough to win playoff games all by itself, we need a really good offence that can roll over any team when we're clicking).

I think the Celts can be a great regular season team with Tatum, Kemba, Hayward, Brown, and Smart.

But in the playoffs, if the Celts put that 5 on the court, the opposing team will be able to exploit the Celts' lack of size.

It's all about adjustments in the playoffs.

We might shock a team like the Sixers in Game 1, but in Game 2, the opposing coach will make adjustments to counter what the Celts did in Game 1.

A more balanced Celtics team will get to the Finals.

If it's always small ball every time, opposing teams will figure it out sooner or later.

We don't have to play small all the time though. Kanter is playable against Philly and Theis is a proper centre against a more modern team like Milwaukee (yes they're big, but they're not big enough to throw Theis around like a rag doll).