If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

[wdleehi]

I have seen trade ideas and weak rumors about the Celtics trading one of their top 5 players (mostly Smart and Hayward) for a high draft pick.  That just doesn't make sense to me if they want to be contender this year. 

In most years, very few draft picks can make a large impact to a playoff team or contender.   Even if you luck into one, the impact will be less then Hayward or Smart.   Of course this is a regular season when there is an actual offseason to try and prepare these rookies.   There isn't going to be one this year.   I expect the talk from a lot of fans and talking heads about how weak this rookie class is during the season when they make less of an impact.   That may be because they lack the top end talent, but a lot of it is because lack of offseason.

So back to the Celtics.   I just don't see them moving one of these to players for a high draft pick as the main return.   How does that help the team this year?   How does it keep their young stars happy with the direction of the team?   

If the Celtics trade Hayward or Smart (less likely), they need to be getting back NBA ready help that can keep them contenders while the growth of Tatum and Brown pushes the team to higher levels. 

[tazzmaniac]

This is widely considered a weak draft and we already have 3 1sts.  I expect several teams to be competitive but there isn't a dominant team in the East.  We have a good chance of making the finals.  So I don't see any reason to trade a top player for a pick.

Now if Hayward wants to go somewhere else we can hopefully do a sign and trade to get some talent back not picks.  I'd also be in for Smart or Hayward for Jrue Holiday or maybe both for Holiday and Redick.   

[Jvalin]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


Let's say the Knicks offer #8 + their 2021 first for Kemba. Personally speaking, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

[wdleehi]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


If the Knicks offered #8 + let's say their 2021 first for Kemba, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

No.   Give them Kemba and they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.   The number 8 pick in a weak draft and a non-lottery pick for Kemba?   Terrible move.   

No one said they would win it if they didn't make a trade, but they are alot closer with those players then a rookie. 

No one said don't make a trade.  Just that the main return better not be a draft pick for the top 5 players on the Celtics.

[Jvalin]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


If the Knicks offered #8 + let's say their 2021 first for Kemba, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

No.   Give them Kemba and they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.   The number 8 pick in a weak draft and a non-lottery pick for Kemba?   Terrible move.   

No one said they would win it if they didn't make a trade, but they are alot closer with those players then a rookie. 

No one said don't make a trade.  Just that the main return better not be a draft pick for the top 5 players on the Celtics.

People keep saying that the 2020 draft is weak. This is true for teams picking in the early lottery. If a team has a mid/late first or even a mid/late lotto pick, all drafts are pretty much the same.

I really don't think Kemba on his own would make the Knicks a playoff team. Even if he did, I'd still be OK with that trade cause we could go after a max free agent in 2021 (Giannis, Kawhi, George, Jrue, Oladipo, Gobert).

[Csfan1984]

First I think the team as is isn't a contender.

Second with tax potential issues there may be long term issue keeping things as is. Hayward might have to be moved now to keep the team in better long term health. However I feel given C's in their constant, "let's stay competitive direction" they just run things back let Hayward just expire 2021. They done it before with FAs. So that's actually my best guess on what they do.

As for moving Smart it would make sense if you were getting big man help because you want to put out the best starting five possible and Theis will be a FA after this year, plus you are capped.

When it comes to the draft C's will still be reliant on good drafting to get good bench help cheap. They need to balance help now guys with potential growth. I don't see them moving up in the draft unless it's for Okongwu or Toppin. Either of those two bigs would fit a need, make the rotation right away and have potential to grow into elite starters.

I think DA is the ultimate tire-kicker so I expect tons of rumors about possible directions.

[td450]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


If the Knicks offered #8 + let's say their 2021 first for Kemba, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

No.   Give them Kemba and they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.   The number 8 pick in a weak draft and a non-lottery pick for Kemba?   Terrible move.   

No one said they would win it if they didn't make a trade, but they are alot closer with those players then a rookie. 

No one said don't make a trade.  Just that the main return better not be a draft pick for the top 5 players on the Celtics.

Is Halliburton anywhere near as impactful as Kemba as an NBA player? No.

But moving off Kemba can mean it is financially viable to keep Hayward and Smart long term. Smart starts, and Haliburton fills in 20 minutes next year, as a 6'5 clever passer with good length and solid defense, as rotation player.

We still keep other assets we can hopefully turn into one more rotation big at some point.

The team defense improves substantially. The logjam distribution of shots with Tatum, Brown and Hayward goes away. Hayward now feels like he has the right role.

The team gets younger and bigger. The risks of having Kemba lose half a step go away. The playoff defensive hole goes away. We lose an NBA high end scorer, but we going to have shot distribution issues if he stays.

Someone has to go. It should be Kemba.

[SteveD]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


Let's say the Knicks offer #8 + their 2021 first for Kemba. Personally speaking, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

I don"t think the Knicks have the cap space or the trade exception to take on Kemba's massive salary by just trading draft picks.
Good idea, though.

[Jvalin]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


Let's say the Knicks offer #8 + their 2021 first for Kemba. Personally speaking, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

I don"t think the Knicks have the cap space or the trade exception to take on Kemba's massive salary by just trading draft picks.
Good idea, though.

They can easily create more than enough cap space. The contracts of Gibson, Payton, Ellington and Bullock are all non-guaranteed for next season. You can find all the numbers here. Just click the "Select a Team" option on the left top corner.

http://www.shamsports.com/capulator

[ozgod]

I don't think we trade anyone. I can see Danny packaging the 3 first rounders to move up in the draft though. It just doesn't make sense for us to pick 3 times again when we already have last year's rookies struggling for PT as it is.

[Roy H.]

If Danny projected a guy as a future star, I think he’d trade Smart / Hayward for him, regardless of next year.  It’s similar to when the Spurs traded a very good George Hill for Kawhi.

[Darth_Yoda]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


If the Knicks offered #8 + let's say their 2021 first for Kemba, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

No.   Give them Kemba and they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.   The number 8 pick in a weak draft and a non-lottery pick for Kemba?   Terrible move.   

No one said they would win it if they didn't make a trade, but they are alot closer with those players then a rookie. 

No one said don't make a trade.  Just that the main return better not be a draft pick for the top 5 players on the Celtics.

Trading kemba for the number 8 would create a 30plus million dollar tpe.

That could get both woods and gallo.
And 8 could get okongeu or haliburton.

Those 3 are worth more than kemba

[RodyTur10]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


If the Knicks offered #8 + let's say their 2021 first for Kemba, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

No.   Give them Kemba and they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.   The number 8 pick in a weak draft and a non-lottery pick for Kemba?   Terrible move.   

No one said they would win it if they didn't make a trade, but they are alot closer with those players then a rookie. 

No one said don't make a trade.  Just that the main return better not be a draft pick for the top 5 players on the Celtics.

Is Halliburton anywhere near as impactful as Kemba as an NBA player? No.

But moving off Kemba can mean it is financially viable to keep Hayward and Smart long term. Smart starts, and Haliburton fills in 20 minutes next year, as a 6'5 clever passer with good length and solid defense, as rotation player.

We still keep other assets we can hopefully turn into one more rotation big at some point.

The team defense improves substantially. The logjam distribution of shots with Tatum, Brown and Hayward goes away. Hayward now feels like he has the right role.

The team gets younger and bigger. The risks of having Kemba lose half a step go away. The playoff defensive hole goes away. We lose an NBA high end scorer, but we going to have shot distribution issues if he stays.

Someone has to go. It should be Kemba.

TP. I fully agree with this. With Walker's knee problems, huge contract, subpar playoff performance and aging concerns I'd much rather keep Hayward. I can see Hayward as a high-end-starter for some more years, but Walker could fall of a cliff or face a lot of injuries. Do we really want to gamble on Walker while he got thoroughly outplayed by Lowry and Dragic?

In a couple of years Brown and Tatum will be even better than they're now, could we not give them then an equally as good as a supporting cast as we had this year? The production of the veterans Walker/Wanamaker/Theis/Kanter together was quite underwhelming.

We could trade picks for some veterans, but it may just be a one year push as we probably can't keep the current core Walker/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Hayward/Theis because of tax implications.

I'm firmly of the belief that Tatum and Brown can become a 1st and 2nd option on a championship team in just a few years. Develop Langford, G.Williams, Timelord and rookies we draft to build a supporting cast from within and create chemistry. Keep the veterans we want to hold on (Smart and Hayward) and trade those who may become too expensive, too old or have not lived up to expectations (Walker, Wanamaker, Ojeleye, Theis?).

[RodyTur10]

If the Celtics trade one of the top players for a pick, not winning next year.

Whereas if we keep 'em we'll win it all next year! Gotcha.


Let's say the Knicks offer #8 + their 2021 first for Kemba. Personally speaking, I would seriously consider that deal. My target would be Haliburton. If he were on the board at #8, I'd probably pull the trigger.

I don"t think the Knicks have the cap space or the trade exception to take on Kemba's massive salary by just trading draft picks.
Good idea, though.

They can easily create more than enough cap space. The contracts of Gibson, Payton, Ellington and Bullock are all non-guaranteed for next season. You can find all the numbers here. Just click the "Select a Team" option on the left top corner.

http://www.shamsports.com/capulator

Nice overview. I actually think it would be the best move for the Knicks. They don't have high end draft capital or have youngsters with obvious star potential. Getting an All Star now to draw free agents could change the culture in New York.
Wasn't that the objective when they traded Porzingis? Get Walker and you have a star in place which makes it a more attractive destination than last year.

[Moranis]

 Probably not a true contender anyway