Beat LA: This is the Way

[GreenlyGreeny]

Just like Toronto traded a potentially champion-less future with DeRozan for a title by trading for a disgruntled superstar, we need to follow suit to beat LA and prevent a future where LeBron’s Lakers have more titles than the Celtics:

Step One:
The big trade for the offensive superstar

Brown
2025 1st round pick (top 3 protected)
All 2021-2024 2nd round picks

For

James Harden (2+1 contract, player option)

Commentary: The volume of 2nd round picks to Houston can help them save face, although they can spin things by saying they believe Brown will be a transcendental wing they are building all their future picks around. There’s not a better deal available for Harden if you believe Brown can become a top ten player (many do not, which is why some of us want at least a couple of years of title contention with a top five player).

Step Two:
The trade for the defensive big to shutdown Giannis and AD AKA the trade for the Steiffel Tower paired with an immediate 3+1 contract extension (team option).

It will take a lot to make it happen, but it can be done:

https://tradenba.com/trades/W6uE7yzAA

Commentary: Pair Gobert with TT on the floor when we’re up against elite bigs like Giannis, AD, and Embiid. Otherwise, dominate the boards for 48 MPG when they’re both healthy by always having one of the two at center. This is what we need to get by Giannis and Embiid in the east and overcome AD in the Finals.

Starting lineup:

Harden
Smart
Tatum
Theis
Gobert
6th Man: Lou Williams

Depth:

TT
Beverley
Ring-chasing veteran who can play the 4/5
Teague
Nesmith
Ojeleye
Pritchard
Edwards
Fall

Commentary: Almost always pair Smart with Harden because they’re perfect complements and ensure we out-match every backcourt in the league. Our backup backcourt is Beverley and Williams, one of the best reserve backcourts in the league IMHO.

Give Smart 34-36 MPG at both 1/2, as well as some 3 when he’s on the court at the same time as Beverley and Harden (e.g., teams with two great offensive guards), and watch Marcus potentially win DPY.

Let Harden and Smart utterly confuse teams by changing up who’s 1 and who’s 2 play-by-play (Harden was awesome as the backup PG in OKC back in the day - he could really elevate his game by bringing back some of that and adopting CBS’ brilliance).

In terms of youth, 4-5 of our bottom 9 depth are young and could still grow into solid contributors, if not a future starter in terms of Nesmith (got a good feeling about that kid). We would still have our 2022 and 2024 first-round picks, too. After years of making multiple picks outside of the top 10 with scant success save for one good year from Rozier, it’s time to try a different approach.

Harden and Gobert are in their prime. If we extend Gobert, who possibly wants to be in Boston because it’s the shortest flight to France, we have at least a 2-year window to run the tables. Make Harden feel welcome like KG before him, and perhaps the possibility of dethroning LeBron/Lakers every year gets him to re-sign long-term to close out his career. That would make our window 5-6 years given the less physical style of play by Harden. It’s possible Tatum and Smart will become even more elite, too.

New Big 3: Tatum, Harden and Gobert, and a supporting cast almost on par with our 2008 squad.

Beat LA: This is the way.

[GreenlyGreeny]

BTW, Harden obviously wants out and the Rockets cannot get a better deal. The Jazz clearly want to get some value out of Gobert instead of watching him walk. Kawhi and George want to have a Big Three, and we’ve heard whispers about Williams/Beverley/Morris not being happy with Kawhi’s load management, so they’re probably game for Walker, too.

Strictly from our perspective, we’re replacing:

Brown
Walker
Langford
G. Williams
R. Williams
Green
2021, 2023, and 2025 first-round picks
2021-2024 second-round picks

For:

Harden (Top 5/MVP who’s 31)
Gobert (DPY/All-NBA center who’s only 28)
L. Williams (6th MOTY candidate but 34)
Beverley (Solid defensive backup PG but 32)

The difference between the first group and the second group is being Title-Ready in 2020-2021.

[SparzWizard]

We aren't getting anywhere with James Harden on this team. He will want this and that for the Celtics, not Jayson Tatum.

[GreenlyGreeny]

We aren't getting anywhere with Kawhi Leonard on this team. He will want this and that for the Raptors, not Kyle Lowery.

[gouki88]

Perhaps the most 2K like trade proposal I’ve ever seen on here.

Houston will not want a package like that for Harden. Morris, really?

Clippers are getting away with highway robbery, doubt their rivals in Houston & Utah would facilitate that.

4-team 13-man 10-pick trades simply do not happen.

[Darth_Yoda]

Celtics are not trading Brown.

If Hardens value continues to drop then a deal can be made, but harden would be joining the trio of Smart, Brown and Tatum. None of those 3 will go out.



Kemba Walker and Carsen Edwards to Chicago
Kemba
White
Williams
Markannen
CarterJR

Otto Porter Jr, Zach Lavine and Romeo Edwards to Houston
Wall
Zach
PorterJr
Wood
Cousins

Harden and Gordon to Boston

Harden/Teague/PP
Smart/Gordon/Green
Brown/Nesmith/Semi
Tatum/GrantW/Jefferson
Thompson/Theis/Timelord

add picks as needed

[Surferdad]

I honestly don't care if LAL surpasses Boston Celtics in championships.  I really don't.  When you get to my age, you realize life is too short to worry about such things.

Certainly I'm not in favor of mortgaging the future for a single chip.  I want multiple chips with a team that stays largely intact.

[action781]

I think it's an intriguing proposal for 3/4 teams, but I don't see why Utah considers it.  They were 1 win away from beating a good Denver team in the playoffs last year.  They are a roster primed to contend this year.  Their only significant gain/loss this offseason was adding veteran scorer Jordan Clarkson to their bench.  They are not trying to blow it up, they're trying to win. 

And if Utah was trying to trade away a stud center in Gobert, they're going to get a lot more back than what this deal gets them.  I think they'd want back a Jaylen Brown like player in such a deal.

[michigan adam]

Just like Toronto traded a potentially champion-less future with DeRozan for a title by trading for a disgruntled superstar, we need to follow suit to beat LA and prevent a future where LeBron’s Lakers have more titles than the Celtics:

Step One:
The big trade for the offensive superstar

Brown
2025 1st round pick (top 3 protected)
All 2021-2024 2nd round picks

For

James Harden (2+1 contract, player option)

Commentary: The volume of 2nd round picks to Houston can help them save face, although they can spin things by saying they believe Brown will be a transcendental wing they are building all their future picks around. There’s not a better deal available for Harden if you believe Brown can become a top ten player (many do not, which is why some of us want at least a couple of years of title contention with a top five player).

Step Two:
The trade for the defensive big to shutdown Giannis and AD AKA the trade for the Steiffel Tower paired with an immediate 3+1 contract extension (team option).

It will take a lot to make it happen, but it can be done:

https://tradenba.com/trades/W6uE7yzAA

Commentary: Pair Gobert with TT on the floor when we’re up against elite bigs like Giannis, AD, and Embiid. Otherwise, dominate the boards for 48 MPG when they’re both healthy by always having one of the two at center. This is what we need to get by Giannis and Embiid in the east and overcome AD in the Finals.

Starting lineup:

Harden
Smart
Tatum
Theis
Gobert
6th Man: Lou Williams

Depth:

TT
Beverley
Ring-chasing veteran who can play the 4/5
Teague
Nesmith
Ojeleye
Pritchard
Edwards
Fall

Commentary: Almost always pair Smart with Harden because they’re perfect complements and ensure we out-match every backcourt in the league. Our backup backcourt is Beverley and Williams, one of the best reserve backcourts in the league IMHO.

Give Smart 34-36 MPG at both 1/2, as well as some 3 when he’s on the court at the same time as Beverley and Harden (e.g., teams with two great offensive guards), and watch Marcus potentially win DPY.

Let Harden and Smart utterly confuse teams by changing up who’s 1 and who’s 2 play-by-play (Harden was awesome as the backup PG in OKC back in the day - he could really elevate his game by bringing back some of that and adopting CBS’ brilliance).

In terms of youth, 4-5 of our bottom 9 depth are young and could still grow into solid contributors, if not a future starter in terms of Nesmith (got a good feeling about that kid). We would still have our 2022 and 2024 first-round picks, too. After years of making multiple picks outside of the top 10 with scant success save for one good year from Rozier, it’s time to try a different approach.

Harden and Gobert are in their prime. If we extend Gobert, who possibly wants to be in Boston because it’s the shortest flight to France, we have at least a 2-year window to run the tables. Make Harden feel welcome like KG before him, and perhaps the possibility of dethroning LeBron/Lakers every year gets him to re-sign long-term to close out his career. That would make our window 5-6 years given the less physical style of play by Harden. It’s possible Tatum and Smart will become even more elite, too.

New Big 3: Tatum, Harden and Gobert, and a supporting cast almost on par with our 2008 squad.

Beat LA: This is the way.

I DO NOT WANT HARDEN ON THIS TEAM UNDER ANY SCENARIO.  The man is a cancer.  He is not a team player, and will not make the sacrifices necessary to build a championship team.  Gobert I could see under the right scenario, but it would require some changes to the defensive scheme as he is not able to switch on the PNR very well.  Great in the back of the D though so you make changes to make it work with him.

[Rikibellevie]

Again... We have gold not only in young talent, but also in mentality, cohesion potential and a possgible generational duo with Tatum and Brown.

We tryed the win now with Kirie and Hayward. We lost maybe Shai or Sexton in this approach. We did badly to end an intense and sad story with Isiah, who was cooked, but that Ainge disrespect at least a little. Hayward leaved without passion. We tryed the trade for AD probably envisaging giving Brown and we were clashed by AD father on media. This was the way of wining now. What Harden will bring to this team ? At best a  2 years window. If he can share the ball with Tatum and don't break chimestry... Which is very unsure.

We have a core of early to mid 20's mix of 2 superstar/1 best defensive guard by far / and 4 potential good role player or bench players. We have a coach who is one of the best for postformation and who can bring the best of a young team in results and cohesion. Many of our young guys are strong minded or/and smart or/and very professional. That is the rebuild way. Our identity.

If Kemba is ealthy in PO, our 2 vets signing give exp in close games and Danny find a good scorer from the bench with TPE at deadline or before, we may even contend this year without Harden. So no way Harden because no way we trade Tatum, Brown or Smart for this guy.

[GreenlyGreeny]

Maybe the smarter play is some more patience by instead pursuing the following:

Right now:

Trade Brown + however many picks it takes to get Harden (e.g., would imagine all 2021 picks, top 3 protected 2023 1st round pick and top 3 protected 2025 1st round pick would do it)

Question: Which potential package in the league can top Brown and those picks? Unless Philly is willing to deal Simmons, I think Harden really is ours for the taking. If he wants to maintain superstardom, he’ll have to ball for us for at least two years like Kawhi did during his Raptors rehabilitation tour. I believe he will fall in love with Celtics lore like KG before him. The Beard would literally be the biggest sports star in New England, an entire region of the country.

2020-2021 regular season: Extensive load management for Kemba until the playoffs, and hope TT and R. Williams can contain Giannis, Embiid and AD.

2021 offseason: Unless we win the title, in which case we keep Kemba and run back the same squad, do a sign-and-trade deal of Kemba for Gobert after a huge recruitment push by Harden and Tatum (really can’t see Rudy sticking with Utah, and bet we will be a front-runner considering our proximity to France relative to the rest of the nation). With Conley’s contract finished in Utah, Kemba will be valued by the Jazz. Also re-sign Theis, Teague, and Ojeleye for consistency, assuming no chemistry issues.

We essentially keep our youth sans Brown and move Brown/picks for possibly the best offensive player in the league. In 2021 if we do not win it all, we give up Kemba for definitely the best defensive center in the league. The only downside relative to the original idea is we lose Gobert for 2020-2021, but maybe he’s not necessary to win it all (unlike Harden, the top 5 piece most every team needs to win it all).

Even if Harden walks after 2022, we’ll have competed for (and possibly won) two titles, and we’ve still got a solid core with Tatum, Gobert and Smart. Plus, maybe Nesmith or Langford develops into an exceptional big 3 player behind Tatum and Gobert.

2021-2022:

Harden/Smart
Tatum
Theis
Gobert

Depth:

TT (depth 5, twin tower with Rudy against the best offensive front-courts)
Teague (depth 1/2)
Nesmith (depth 3/2)
R. Williams (depth 5)
G. Williams (depth 4/3)
Langford (depth 2)
Ojeleye (depth 4/3)
Pritchard (depth 1)
Edwards (depth 1)
(1) Ring-chasing vet at min. (depth 4/3)

Thoughts? What other road is really going to lead to beating LA/LeBron next year and 2022?

[Ogaju]

Wait for LeBron to retire.

By the way who is Romeo Edwards? Boston thinking about mmurfing two players into one?

[GreenlyGreeny]

If I’m in charge of any of these three teams, I pull the trigger on this deal:

https://tradenba.com/trades/Tp4PNRQrS

Come the deadline, Rockets can flip Walker to Utah for Conley (contract year) and picks so Utah can maintain their backcourt into next year, and Rockets can add to their pick haul for Harden. At the same time, try to find a similar situation elsewhere to unload Wall for picks and a big expiring contract for a team that is a contender but unlikely to retain that piece without a trade for Wall. Rebuild around Brown and a ton of picks.

Gordon needs to be unloaded to make the cap work. Chose the Knicks since they had a ton of second round picks. It does not have to be the Knicks, it can be any team with space and second round picks they’re willing to part with for a solid veteran on a relatively cap-friendly deal. Rockets part with him for picks because they’re clearly rebuilding.

We essentially give up Walker, Brown and a bunch of likely non-lottery picks (top 3 protections on all of them, though). That gets us a top 5 superstar pairing with our emerging superstar Tatum and a solid supporting cast. Next offseason, try to do the TPE plus picks for a Gobert sign-and-trade. Even without that, I think Tatum + Harden is good enough to win it all and compete for another half decade before Tatum needs a better star with him (hopefully that guy is Nesmith, Pritchard or Langford)

[GreenlyGreeny]

By the way who is Romeo Edwards? Boston thinking about mmurfing two players into one?

I almost never give TPs but had to for this one