Trade Brown or Tatum for Cade Cunningham?

[footey]

We may need to re-think our team building strategy. Both Jaylen and Jayson are really good.  But neither of them have strong play making skills.  Guys like Lebron, Harden, Luka, and Ja Morant are naturally gifted play makers.  This kid Cade Cunningham has play making DNA, super size, decent shooter.  A can't miss prospect.

I'll probably get killed on this Board for constructing this Poll. Go ahead. Tell me I'm out of my mind.

[gouki88]

Trade one for Cunningham and the other walks in free agency / demands a trade because we’ve wasted their prime.

It’s also crazy to trade an All-NBA player or an All-Star for an unproven rookie. This isn’t a Doncic or Zion level prospect.

[footey]

Trade one for Cunningham and the other walks in free agency / demands a trade because we’ve wasted their prime.

It’s also crazy to trade an All-NBA player or an All-Star for an unproven rookie. This isn’t a Doncic or Zion level prospect.

Doncic was drafted 3rd.  Cunningham has at least as much buzz coming into the draft.  Not saying he will be as good, probably won't.  But he projects to be a top NBA PG with great size.

We're a .500 team.  A shake up may be needed.   We lack elite playmakers.  Get depressed watching Harden dissect teams.

[slamtheking]

these threads popping up about trading either Tatum or Brown for a draft pick is roughly the equivalent of spending one of your last 2 $20 bills on a $20 scratcher that has a max prize of $20.  makes no sense whatsoever.

[tarheelsxxiii]

No thanks

[Rondo9]

Trade one for Cunningham and the other walks in free agency / demands a trade because we’ve wasted their prime.

It’s also crazy to trade an All-NBA player or an All-Star for an unproven rookie. This isn’t a Doncic or Zion level prospect.

We're a .500 team.  A shake up may be needed.   We lack elite playmakers.  Get depressed watching Harden dissect teams.

Yeah but adding another rookie is not it. Best to ride out the season and hope to get healthy for the playoffs.

[gouki88]

Trade one for Cunningham and the other walks in free agency / demands a trade because we’ve wasted their prime.

It’s also crazy to trade an All-NBA player or an All-Star for an unproven rookie. This isn’t a Doncic or Zion level prospect.

Doncic was drafted 3rd.  Cunningham has at least as much buzz coming into the draft.  Not saying he will be as good, probably won't.  But he projects to be a top NBA PG with great size.

We're a .500 team.  A shake up may be needed.   We lack elite playmakers.  Get depressed watching Harden dissect teams.

Doncic was drafted third because of the organisational ineptitude of Sacramento and Phoenix. Those who paid much attention to Euro ball were all over him like a rash, and he's shown why.

Cunningham isn't an elite playmaker! How many times does this have to be said? He's the secondary playmaker on his college team and has a negative assist:turnover ratio.

[ozgod]

Cunningham is intriguing, but I think it's too much of a risk for not that much more upside. I don't see Cunningham as a transformational player the way Luka was or even Zion, let alone Harden. He may well become one in time but he's not that right now. We've waited 3-4 years for the Jays to mature into what they are, and they still have upside.

[RJ87]

Lol. "A can't miss prospect." I remember when Markelle Fultz was hyped as the next elite NBA guard and Jabari Parker was touted as a combo of Carmelo and Pierce.

Who knows if Cade will meet expectations, but why trade one of two known All-Star players who aren't even in their prime yet for a prospect you hope will be as good as them?

[Jvalin]

I'd definitely trade Brown for Cunningham. I'm on the fence about Tatum. I believe Cunningham will become a better player. He can do everything Tatum does, plus he's a better passer and ball handler. He's even a bit longer. That said, Tatum is already an all-NBA-caliber player, plus he almost never misses games due to injuries (which is often overlooked). I'm very high on Tatum. I would argue he's the 3rd best young player in the NBA behind only Luka and Zion. Opted for the first option in the poll, but I wouldn't be against trading Tatum for Cunningham (+ other asset?).

TP to the OP for going against the tide! A year from now, I bet Brown for Cunningham will seem like a no-brainer on our part.

1. Trade one for Cunningham and the other walks in free agency / demands a trade because we’ve wasted their prime.

2. This isn’t a Doncic or Zion level prospect.

3. Cunningham isn't an elite playmaker! How many times does this have to be said? He's the secondary playmaker on his college team and has a negative assist:turnover ratio.

1. Tatum is still on his rookie contract. He's locked up for 5 years. Even if he gets upset temporarily, chances are he'll quickly change his mind once he plays a few games with Cunningham.

2. I'd rather have Cunningham over Zion. The vast majority of playoff games are won in the half court. Always gimme the elite half-court talent over the elite open-court talent.

3. He's an elite playmaker for his size. He can definitely run the point in the half court, which is all I care about. He's a PnR maestro! He can create his own shot out of the PnR (for instance, like Tatum), but most importantly he can consistently create shots for his teammates as well. This is almost unprecedented for a 6'8'' player. It ain't his fault that his teammates are scrubs. If he were playing alongside a decent roller or a few good shooters, his assists numbers would skyrocket!

Like Anthony Edwards, the no. 1 pick in last year’s draft, Cunningham didn’t go to a traditional basketball powerhouse. He chose Oklahoma State because his older brother was hired as an assistant coach at the school. There isn’t another top-50 recruit on the roster. The difference between Cunningham and Edwards, who struggled on a bad Georgia team last season, is that the former is polished enough to win games by himself in college. He leads the Cowboys (13-6, no. 23 in the AP poll) in points (18.6 per game) and steals (1.4), and is second in rebounds (6.1) and assists (3.5), and third in blocks (1.0). He plugs holes on both ends of the floor, and closes games late on offense.

Here's a video showcasing his passing ability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWTHOTLfaP4

[gouki88]

That analysis of Cunningham’s playmaking ability is simply not true. He’s a solid playmaker. He is absolutely not a good enough playmaker to run the point at NBA level, especially with his awful turnover tendencies. It takes many guards years to get solid NBA playmaking skills despite being primary playmakers at college level.

Also lol at comparing him to Zion, an NBA All-Star. Cunningham is an elite half-court player in college with absolutely no guarantee he’ll be that in the league. Zion is currently an elite NBA player

[Csfan1984]

With Walker don't see the appeal of Brown or Tatum for Cade. If team didn't have Walker I'd do Brown for Cade.

[footey]

That analysis of Cunningham’s playmaking ability is simply not true. He’s a solid playmaker. He is absolutely not a good enough playmaker to run the point at NBA level, especially with his awful turnover tendencies. It takes many guards years to get solid NBA playmaking skills despite being primary playmakers at college level.

Also lol at comparing him to Zion, an NBA All-Star. Cunningham is an elite half-court player in college with absolutely no guarantee he’ll be that in the league. Zion is currently an elite NBA player

I respect your opinion on Cade's abilities as a play-maker, you clearly have studied him more than I. I am basing on limited highlights, and overall buzz around him as top pick who is positioned as PG by ESPN Draft experts. 

But, I think the Celtics have to at least start re-think the construct of building around Jayson and Jaylen.

[LilRip]

When I watch his game highlights, he doesn’t seem like a playmaker so idk what people are seeing. But the more I observe Brown though, the more I’m warming up to trading him for a prospect like Cade. Not to say I’d do it, but it’s not a 100% no from me anymore.

Brown is a terror in transition (even delayed transition) but in the half court, he 1) isn’t a decent passer and 2) usually ends up taking tough shots if you get him to take a couple of dribbles. Granted he has a penchant for making tough shots but still, it’s not what you’d want your offense to generate.

[gouki88]

That analysis of Cunningham’s playmaking ability is simply not true. He’s a solid playmaker. He is absolutely not a good enough playmaker to run the point at NBA level, especially with his awful turnover tendencies. It takes many guards years to get solid NBA playmaking skills despite being primary playmakers at college level.

Also lol at comparing him to Zion, an NBA All-Star. Cunningham is an elite half-court player in college with absolutely no guarantee he’ll be that in the league. Zion is currently an elite NBA player

I respect your opinion on Cade's abilities as a play-maker, you clearly have studied him more than I. I am basing on limited highlights, and overall buzz around him as top pick who is positioned as PG by ESPN Draft experts. 

But, I think the Celtics have to at least start re-think the construct of building around Jayson and Jaylen.

If we were to move Brown it should have been for Harden, or maybe Beal. Then try and flip Kemba.

If we pulled off a Kemba deal netting us DeJounte Murray or a similar defensive-minded guard, and used the TPE to bring in another forward like Gordon or Barnes, I'd be happy to pursue dealing Brown for Beal. But that's a lot that has to happen