3-way trade idea: BOS/CLE/POR

[Muzzy66]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Luka or Giannis for brown would be an absolute no-brainer.  Zion progably too, though I'm not as high on him as some. 

Booker I don't know...maybe.

I will probably get flamed for this, but I think Brown is pretty close to the player he's going to be.  I understand he's only 24 and most guys don't hit their peak until 26/27, but looking at Brown's development he started as a pretty raw, athletic prospect with good physical talents but limited skills.  He's since dramatically improved his shooting, his ball handling, his passing - pretty much everything except his defence (which I feel has regressed a bit). 

Looking at how much he has progressed in those areas I'm just not sure he has that untapped potential left.  I think he'll improve a bit, become a better decision maker and all that - but I feel like he's at about 90% at his peak.  I don't really see any major aspect of his game that he looks likely to make big strides in that would elevate him to another level from where he already is.

I think Tatum's potential is a good level or two higher, which is why to me Tatum is untouchable and Brown is not. 

[liam]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Luka or Giannis for brown would be an absolute no-brainer.  Zion progably too, though I'm not as high on him as some. 

Booker I don't know...maybe.

I will probably get flamed for this, but I think Brown is pretty close to the player he's going to be.  I understand he's only 24 and most guys don't hit their peak until 26/27, but looking at Brown's development he started as a pretty raw, athletic prospect with good physical talents but limited skills.  He's since dramatically improved his shooting, his ball handling, his passing - pretty much everything except his defence (which I feel has regressed a bit). 

Looking at how much he has progressed in those areas I'm just not sure he has that untapped potential left.  I think he'll improve a bit, become a better decision maker and all that - but I feel like he's at about 90% at his peak.  I don't really see any major aspect of his game that he looks likely to make big strides in that would elevate him to another level from where he already is.

I think Tatum's potential is a good level or two higher, which is why to me Tatum is untouchable and Brown is not.

Brown will get better. I'd hate to see him go. Trading him for someone like McCollum would be a move backward.

[Ogaju]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Luka or Giannis for brown would be an absolute no-brainer.  Zion progably too, though I'm not as high on him as some. 

Booker I don't know...maybe.

I will probably get flamed for this, but I think Brown is pretty close to the player he's going to be.  I understand he's only 24 and most guys don't hit their peak until 26/27, but looking at Brown's development he started as a pretty raw, athletic prospect with good physical talents but limited skills.  He's since dramatically improved his shooting, his ball handling, his passing - pretty much everything except his defence (which I feel has regressed a bit). 

Looking at how much he has progressed in those areas I'm just not sure he has that untapped potential left.  I think he'll improve a bit, become a better decision maker and all that - but I feel like he's at about 90% at his peak.  I don't really see any major aspect of his game that he looks likely to make big strides in that would elevate him to another level from where he already is.

I think Tatum's potential is a good level or two higher, which is why to me Tatum is untouchable and Brown is not.

Perhaps Tatum is stunting Brown’s development?

[gouki88]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Luka or Giannis for brown would be an absolute no-brainer.  Zion progably too, though I'm not as high on him as some. 

Booker I don't know...maybe.

I will probably get flamed for this, but I think Brown is pretty close to the player he's going to be.  I understand he's only 24 and most guys don't hit their peak until 26/27, but looking at Brown's development he started as a pretty raw, athletic prospect with good physical talents but limited skills.  He's since dramatically improved his shooting, his ball handling, his passing - pretty much everything except his defence (which I feel has regressed a bit). 

Looking at how much he has progressed in those areas I'm just not sure he has that untapped potential left.  I think he'll improve a bit, become a better decision maker and all that - but I feel like he's at about 90% at his peak.  I don't really see any major aspect of his game that he looks likely to make big strides in that would elevate him to another level from where he already is.

I think Tatum's potential is a good level or two higher, which is why to me Tatum is untouchable and Brown is not.

Perhaps Tatum is stunting Brown’s development?

Is that why Brown has made two massive leaps in production when Tatum has been our #1 player?

[Moranis]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close. 

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more. 

[td450]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Luka or Giannis for brown would be an absolute no-brainer.  Zion progably too, though I'm not as high on him as some. 

Booker I don't know...maybe.

I will probably get flamed for this, but I think Brown is pretty close to the player he's going to be.  I understand he's only 24 and most guys don't hit their peak until 26/27, but looking at Brown's development he started as a pretty raw, athletic prospect with good physical talents but limited skills.  He's since dramatically improved his shooting, his ball handling, his passing - pretty much everything except his defence (which I feel has regressed a bit). 

Looking at how much he has progressed in those areas I'm just not sure he has that untapped potential left.  I think he'll improve a bit, become a better decision maker and all that - but I feel like he's at about 90% at his peak.  I don't really see any major aspect of his game that he looks likely to make big strides in that would elevate him to another level from where he already is.

I think Tatum's potential is a good level or two higher, which is why to me Tatum is untouchable and Brown is not.

I always am mystified by the Tatum Brown comparisons. How can anyone watch the C's the last two years and conclude Jaylen won't improve any more?

And consider that Tatum has been handed the point forward role since day one. He is the team's #1 ball handler. As our new coach observed, we were 27th in assists. Tatum, Walker and Smart were all the same type of passer in that they only see passes at certain points in their moves. If you are open before or after that, too bad. We also were a team that just didn't run much, or move much in half court sets.

Now consider that Jaylen Brown still managed to average almost 25 ppg and shoot for higher percentages than Tatum. And he did it on a team that demanded stationary sets, had no one to hit cutters, no one to push the pace (he's top 5 in the league at finishing in transition), no one to create opportunities. In other words, he was on a terrible team for a player of his skills. Nothing about last year's team helped his game.

[wiley]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Luka or Giannis for brown would be an absolute no-brainer.  Zion progably too, though I'm not as high on him as some. 

Booker I don't know...maybe.

I will probably get flamed for this, but I think Brown is pretty close to the player he's going to be.  I understand he's only 24 and most guys don't hit their peak until 26/27, but looking at Brown's development he started as a pretty raw, athletic prospect with good physical talents but limited skills.  He's since dramatically improved his shooting, his ball handling, his passing - pretty much everything except his defence (which I feel has regressed a bit). 

Looking at how much he has progressed in those areas I'm just not sure he has that untapped potential left.  I think he'll improve a bit, become a better decision maker and all that - but I feel like he's at about 90% at his peak.  I don't really see any major aspect of his game that he looks likely to make big strides in that would elevate him to another level from where he already is.

I think Tatum's potential is a good level or two higher, which is why to me Tatum is untouchable and Brown is not.

I always am mystified by the Tatum Brown comparisons. How can anyone watch the C's the last two years and conclude Jaylen won't improve any more?

And consider that Tatum has been handed the point forward role since day one. He is the team's #1 ball handler. As our new coach observed, we were 27th in assists. Tatum, Walker and Smart were all the same type of passer in that they only see passes at certain points in their moves. If you are open before or after that, too bad. We also were a team that just didn't run much, or move much in half court sets.

Now consider that Jaylen Brown still managed to average almost 25 ppg and shoot for higher percentages than Tatum. And he did it on a team that demanded stationary sets, had no one to hit cutters, no one to push the pace (he's top 5 in the league at finishing in transition), no one to create opportunities. In other words, he was on a terrible team for a player of his skills. Nothing about last year's team helped his game.

excellent point bolded...this has to be fixed either by a PG with vision or some really great coaching. Horford hopefully helps some.

Agree on Jaylen...he did what he did without much help...I did think he imitated some of Tatum's iso style a bit for the first time this past season...when he was just as good or better by not doing that...I think both Jays need to re-learn how to trust ball movement.  Maybe it'll be a snap with a new roster...

[gouki88]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close.

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more.

That's incredibly fallacious. People are screaming about Love making it because he's awful.

Thompson is by no means a very good defender. He's solid, with poor offence, and elite rebounding. Love is a terrible defender, solid on offence and with good rebounding. I'd say in a vacuum they're pretty equal, but basketball isn't played in a vacuum

[Moranis]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close.

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more.

That's incredibly fallacious. People are screaming about Love making it because he's awful.

Thompson is by no means a very good defender. He's solid, with poor offence, and elite rebounding. Love is a terrible defender, solid on offence and with good rebounding. I'd say in a vacuum they're pretty equal, but basketball isn't played in a vacuum

Do I think Love should on the Olympic, of course not, he isn't good enough comparatively speaking.  But he did actually make the team after being considered for it, something Thompson didn't come close to, and the reason for that is Kevin Love is a better basketball player than Tristan Thompson.  That isn't a controversial statement at all.  They played on the same team for years, and Love was the better basketball player the entire time.  That didn't change all of a sudden last year even with Love's injury history. 

I firmly believe that all 30 teams would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson if they had the exact same contract.  They obviously don't have the exact same contract.  And to be clear Love's contract is terrible given both his propensity to miss games due to injury and what those injuries have done to his overall ability when he does play, but he is still better than Thompson.

[slamtheking]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close.

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more.

That's incredibly fallacious. People are screaming about Love making it because he's awful.

Thompson is by no means a very good defender. He's solid, with poor offence, and elite rebounding. Love is a terrible defender, solid on offence and with good rebounding. I'd say in a vacuum they're pretty equal, but basketball isn't played in a vacuum

Do I think Love should on the Olympic, of course not, he isn't good enough comparatively speaking.  But he did actually make the team after being considered for it, something Thompson didn't come close to, and the reason for that is Kevin Love is a better basketball player than Tristan Thompson.  That isn't a controversial statement at all.  They played on the same team for years, and Love was the better basketball player the entire time.  That didn't change all of a sudden last year even with Love's injury history. 

I firmly believe that all 30 teams would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson if they had the exact same contract.  They obviously don't have the exact same contract.  And to be clear Love's contract is terrible given both his propensity to miss games due to injury and what those injuries have done to his overall ability when he does play, but he is still better than Thompson.

you're using the olympic team as a bellwether of Love being a better player?  that's absolutely pitiful.

also saying all teams would take Love over TT if they had the same contract is (A) making stuff up to hopefully gain some ground on your opinion because they are most definitely not paid the same and (B) I doubt every team would make that same choice if for no other common sense reason than not every team has the same needs as well as teams being able to see Love as less durable than TT and a very inferior defender.

[Big333223]

I don’t understand this obsession with trading Jaylen Brown. He’s a 24 year old wing who shot 40% from 3pt, averaged 25ppg and can score from anywhere. Plus, he plays both ends of the court! And he’s on a reasonable contract for several more years. Makes no sense at all.

I trade him for Luka, Booker, Giannis, or Zion...

Yep. That's just about the whole list for me too.

The OP's trade idea has the Celtics sending out the best player so, no thanks.

[Moranis]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close.

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more.

That's incredibly fallacious. People are screaming about Love making it because he's awful.

Thompson is by no means a very good defender. He's solid, with poor offence, and elite rebounding. Love is a terrible defender, solid on offence and with good rebounding. I'd say in a vacuum they're pretty equal, but basketball isn't played in a vacuum

Do I think Love should on the Olympic, of course not, he isn't good enough comparatively speaking.  But he did actually make the team after being considered for it, something Thompson didn't come close to, and the reason for that is Kevin Love is a better basketball player than Tristan Thompson.  That isn't a controversial statement at all.  They played on the same team for years, and Love was the better basketball player the entire time.  That didn't change all of a sudden last year even with Love's injury history. 

I firmly believe that all 30 teams would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson if they had the exact same contract.  They obviously don't have the exact same contract.  And to be clear Love's contract is terrible given both his propensity to miss games due to injury and what those injuries have done to his overall ability when he does play, but he is still better than Thompson.

you're using the olympic team as a bellwether of Love being a better player?  that's absolutely pitiful.

also saying all teams would take Love over TT if they had the same contract is (A) making stuff up to hopefully gain some ground on your opinion because they are most definitely not paid the same and (B) I doubt every team would make that same choice if for no other common sense reason than not every team has the same needs as well as teams being able to see Love as less durable than TT and a very inferior defender.

No I'm using the fact that Love is better than Thompson as the bellwether of Love being better.  Better scorer, better shooter, better passer, similar rebounder.  Thompson is better defensively, but not significantly enough to make up the difference basically everywhere else.  Love can do so much more for a basketball team because he is better and more valuable.  Love is also still very capable of going for 30 and 14 like he did to close his seasons against the Celtics when the Cavs beat the Celtics and basically ensured Boston was in the play-in game. 

[michigan adam]

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine

something like this would work for me if we added a 1st and a 2nd to Portland. Swap out edwards for nesmith/or langford and drop one of the picks would also work.

[slamtheking]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close.

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more.

That's incredibly fallacious. People are screaming about Love making it because he's awful.

Thompson is by no means a very good defender. He's solid, with poor offence, and elite rebounding. Love is a terrible defender, solid on offence and with good rebounding. I'd say in a vacuum they're pretty equal, but basketball isn't played in a vacuum

Do I think Love should on the Olympic, of course not, he isn't good enough comparatively speaking.  But he did actually make the team after being considered for it, something Thompson didn't come close to, and the reason for that is Kevin Love is a better basketball player than Tristan Thompson.  That isn't a controversial statement at all.  They played on the same team for years, and Love was the better basketball player the entire time.  That didn't change all of a sudden last year even with Love's injury history. 

I firmly believe that all 30 teams would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson if they had the exact same contract.  They obviously don't have the exact same contract.  And to be clear Love's contract is terrible given both his propensity to miss games due to injury and what those injuries have done to his overall ability when he does play, but he is still better than Thompson.

you're using the olympic team as a bellwether of Love being a better player?  that's absolutely pitiful.

also saying all teams would take Love over TT if they had the same contract is (A) making stuff up to hopefully gain some ground on your opinion because they are most definitely not paid the same and (B) I doubt every team would make that same choice if for no other common sense reason than not every team has the same needs as well as teams being able to see Love as less durable than TT and a very inferior defender.

No I'm using the fact that Love is better than Thompson as the bellwether of Love being better.  Better scorer, better shooter, better passer, similar rebounder.  Thompson is better defensively, but not significantly enough to make up the difference basically everywhere else.  Love can do so much more for a basketball team because he is better and more valuable.  Love is also still very capable of going for 30 and 14 like he did to close his seasons against the Celtics when the Cavs beat the Celtics and basically ensured Boston was in the play-in game.

not a fact.  strictly your opinion

[celticsclay]

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Thompson is pretty clearly the worst player in that trade, though his contract is a lot better than Love's. 

I think Boston can do that trade, or something close to it without Brown included at all.  Put in Smart, Langford, R. Williams, and a future 1st or two and I think Portland might do it, especially if they decide to rebuild.  That said, Portland and Cleveland could just cut Boston out entirely and just do something like Love and Sexton for McCollum.

So we receive the 3rd and 5th best players in the deal?

Who is Tristan Thompson better than?

Tristan Thompson was better than Love last season. He's younger, owed less money and much more durable, alongside it being a wash as to who is actually better at playing basketball. No D vs no O

Thompson played in more games, though Love was healthy at the end of the year.  Love played 25 games last year and about 25 mpg.  He averaged 12.2, 7.4, 2.5 with a TS% of 55.6 though a still very respectable 36.5% from 3. 

So no I don't actually think Thompson was better than Love last year.  Healthier, yes.  A better contract, absolutely.  But better, no.

I think you're in the minority with that opinion.  those numbers you're posting for Love on a garbage team where he should have put up good numbers if he was close to the player he used to be, are very underwhelming.  add in the fact Love's a defensive sieve and TT is pretty clearly the better player.

Thompson isn't a very good defender though either.  He has a reputation as a defender, but he isn't actually a good defender. 

Put it this way, there is a reason Kevin Love was not only considered for, but actually made the US Olympic team and Thompson has never come close.

Love is better than Thompson.  He was better than him when they played on the same team with similar minutes and roles, and he was better than him last year.  Love's issue has been health and his massive contract.  If their contracts were identical, I think pretty much everyone would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson though.  Love can quite simply do more and give you more.

That's incredibly fallacious. People are screaming about Love making it because he's awful.

Thompson is by no means a very good defender. He's solid, with poor offence, and elite rebounding. Love is a terrible defender, solid on offence and with good rebounding. I'd say in a vacuum they're pretty equal, but basketball isn't played in a vacuum

Do I think Love should on the Olympic, of course not, he isn't good enough comparatively speaking.  But he did actually make the team after being considered for it, something Thompson didn't come close to, and the reason for that is Kevin Love is a better basketball player than Tristan Thompson.  That isn't a controversial statement at all.  They played on the same team for years, and Love was the better basketball player the entire time.  That didn't change all of a sudden last year even with Love's injury history. 

I firmly believe that all 30 teams would take Kevin Love over Tristan Thompson if they had the exact same contract.  They obviously don't have the exact same contract.  And to be clear Love's contract is terrible given both his propensity to miss games due to injury and what those injuries have done to his overall ability when he does play, but he is still better than Thompson.

you're using the olympic team as a bellwether of Love being a better player?  that's absolutely pitiful.

also saying all teams would take Love over TT if they had the same contract is (A) making stuff up to hopefully gain some ground on your opinion because they are most definitely not paid the same and (B) I doubt every team would make that same choice if for no other common sense reason than not every team has the same needs as well as teams being able to see Love as less durable than TT and a very inferior defender.

No I'm using the fact that Love is better than Thompson as the bellwether of Love being better.  Better scorer, better shooter, better passer, similar rebounder.  Thompson is better defensively, but not significantly enough to make up the difference basically everywhere else.  Love can do so much more for a basketball team because he is better and more valuable.  Love is also still very capable of going for 30 and 14 like he did to close his seasons against the Celtics when the Cavs beat the Celtics and basically ensured Boston was in the play-in game.

I certainly don't think it is entirely clear every team would take Love over Thompson because it is kind of 70-80 games of Thompson versus an expected 40-50 games of Love (that may be being generous as Love has a high of 60 games played in the last 5 years and is obviously now actually old. I am also not sure how playable he is for major minutes in the playoffs right now, because even if he did make it through the season healthy to reach the playoffs, he is so bad on defense teams would target him non stop on defense. I think you are looking at the past more than looking at the future and Tristan is a few years younger than Love with way less injury history.