''Celtics focused on trying to add a 3rd star''

[Jvalin]

The source ain't exactly Woj, so take it with a grain of salt. I'm posting it cause I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent days about the Celtics and whether it is “working,” leading to the idea that Jaylen Brown could be moved. Instead, two sources indicated that in recent talks the Celtics are focused on trying to add a third star to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

(...)

“If there’s a value player they can add in, it’s probably Williams,” one league insider said.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/nba-trade-intel-league-sources-on-trade-season-expectations

This is assuming both the Jays are off the table. If you think we cannot realistically acquire some of the players listed on the poll, please do not vote for them.

Not all players are equally valuable. Some of them aren't even considered stars anymore. I just wanted to make sure I've included at least a few realistic options in the poll.

[hwangjini_1]

The source ain't exactly Woj, so take it with a grain of salt. I'm posting it cause I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent days about the Celtics and whether it is “working,” leading to the idea that Jaylen Brown could be moved. Instead, two sources indicated that in recent talks the Celtics are focused on trying to add a third star to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

(...)

“If there’s a value player they can add in, it’s probably Williams,” one league insider said.

https://www.complex.com/sports/11-nba-stars-could-be-traded-this-season/deaaron-fox

This is assuming both the Jays are off the table. If you think we cannot realistically acquire some of the players listed on the poll, please do not vote for them.

Not all players are equally valuable. Some of them aren't even considered stars anymore. I just wanted to make sure I've included at least a few realistic options on the poll.

which williams is the person referring to?

[Jvalin]

The source ain't exactly Woj, so take it with a grain of salt. I'm posting it cause I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent days about the Celtics and whether it is “working,” leading to the idea that Jaylen Brown could be moved. Instead, two sources indicated that in recent talks the Celtics are focused on trying to add a third star to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

(...)

“If there’s a value player they can add in, it’s probably Williams,” one league insider said.

https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/nba-trade-intel-league-sources-on-trade-season-expectations

This is assuming both the Jays are off the table. If you think we cannot realistically acquire some of the players listed on the poll, please do not vote for them.

Not all players are equally valuable. Some of them aren't even considered stars anymore. I just wanted to make sure I've included at least a few realistic options on the poll.

which williams is the person referring to?

I'm assuming he's referring to Timelord, but it ain't 100% clear. Here's the full quote. Make of it what you will.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent days about the Celtics and whether it is “working,” leading to the idea that Jaylen Brown could be moved. Instead, two sources indicated that in recent talks the Celtics are focused on trying to add a third star to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

“If you’re trading Brown, you’re still probably trading low on him, that’s the wild part,” one executive said. “That front office doesn’t have a history of trading assets early.”

Their frontcourt remains interesting, however. Robert Williams was given the starting job next to Al Horford, and the returns have been good so far. Grant Williams has been far streakier, but the stretch 4/5 is shooting 45% from 3 this season. Williams has one year left on his contract after this season.

“If there’s a value player they can add in, it’s probably Williams,” one league insider said.

[Roy H.]

Random aside for Jvalin:  why do you use “ain’t” so frequently?  You seem to use otherwise proper grammar.  Just curious.

As for the thread, I feel like we’ve been looking for a healthy third star for a decade.

[Birdman]

Love to have Towns but Minnesota probably not trading him..so love to have Sabonis who ask out of Indy..I trade both Williams & whoever not named Tatum for him

[Celtics2021]

Why is Kevin Love on this poll?

[Celtics2021]

The source ain't exactly Woj, so take it with a grain of salt. I'm posting it cause I thought it would be an interesting conversation starter.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent days about the Celtics and whether it is “working,” leading to the idea that Jaylen Brown could be moved. Instead, two sources indicated that in recent talks the Celtics are focused on trying to add a third star to play with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

(...)

“If there’s a value player they can add in, it’s probably Williams,” one league insider said.

https://www.complex.com/sports/11-nba-stars-could-be-traded-this-season/deaaron-fox

This is assuming both the Jays are off the table. If you think we cannot realistically acquire some of the players listed on the poll, please do not vote for them.

Not all players are equally valuable. Some of them aren't even considered stars anymore. I just wanted to make sure I've included at least a few realistic options on the poll.

which williams is the person referring to?

Probably Grant, as he's the one with one year left on his contract after this year (Rob has 4).

[nickagneta]

I vote other...Harrison Barnes. PF. Legit three point threat. Championship pedigree. 

I think he is attainable from Sacramento. More so than De'Aaron Fox

[Jvalin]

Random aside for Jvalin:  why do you use “ain’t” so frequently?  You seem to use otherwise proper grammar.  Just curious.

Lol! I don't know.

Basketball is just a game. No matter what we say, it's not actually important. I guess I write as if I'm chatting with a friend of mine about our favourite team. No need to write formally.

Btw, I'm not a native speaker. Please forgive me for any grammar/spelling mistakes.

[td450]

Dejounte Murray

[nickagneta]

Dejounte Murray

He's a great target, but do you think he is attainable?

Big PG. Great defender. 18/8/8 averages. Under control for 2 more years beyond this one for just $16 million or so per annum. Same age as Jaylen.

I have to think that Pops is not going to make him available unless it's for picks plus a player drafted in the top 4 of the last two drafts or top two of the draft before that.

[Jvalin]

Why is Kevin Love on this poll?

I just wanted to make sure I've included at least a few realistic options in the poll. Love and Wall were stars in the past. They are still big names. Obviously, not all players on the list are equally valuable.

[Wretch]

I view star as top 30.  Here is the NBA.com's top 30 list. I am not agreeing or disagreeing their rankings, but for this conversation it has value.  How many of them are legitimately available that fit a Cs need? I put the one's that I think are available in bold (not that I'd want them).

Rank   Player   Team   Previous Rank   Points
1   Kevin Durant   Brooklyn Nets   2nd   294
2   Giannis Antetokounmpo   Milwaukee Bucks   3rd   293
3   LeBron James   Los Angeles Lakers   1st   279
4   Stephen Curry   Golden State Warriors   4th   271
5   Nikola Jokic   Denver Nuggets   6th   258
6   Luka Doncic   Dallas Mavericks   9th   250
7   Joel Embiid   Philadelphia 76ers   7th   241
8   James Harden   Brooklyn Nets   8th   232
9   Damian Lillard   Portland Trail Blazers   11th   217
10   Anthony Davis   Los Angeles Lakers   10th   212
11   Jimmy Butler   Miami Heat   12th   197
12   Jayson Tatum   Boston Celtics   13th   172
13   Devin Booker   Phoenix Suns   17th   164
14   Chris Paul   Phoenix Suns   19th   163
15   Paul George   LA Clippers   16th   162
16   Kyrie Irving   Brooklyn Nets   14th   131
17   Trae Young   Atlanta Hawks   29th   128
18   Donovan Mitchell   Utah Jazz   21st   123
19   Bradley Beal   Washington Wizards      15th116
T-20   Bam Adebayo   Miami Heat   18th   105
T-20   Zion Williamson   New Orleans Pelicans   25th   105
22   Khris Middleton   Milwaukee Bucks   23rd   102
23   Rudy Gobert   Utah Jazz   22nd   92
24   Jaylen Brown   Boston Celtics   24th   68
25   Jrue Holiday   Milwaukee Bucks   Not Ranked   61
26   Karl-Anthony Towns   Minnesota Timberwolves   Not Ranked   52
27   Russell Westbrook   Los Angeles Lakers   Not Ranked   42
28   Ja Morant   Memphis Grizzlies   Not Ranked   30
29   Julius Randle   New York Knicks   Not Ranked   29
30   Ben Simmons   Philadelphia 76ers   20th   21

Players that are probably top 50 and fit a potential need and timeline for the Cs: SGA, Sabonis, Fox (maybe), Brogdon, Siakam (I view him as a PF and not redundant with the Js), J Grant (if he wasn't hurt), Wood ( I think he's a bad team good stats guy but others may disagree).

I've probably left off a bunch but at least this can start the conversation.

[td450]

Dejounte Murray

He's a great target, but do you think he is attainable?

Big PG. Great defender. 18/8/8 averages. Under control for 2 more years beyond this one for just $16 million or so per annum. Same age as Jaylen.

I have to think that Pops is not going to make him available unless it's for picks plus a player drafted in the top 4 of the last two drafts or top two of the draft before that.

Perhaps not. Your guess on what Pops would want is pretty specific, and if you are right, we would struggle to put a 3 way deal together.

I do know I'd rather have him over anyone else on that list, not because he's the best player, but because he'd fit the best.

His passing and transition play has elevated to the point where he's pretty close to ideal. We'd need shooters to round off the roster, but that's a core for the next 8 years or so that would be very tough. It would be worth going all in to try and get him.

[Moranis]

I've been saying for awhile that I though McCollum made the most sense, so I'm sticking with him.

If we could get Siakam or Sabonis without Brown or Tatum, positionally I'd prefer them to McCollum.  I'd also be very interested in Simmons, but I think he takes Brown and I'm not sure Boston should do that, unless they get another scorer elsewhere.

I think something like these trades, would be my pseudo-realistic fantasy

It works as a 3 team trade or 2 separate trades

Boston - Simmons, McCollum, Snell
Portland - Smart, Hernangomez, Nesmith, Langford, 22 1st, 24 1st (top 4)
Philadelphia - Brown

So post-trade(s) with 2 open spots

Starters - Schroder, McCollum, Tatum, Simmons, Horford
Playoff Rotation - Richardson, Grant, Rob
Reg. Season Rotation - Pritchard, Snell, Freedom
Deep Bench - Parker, Fernando

That is a more cohesive and better team than what we have and I do think the passing would be incredible around Tatum with that lineup and you don't lose a ton defensively (even with McCollum) given just how good and versatile a defender Simmons is.  Aside from dealing with whatever mental issues Simmons has, the only real downside to that is putting Brown next to Embiid.  That would make the Sixers a more formidable team, but right now Boston isn't a contender and I do think those collective trades make Boston one, so I do it (and I do think Simmons makes more sense than Brown if you were to just trade for McCollum).