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

[slamtheking]

Why is Kevin Love on this poll?

I just wanted to make sure I've included at least a few realistic options on 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.

Love's probably the one realistic option in that list.  not exactly a third star but probably attainable with what we have on the roster.   Wall too for that matter since Houston's trying to stay bad and they're not playing him.  the issue with getting either of them is matching salaries without giving up a lot of young players.

[Birdman]

Harrison Barnes would be a good add especially if Kings are out of playoffs race by February

[Moranis]

There is no way we could acquire Love given his contract and his value, but Love is pretty quietly putting together a very nice season off of Cleveland's bench.  He has stayed relatively healthy (22 games - missed 8 all in a row earlier this year) and is playing just under 20 mpg, but is averaging basically 12/7 is leading the league in FT% at 96.4 and is shooting 41.2% from 3 on 5.2 attempts a game (per 36 minutes that would 22/13).  His contract makes acquiring him impossible, but if he worked out a buy out, I'd love to have Love on Boston's bench.

[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.

Love's probably the one realistic option in that list.  not exactly a third star but probably attainable with what we have on the roster.   Wall too for that matter since Houston's trying to stay bad and they're not playing him.  the issue with getting either of them is matching salaries without giving up a lot of young players.

I actually think plenty of players on the list are realistic targets. The C's have all their future firsts intact. Unprotected first-round picks are valuable assets. You get a player under team control for 8-9 seasons! The first 4 of these seasons are on a bargain contract under the rookie scale. We also got Horford on a partially-guaranteed contract for next season. Matching salaries shouldn't be a big issue.

Fwiw, the Nets acquired Harden for 4 presumably late firsts and 4 pick swaps.

[Neurotic Guy]

Have at me for this -- I am terrible at these things (trades, etc.), but what about Klay Thompson?  A risk no doubt but one that may be worth taking as he would immediately turn a mediocre (at best) shooting team into a feared shooting team.   

Wondering about Horford and Smart for Klay and ?? (Porter, Looney, Moody, Kuminga).   GSW might be interested in 2 ready for primetime vets/ defenders for championship runs this and next year -- without the Thompson injury worries.  If Thompson is/stays healthy, it's another star for Boston without parting with a Jay.

[todd_days_41]

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.

Or perhaps tongue n cheek? Like, Roy.... you ain't exactly LarBrd33.

Seriously, what team isn't focused in adding another star? Matt Moore must have had a deadline.

[gift]

Simmons, Sabonis, KAT for me.

[todd_days_41]

Continue to want to pry away Haliburton from the Kings.

Smart, Nesmith, Grant Williams, and a 1st round pick (or two) for Haliburton, Bagley and Harkless.

 

[nebist]

So, Brad is not dumb? Of course, we're trying to add a 3rd star to pair with the Jays. I like Sabonis as a somewhat realistic option. I also like Fox, but I don't think we could get him without Jaylen (which I wouldn't do). I would have interest in McCollum if the price was right, but I'd have a clear walk-away point.

[Walker Wiggle]

"Men hanging around bar focused on attractive women." - source

[BruceBanner18]

What I'm curious to know is whether we are focusing on a third star regardless of position or if the FO is focused on a third scorer, pass first pg, stretch 4, etc.

Last year we were linked to multiple athletic 2 way forward like Barnes, Grant, Collins. I wonder if that is still the main direction

[boscel33]

I'm in on Barnes too.  They've been connected before and maybe this is the year.  He also may be able to be obtained with the least amount of assets going out.

Editorial note, this was a suggestion made last year for a package to get Barnes:

Sacramento Kings trade: Harrison Barnes
Boston Celtics trade: Payton Pritchard, 2021 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick

I think PP value is down, so will probably need to be something else now.

[Csfan1984]

I have no idea on who BS would go after. He has been all over the place.

[SparzWizard]

Gotta be Bradley Beal

[Who]

I'd target one of the guards - Lillard, Beal, McCollum.

Sabonis is a player who could be interesting also.

Not that interested in forwards. We have two already in Jaylen and Tatum. I want ball-handlers, shooters, passers. More guard skills.

John Wall is a has-been. Not a star. D'Angelo Russell is a high usage role player. Not a star. D'Aaron Fox is a maybe star but I do not think he is available for the type of package Boston can offer nor do I consider him a good fit for this team (dodgy shooter). Kevin Love, like Wall, is a has-been. Not a star. Porzingis is a solid player but is struggling to put his game together and I would not bet the house on him so little-to-no interest there. Westbrook is moving into that has-been pile as well.

Zion is awesome but would cost more than the C's can offer while keeping Tatum & Jaylen. KAT is currently in the same boat but that may change over next 18 months - still, it's a long shot that nobody offers better than a bunch of mediocre first rounders for him given how talented he is so I am not really considering him.

That leaves the forwards Siakam and Ben Simmons. Not sold on Siakam as the right fit - we need shooters, ball-handlers, passers; not another defensive SF/PF. Ben Simmons would be good but the C's trade package doesn't match up with Philly's desires so it would require a 3rd team to have any chance of nabbing him. I like the idea of Simmons as our interior big & main playmaker. That would be a highly dynamic and dangerous team. But like I said, difficult to make a trade package.

For those reasons, I feel the guards are the best targets. The two guys in Portland look the most likely to be available for what Boston can offer (all our future 1st round picks). Washington is going well so Beal is off the table for now.