Trade Idea: (Poll) Crazy Yet Sane Move

[Ed Monix]

Boston Celtics: Evan Mobley, Ricky Rubio (expiring)

Cleveland Cavs: Jaylen Brown

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Ed, Jaylen Brown just dropped a career high, why would the Celtics trade him? Because, it’s the best time to trade a player, when their stock is highest.

This move is something of a one step backwards, but two steps forwards. Mobley is special and in this scenario I am hoping to take advantage of Dan Gilbert’s ego. I’m sure a small (or large) part of him wants to show the nba community that the Cavs don’t need LeBron James to win. Right now, Jaylen Brown is someone they need to make a serious run in the playoffs, and in the short term, they have Jarrett Allen as adequate rim protection.

Allen
Markkanen
Brown
Okoro
Garland

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IMO, by contrast, this season is finished for the Celtics.

By trading for Mobley we are focusing on playing through Tatum and we are giving Mobley time to learn from Horford, which would be invaluable for his development.

Why this trade needs to be done this season? Because now Ricky Rubio is out for the season, he has become an expendable expiring contract, and without out him, this deal can’t be done without taking back Kevin Love’s albatross.

[footey]

News flash:

Cavs wouldn't trade Mobley for Jayson Tatum, never mind JB.

[Roy H.]

Yeah, Cleveland says no.

[Ed Monix]

News flash:

Cavs wouldn't trade Mobley for Jayson Tatum, never mind JB.

Perhaps, but like I wrote in the description, the Celtics would be trying to take advantage of Dan Gilbert…not their front office.

Gilbert has been embarrassed by LeBron twice. He’s a billionaire which means he’s egotistical…he would be dying to win without LeBron and this season looks wide open.

Brown’s locked into a long term deal and wants to be the scoring focal point, he’s the missing piece to the Cavs core and is a talent that they would never get outside of the draft.

Although Mobley is amazingly talented, no-one’s growth is a sure thing, where as Brown is currently a two-way star, who’s offensive game would out-value Mobley’s current defensive impact.

[Jvalin]

Mobley ranks 3rd in the league in Defensive EPM! He has the biggest defensive impact for a rookie arguably since Tim Duncan. Some of that may be attributed to Jarrett Allen who's an elite defender on his own, but Mobley is killing it on D, there's no doubt about that.

The time to trade Brown for Mobley was at the draft. That ship has sailed.

Regarding the poll: I'd do the trade for the C's. Wouldn't do it for the Cavs.

[todd_days_41]

Cleveland laughs.

[Goldstar88]

News flash:

Cavs wouldn't trade Mobley for Jayson Tatum, never mind JB.

Yeah, I don’t know about that one. Mobley isn’t even a lock for Rookie of the year.

[Jvalin]

News flash:

Cavs wouldn't trade Mobley for Jayson Tatum, never mind JB.

Yeah, I don’t know about that one. Mobley isn’t even a lock for Rookie of the year.

That would have been a fairer proposal. Personally speaking, I'd rather keep Tatum. Mobley is an elite defender, but it remains to be seen whether he can have a big impact on the offensive side of the ball. Haven't watched him a whole lot though. I'm basing this mostly on what I've heard/read about his game.

[Moranis]

Dan Gilbert may have an ego, but he isn't dumb.  No way he makes that trade.  Also, I'm not even sure it makes them better given a very large part of their success is the elite defense from their twin towers lineup which has caused all kind of matchup issues.  Brown is obviously an elite defender, but they lose the twin tower component that has been successful for them.  Plus, they'd pretty obviously be at absolute best the 3rd best team in the East as they are clearly still a rung or two below Milwaukee and Brooklyn (and that doesn't even account for Miami and I guess Chicago).