Celtics: should we be sellers or buyers?

[nebist]

My answer would be both. We should certainly be looking to be sellers on Schroder (and possibly Richardson), even if it is just for a future asset.

However, I also think we should be looking to be buyers to get a better 3rd best player next to the Jays.

[Jvalin]

Depends on who's available. If we can land one of Simmons, Siakam, Wood, Joe Ingles, Kyle Anderson, imo we should go for it. Another intriguing target would be Jerami Grant. Obviously, it's all about the asking price. Assuming the Jays are off the table, I'd be willing to overpay for Simmons or Wood. The latter is a more realistic target.

PG: Smart - Schroder
SG: Brown
SF: Ingles
PF: Tatum
C: Wood - Horford

Talent-wise, imo this would be the 3rd best team in the East. At the same time, it would be a perfectly functional starting 5. With a bit of luck, anything is possible in the playoffs.

P.S. If we end up being buyers, I'd hire an experienced, offensive-minded assistant for Ime. If we are sellers, Ime is the perfect tank commander.

[todd_days_41]

Sellers.

I'm not especially attached to anybody on the roster right now.  I think the only way out of the current mess is to amass as much draft capital as possible and for Brad to hit several home runs (or at least triples) in the draft over the next couple of years.

Would your preference be to sell on Tatum, Brown, or both? Do you not think it’s worth Brad trading one of them for another very good player (or two) in an effort to balance the team before an all out TNT?

I don't think we're at the point yet of trading those guys.

Jaylen hits UFA in summer 2024.

I think Brad has until the 2023 off-season to try to set things right in terms of putting the team in a position to be competitive (i.e. 50+ wins) in a sustained way.  If we get to summer 2023 and the team is in more or less the same (or worse) position as they are now, then I would look to trade Jaylen. And at that point, if you're trading Jaylen for a rebuilding package, you may as well trade Tatum too.  Tatum would have 2 years left on his deal, so you could probably extract a pretty hefty price from someone.

Obviously the hope is that Brad can make some smart moves, make some great picks in the draft, maybe snag one or two steals in free agency, and then the team looks ready to be the perennial dark horse that we all thought they could be.

The absolute worst case scenario, for me, is that the team continues to flounder around .500, they continue to make mediocre or straight up bad moves in FA and the draft, and then Jaylen ends up leaving for nothing (or perhaps another trade exception, ugh), which then sets up Tatum leaving for nothing.  That would then put the team in a spot where a protracted, painful rebuild would be the only option.

I see. When you said "not especially attached to anyone", i read that as a feeling the Cs should be shopping thw whole lot.

[PhoSita]

Sellers.

I'm not especially attached to anybody on the roster right now.  I think the only way out of the current mess is to amass as much draft capital as possible and for Brad to hit several home runs (or at least triples) in the draft over the next couple of years.

Would your preference be to sell on Tatum, Brown, or both? Do you not think it’s worth Brad trading one of them for another very good player (or two) in an effort to balance the team before an all out TNT?

I don't think we're at the point yet of trading those guys.

Jaylen hits UFA in summer 2024.

I think Brad has until the 2023 off-season to try to set things right in terms of putting the team in a position to be competitive (i.e. 50+ wins) in a sustained way.  If we get to summer 2023 and the team is in more or less the same (or worse) position as they are now, then I would look to trade Jaylen. And at that point, if you're trading Jaylen for a rebuilding package, you may as well trade Tatum too.  Tatum would have 2 years left on his deal, so you could probably extract a pretty hefty price from someone.

Obviously the hope is that Brad can make some smart moves, make some great picks in the draft, maybe snag one or two steals in free agency, and then the team looks ready to be the perennial dark horse that we all thought they could be.

The absolute worst case scenario, for me, is that the team continues to flounder around .500, they continue to make mediocre or straight up bad moves in FA and the draft, and then Jaylen ends up leaving for nothing (or perhaps another trade exception, ugh), which then sets up Tatum leaving for nothing.  That would then put the team in a spot where a protracted, painful rebuild would be the only option.

I see. When you said "not especially attached to anyone", i read that as a feeling the Cs should be shopping thw whole lot.

I certainly think the team should be looking for any ways to restock the cupboard with assets that can be used to revamp this team before the soft deadline of summer 2023 / winter 2024.  Nothing should be off the table. But trading the two mid-20s star scoring wings locked up for multiple seasons ... that's always going to be a move of last resort. That's never gonna be the *best* move to make to improve the team's situation unless your goal is just to avoid losing the guy for nothing in free agency (or the guy has asked out).

And big picture, I'm emotionally detaching myself from Jaylen & Jayson because I'm not optimistic about the team figuring it out before the clock is up, nor am I optimistic about the team being very much fun in the meantime.  Almost everything has gone badly from a luck or management standpoint in the last couple of years.

[dannyboy35]

  I desperately want us out of smart’s contract.

[Kuberski33]

  I desperately want us out of smart’s contract.

Brad's biggest mistake to date.

[Csfan1984]

Players to Sell=Schro, Langford, Bruno, Freedom, Juancho

Players available in buy scenario=Smart, Josh, Al, TL, PP, Grant, Hauser, Yam, Berg, Nesmith

Players to keep= Jays

Depending on return everyone but the Jays are available.

[Rosco917]

I think Smart is over paid, just as many of you. He can't help that he is playing out of position on a team who's star players have glue on their hands. If the low IQ Celtics were winning games regularly, this conversation wouldn't be happening.

Marcus would make a wonderful sixth man on a contender, where he could inject defensive energy, toughness, and even a little scoring to a second unit. The Nets, Lakers, and Suns, would love to have him for a tad under what he presently makes. LeBron would love to have him...period.

Frankly, Smart is not the problem on the Celtics, his contract may be...but not the player. I wouldn't be surprised to see Marcus earning a ring before the J's if he's traded.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I would consider a trade for Brown at the deadline if someone gave us the type of deal Morey wants for Simmons, but would try to stand pat and tank.

This off-season I'd hope a top player demands a trade.  If we can get a lotto pick too then we keep the pick, trade Brown, dump Smart for anything we can get.  That's a quick rebuild.  It's not crazy to think Donovan Mitchell or KAT would be available, who I think are lateral to Brown but better fits with Tatum.  If we could also get like 4th pick I'm a stroke of luck and get Ivey or Banchero it would be ridiculous, I like this draft.

Then the year after we tamper to get Beal.  Our cap freeing up synchs with his contract

[tonydelk]

I just don't think the C's have the assets to be buyers.  I think they need to be sellers to accumulate assets for the offseason.   Maybe they can get lucky and pick up a pick for Schroder and a young player for Smart.  Richardson has been fantastic off the bench so you'd think he be  desired by playoff teams.  Not sure we can unload Horford unless we can use him and picks and young players to get that 3rd piece.  I will say there is no way he's not released this year.  Now if there is a team who desires cap space he'd be the perfect candidate to move to that team.  I just don't see any players right now that teams wish they could move on from. 

[SHAQATTACK]

  I desperately want us out of smart’s contract.

Too much for what we are getting .  But kinda figured it was gonna take that path.

[Somebody]

Definitely a seller with how poor our coach and FO are. I'm all in for selling whatever we have outside of the Jays in the next 2-3 years until the two Pitino facsimiles in our club are sacked.

[#1P4P]

I’m willing to part with Udoka, Schroder, future 1sts, one of Pritchard/Nesmith/Langford (if necessary), and players outside of the rotation in a potential trade.

Fred VanVleet and Jalen Brunson are the players I’m looking to acquire. Despite the record, we’re closer to dangerous playoff team than the lottery and one of these players to address this team’s main issue is the goal.

VanVleet costs more than Brunson, but he brings more cache being a #3/4 player on a Championship team. He’s poised under pressure, carries himself as a leader, defends his position well, young, and makes the right play. Toronto is in asset acquisition mode and will be willing to part with Fred for a Holiday to the Bucks type of deal.

Brunson is better than a backup PG to Luka; he knows it and will prove it with his next team. He’s an UFA at the end of the season will be moving on to a starting role. We should entice the Mavs to part early with him in a trade for Schroder and another asset(s).

[ozgod]

Obviously this thread was made by Rody a month ago and the team was still lurching then so I’m not bumping it in an attempt to make him or anyone else look bad. But with the benefit of hindsight that allows us all to change our opinions, has the past month or so changed anyones mind about being sellers vs buyers?

I was reading Washburns latest article in the Globe where he has changed his mind and now thinks we should be buyers. Anyone else change their mind? Or is beating up on hospital cases and no hopers not really all that impressive to you?

[Moranis]

Obviously this thread was made by Rody a month ago and the team was still lurching then so I’m not bumping it in an attempt to make him or anyone else look bad. But with the benefit of hindsight that allows us all to change our opinions, has the past month or so changed anyones mind about being sellers vs buyers?

I was reading Washburns latest article in the Globe where he has changed his mind and now thinks we should be buyers. Anyone else change their mind? Or is beating up on hospital cases and no hopers not really all that impressive to you?

I'm still in the both camp.