Jared Weiss: Celts Exploring Horford Trades, Looking At Other Centers

[Jvalin]

The Raps start Siakam out of position at the 5. I bet they could have a use for Horford. I could see a trade around Horford/Dragic + filler(s). It would basically be yet another salary dump on our part.

Toronto probably doesn't want to add Horford's salary, either for this season or next.

Maybe they change their mind if we are willing to throw in Romeo or Grant. Personally speaking, I wouldn't do it, but I could see the Celtics pulling the trigger.

The Raps have won 7 of their last 10 games and they are pushing for a playoff spot despite having a young roster.

[Who]

The Raps start Siakam out of position at the 5. I bet they could have a use for Horford. Any insterest in a potential trade around Horford/Dragic + filler(s)?

Horford is too old to fit their roster development IMO.  Turner made better sense, but with his surgery they will need to explore something else.

They would probably jump on Rob Williams for Siakam, but I would not make that trade. Would you?

Timelord + filler(s) for Siakam? In a heartbeat! I highly doubt the Raps would do it though. Fwiw, I proposed this idea in a Raps forum. All posters were quick to dismiss it.

Why did Raptors fans dismiss it? I thought Raptors fans were down on Siakam and wishing he was moved. At least many of them were earlier in the year.

[Who]

The Raps start Siakam out of position at the 5. I bet they could have a use for Horford. Any insterest in a potential trade around Horford/Dragic + filler(s)?

Horford is too old to fit their roster development IMO.  Turner made better sense, but with his surgery they will need to explore something else.

They would probably jump on Rob Williams for Siakam, but I would not make that trade. Would you?

Yes. I am pretty much on board with any trade Rob Williams (low skilled player) for a well-to-high skilled player at guard or forward.

Siakam is not even really a need but he is better than Rob Williams. It is a step in the right direction. Follow that up with a 2nd move for CJ McCollum and then you got something to work with.

[bogg]

The Raps start Siakam out of position at the 5. I bet they could have a use for Horford. Any insterest in a potential trade around Horford/Dragic + filler(s)?

Horford is too old to fit their roster development IMO.  Turner made better sense, but with his surgery they will need to explore something else.

They would probably jump on Rob Williams for Siakam, but I would not make that trade. Would you?

Timelord + filler(s) for Siakam? In a heartbeat! I highly doubt the Raps would do it though. Fwiw, I proposed this idea in a Raps forum. All posters were quick to dismiss it.

Why did Raptors fans dismiss it? I thought Raptors fans were down on Siakam and wishing he was moved. At least many of them were earlier in the year.

So, this is one of those things that need context, because a portion of Raptors fans are down on Siakam as a star swingman, in much the same way a portion of Boston fans are down on Tatum and/or Brown this year. That doesn't mean anyone reputable wants to trade Tatum for Myles Turner and a pick.

[Jvalin]

The Raps start Siakam out of position at the 5. I bet they could have a use for Horford. Any insterest in a potential trade around Horford/Dragic + filler(s)?

Horford is too old to fit their roster development IMO.  Turner made better sense, but with his surgery they will need to explore something else.

They would probably jump on Rob Williams for Siakam, but I would not make that trade. Would you?

Timelord + filler(s) for Siakam? In a heartbeat! I highly doubt the Raps would do it though. Fwiw, I proposed this idea in a Raps forum. All posters were quick to dismiss it.

Why did Raptors fans dismiss it? I thought Raptors fans were down on Siakam and wishing he was moved. At least many of them were earlier in the year.

That's what I thought as well. Mind you, this was a couple of months ago when Siakam was having a relatively slow start to the season. He's now playing a lot better. As far as I can remember, I had even included an unprotected first in that deal. They liked Timelord, but they didn't like anybody else from our roster (the Jays were off the table). Some posters didn't see the need to move on from Siakam. Others were confident the Raps could get better value. For instance, they'd consider a deal with Golden State for Wiggins + prospect. Fwiw, Wiggins is from Toronto. I guess he's popular among the Raps fans.

Don't get me wrong, fans tend to be homers. We are homers too. I doubt the Raps would do it regardless of what their fans were saying. Timelord is a rim runner, hence a role player. Siakam is a versatile swing. He isn't crafty enough to consistently create his own shot in the half court, but he's hands down a better shot creator than Timelord. Shot creation is the most valuable skill in the NBA. I would argue that Timelord is massively overrated on this board. Again, he's just a role player.

[Celtics2021]

The Raps start Siakam out of position at the 5. I bet they could have a use for Horford. I could see a trade around Horford/Dragic + filler(s). It would basically be yet another salary dump on our part.

Dragic+Boucher would match and still keep the Raptors below the luxury tax (although if they thought Trent's incentive was likely it would push them back over).  I still don't think the Raps would do it though because of Horford's partial guarantee, but they're not using Dragic and Horford would presumably knock Boucher from the rotation, so maybe?  Adding more players in gets complex from either side because of the tax, with both teams trying to avoid it.

[CFAN38]

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but...

After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic.
Source: Jared Weiss @ The Athletic

I don't think Weiss is all that reliable at breaking news, but who knows?

Moving Al makes sense if it can improve the team long term. framing the trade as the 16th for AL really over looks the cap based reasons for the trade.

As for center I really hope the Cs move on from the 2 big lineup. By next season theyneed to trade for and start a bigger wing, get a big bodied backup to Rob who is a better defender then Freedom, and play Grant some minutes at small ball 5. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Bol brought back as the 3rd true big.

[nickagneta]

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but...

After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic.
Source: Jared Weiss @ The Athletic

I don't think Weiss is all that reliable at breaking news, but who knows?

Moving Al makes sense if it can improve the team long term. framing the trade as the 16th for AL really over looks the cap based reasons for the trade.

As for center I really hope the Cs move on from the 2 big lineup. By next season theyneed to trade for and start a bigger wing, get a big bodied backup to Rob who is a better defender then Freedom, and play Grant some minutes at small ball 5. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Bol brought back as the 3rd true big.

Grant's days as a small ball 5 should be over. With his weight loss and increased mobility he is more a PF that swings into a SF than that PF that swings into being a C.

[CFAN38]

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but...

After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic.
Source: Jared Weiss @ The Athletic

I don't think Weiss is all that reliable at breaking news, but who knows?

Moving Al makes sense if it can improve the team long term. framing the trade as the 16th for AL really over looks the cap based reasons for the trade.

As for center I really hope the Cs move on from the 2 big lineup. By next season theyneed to trade for and start a bigger wing, get a big bodied backup to Rob who is a better defender then Freedom, and play Grant some minutes at small ball 5. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Bol brought back as the 3rd true big.

Grant's days as a small ball 5 should be over. With his weight loss and increased mobility he is more a PF that swings into a SF than that PF that swings into being a C.

Let me qualify my thoughts about small ball Grant. I agree he is naturally a 4/3 in terms of traditional basketball positions. I do think if the Cs where to add a big wing like Grant, Barnes, or K Anderson Grant could play a spot minute role at the center along side a big forward, Tatum, brown, and a pg. obviously this isn’t an option vs Embiid or Jokic but against most other centers I like it as a gimmic lineup.

[Csfan1984]

Al had a great first month. Wish him well.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Let's Make a Deal. 

[Vermont Green]

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but...

After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic.
Source: Jared Weiss @ The Athletic

I don't think Weiss is all that reliable at breaking news, but who knows?

Moving Al makes sense if it can improve the team long term. framing the trade as the 16th for AL really over looks the cap based reasons for the trade.

And ignores Moses Brown who we traded to get JRich.  So really, that pick got us Josh Richardson and Horford and saved us money (by dumping Kemba).

[Rosco917]

Too bad Al has a contract that is so demanding monetarily, because he would be a nice player off the bench in limited more manageable minutes and a fine veteran presents. He plays the game the right way and he's been a winner since his college days.

I know, he makes too much money for his remaining level of skill, and has to go, but if he is traded he'll be missed.

[gouki88]

I thought after his first month or two here Horford had totally proved me wrong and wasn't as cooked as I thought. Disappointingly not the case.

[Celtics2021]

I thought after his first month or two here Horford had totally proved me wrong and wasn't as cooked as I thought. Disappointingly not the case.

Yeah.  His defense has still been solid.  All I can hope is that when we’re at full strength on Friday (with Rob and Smart returned) that he’s moved to the bench so he can play center all the time.  He’d look less cooked I think.  I think he’s got 20 viable minutes a night in him playing the 5.

He’s still less cooked than Kemba.