C.J. McCollum

[Roy H.]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

This all makes a ton of sense, except:

• McCollum isn't a PG
• McConnell sucks
• Brown isn't a SG
• Fernando isn't a PF
• Sabonis isn't a C (or shouldn't be)
• We're not trading Williams
• We're not acquiring McCollum and Sabonis in the same deal
• Sabonis is a really questionable fit with two ball dominant players like Brown and Tatum
• Indiana isn't trading Sabonis

Might I recommend you put down the Trade Machine..... and walk away.

The big issue is the motivation of Indiana and Portland.

I’d be fine with McCollum at PG, JB at guard (where he plays now) and McConnell as backup PG (a good defender and pretty good running an offense).[/list]

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

That's a really good team and not a terrible trade. That team has pretty good defensive versatility and I think the offense would be really good.

Do you think the defense at the rim would be a problem with Sabonis? We would pretty much rely on him and Kanter to defend the Embiids and Gianniss of the world, and the playoff road looks like its going through them for a while. How would you gameplan to solve that problem or what would you look to add to the team to solve that problem?

[Vermont Green]

I’d be fine with McCollum at PG, JB at guard (where he plays now) and McConnell as backup PG (a good defender and pretty good running an offense).

I am not sure who the PG is, him or Simons.  Same issue with Lillard, is he a PG?  Lillard is probably the more natural PG but I am not sure it matters all that much.  I guess if you are going to bring in McCollum, you have to send out Smart and let McCollum be our PG.  He would then assume a role much like Kemba had which worked when Kemba was healthy.  We would still be limited by our bigs though.  RWill would start but then you still need a wing/swing/PF also.  Horford is likely gone and no, Grant Williams is not a starter.

I would prefer to keep Smart and spend/trade to get a good PF.  That may not be possible so McCollum as a plan B is not the worst thing in the world.  Prefer it to Brunson, even at the high cost/contract.  I doubt it happens.  Celtics will probably do nothing and wait over a big deal for McCollum right now.

[Moranis]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

That's a really good team and not a terrible trade. That team has pretty good defensive versatility and I think the offense would be really good.

Do you think the defense at the rim would be a problem with Sabonis? We would pretty much rely on him and Kanter to defend the Embiids and Gianniss of the world, and the playoff road looks like its going through them for a while. How would you gameplan to solve that problem or what would you look to add to the team to solve that problem?

I don't think anyone on the current team can guard Embiid or Giannis so I'm not sure that changes much, though I do like Covington on Giannis a lot more than Horford or Rob as Covington can at least attempt to stay with Giannis in the open court, something the guys we have now cannot do.  Embiid is a problem for Boston, but he does well against Williams and Horford is just too old to guard Embiid any more.  I do think Williams would do a better job than Sabonis, but Sabonis at least will make Embiid work defensively which wears him out more.  Williams doesn't make Embiid work on the other end which is a problem.  Teams that do the best against Embiid make him work on both ends, and in that Sabonis would help tremendously. 

[Moranis]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

This all makes a ton of sense, except:

• McCollum isn't a PG
• McConnell sucks
• Brown isn't a SG
• Fernando isn't a PF
• Sabonis isn't a C (or shouldn't be)
• We're not trading Williams
• We're not acquiring McCollum and Sabonis in the same deal
• Sabonis is a really questionable fit with two ball dominant players like Brown and Tatum
• Indiana isn't trading Sabonis

Might I recommend you put down the Trade Machine..... and walk away.

The big issue is the motivation of Indiana and Portland.

I’d be fine with McCollum at PG, JB at guard (where he plays now) and McConnell as backup PG (a good defender and pretty good running an offense).[/list]

The trades were based on reports out there about what they'd be looking for in a trade.  Given those reports, I think those are reasonable value trades.  Indiana might need one of the young players going to Portland, but I think that would be doable. 

When Lillard has been out, McCollum has played a fair amount of PG and has done well.  He isn't a guy that is going to be dishing out 10 apg, but he is passable and he even does ok defensively as he is usually quick enough. 

Sabonis has played half his minutes at center this year.  If they didn't have Turner, he'd being playing center full time, as he has done in the 4 games he has played since Turner went out.  And his PF in those games is Torrey Craig who is a SF by nature.

[todd_days_41]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

This all makes a ton of sense, except:

• McCollum isn't a PG
• McConnell sucks
• Brown isn't a SG
• Fernando isn't a PF
• Sabonis isn't a C (or shouldn't be)
• We're not trading Williams
• We're not acquiring McCollum and Sabonis in the same deal
• Sabonis is a really questionable fit with two ball dominant players like Brown and Tatum
• Indiana isn't trading Sabonis

Might I recommend you put down the Trade Machine..... and walk away.

The big issue is the motivation of Indiana and Portland.

I’d be fine with McCollum at PG, JB at guard (where he plays now) and McConnell as backup PG (a good defender and pretty good running an offense).[/list]

I dunno why that little "list" caption is stuck there!

Why not play CJ at SG?

If we're keeping both Brown and Tatum, I believe strongly they should play SF and PF respectively. The first reason that comes to mind -- Jaylen's Brown handle is weak. He's easily stripped and turns the ball over too much. He should fair better if he's consistently matched with larger, less nimble players, IMO. Part of the reason to add McCollum would be to do so, by adding a legitimate starting SG to our roster.

For the sake of this micro-discussion, keep Timelord (for good) and Smart (for now), and skip Sabonis:

Smart
McCollum
Brown
Tatum
Williams

That line-up has the ability to do some versitile switching on D, depending on the opponent.

[BruceBanner18]

When Lillard has been out, McCollum has played a fair amount of PG and has done well.  He isn't a guy that is going to be dishing out 10 apg, but he is passable and he even does ok defensively as he is usually quick enough. 

[/quote]

The stats disagree. McCollum has a Net Rating of -2.7 (down from 6.2), a defensive lebron -1.24 (down from -.7) and an offensive lebron of .84 (down from 3.04). As a comparison, last year Kemba had a Net Rating of +3.1, d-lebron -.3 and o-lebron of 1.98.

McCullum has not been good this season at all. His defense is horrid and his offense hasn't been good enough to make up for it. He apparently has fallen off the same cliff that Kemba did

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

That's a really good team and not a terrible trade. That team has pretty good defensive versatility and I think the offense would be really good.

Do you think the defense at the rim would be a problem with Sabonis? We would pretty much rely on him and Kanter to defend the Embiids and Gianniss of the world, and the playoff road looks like its going through them for a while. How would you gameplan to solve that problem or what would you look to add to the team to solve that problem?

I don't think anyone on the current team can guard Embiid or Giannis so I'm not sure that changes much, though I do like Covington on Giannis a lot more than Horford or Rob as Covington can at least attempt to stay with Giannis in the open court, something the guys we have now cannot do.  Embiid is a problem for Boston, but he does well against Williams and Horford is just too old to guard Embiid any more.  I do think Williams would do a better job than Sabonis, but Sabonis at least will make Embiid work defensively which wears him out more.  Williams doesn't make Embiid work on the other end which is a problem.  Teams that do the best against Embiid make him work on both ends, and in that Sabonis would help tremendously.

From what I've seen on the court and by the numbers, Covington is a stellar helpside defender, but he's only above average on-ball. He's another body to throw at Durant, Giannis, etc. I like the fit.

I think Horford and Williams would be a lot better against Embiid than you do.

Do you think this would be a true contender with Sabonis and McCullom?

[Moranis]

When Lillard has been out, McCollum has played a fair amount of PG and has done well.  He isn't a guy that is going to be dishing out 10 apg, but he is passable and he even does ok defensively as he is usually quick enough. 

The stats disagree. McCollum has a Net Rating of -2.7 (down from 6.2), a defensive lebron -1.24 (down from -.7) and an offensive lebron of .84 (down from 3.04). As a comparison, last year Kemba had a Net Rating of +3.1, d-lebron -.3 and o-lebron of 1.98.

McCullum has not been good this season at all. His defense is horrid and his offense hasn't been good enough to make up for it. He apparently has fallen off the same cliff that Kemba did

I was talking more historically, but also, when he is playing PG it means Lillard isn't playing and thereby the talent on the team is much worse so I take things like net rating and what not to be very misleading in that regard. 

But since McCollum has come back from his lung injury, and without Lillard, McCollum is at 21.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.7 apg and shooting 40.6% from 3 on 7.7 attempts and 50.3% from the field.  Those are all improvements from his first 24 games he played this year, 20 of which he played with Lillard.

[Vermont Green]

Do you think this would be a true contender with Sabonis and McCullom?

McCollum
Brown
Tatum
Sabonis
Average vet Big

Yes, I think that team is really good, a true contender.  If we still have Pritchard, Richardson, and Freedom for the bench, that is a pretty good start to the needed depth.  I don't think it is very likely, but it would be a good team.

The deal breaks down into two deals, Smart, RWill, Pick for Sabonis and then Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams and Picks for McCollum etc.  I like the Sabonis part better.  Too many extra players involved in the McCollum part of the deal.  I would rather keep Smart, pass on any of the Portland part, and add something back in with RWill to get Sabonis:

Smart
Brown
Tatum
Sabonis
Horford

until we can find a decent replacement for Horford.

[Moranis]

I'd love a scenario of something like this

Boston - McCollum, Covington, Sabonis, McConnell
Indiana - Smart, R. Williams, 24 1st
Portland - Horford, Nesmith, Langford, G. Williams, 22 1st, 22 2nd, pick swaps 23 and 25

New Roster (2 open spots)

PG - McCollum, McConnell, Pritchard
SG - Brown, Richardson, Dozier
SF - Tatum
PF - Covington, Fernando
C - Sabonis, Freedom, Bol

That's a really good team and not a terrible trade. That team has pretty good defensive versatility and I think the offense would be really good.

Do you think the defense at the rim would be a problem with Sabonis? We would pretty much rely on him and Kanter to defend the Embiids and Gianniss of the world, and the playoff road looks like its going through them for a while. How would you gameplan to solve that problem or what would you look to add to the team to solve that problem?

I don't think anyone on the current team can guard Embiid or Giannis so I'm not sure that changes much, though I do like Covington on Giannis a lot more than Horford or Rob as Covington can at least attempt to stay with Giannis in the open court, something the guys we have now cannot do.  Embiid is a problem for Boston, but he does well against Williams and Horford is just too old to guard Embiid any more.  I do think Williams would do a better job than Sabonis, but Sabonis at least will make Embiid work defensively which wears him out more.  Williams doesn't make Embiid work on the other end which is a problem.  Teams that do the best against Embiid make him work on both ends, and in that Sabonis would help tremendously.

From what I've seen on the court and by the numbers, Covington is a stellar helpside defender, but he's only above average on-ball. He's another body to throw at Durant, Giannis, etc. I like the fit.

I think Horford and Williams would be a lot better against Embiid than you do.

Do you think this would be a true contender with Sabonis and McCullom?

I certainly think Boston would be a contender in the same way the Big Ben Pistons were or even the current Suns i.e. 4 top 40 players  (ESPN had Sabonis 40, McCollum 30, Brown 27, Tatum 14).  If Tatum can get into the MVP caliber range then they can absolutely be a several year contender because that is a good enough supporting cast.  Frankly, even without McCollum they'd be good enough if Tatum takes the leap, but if Tatum doesn't take the leap you need McCollum, which is why I'd do both of those if they were possible.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Here's an idea:

Celtics get: McCullom, Grant, McGruder, out of luxury tax
This trade is admittedly unlikely for the Cs, because it gets us the two best players in the trade and we get out of the luxury tax for one more year. A lineup of McCullom-Brown-Tatum-Grant-Williams would have a high offensive and defensive floor.

Blazers get: Pritchard, Horford, 1st round pick (any year of their choosing), out of luxury tax
As the Blazers look to hit the reset/rebuild button, getting out of McCullom's contract while getting good value back will be important. This value is based on previous reports that McCullom is viewed as a negative value contract on his deal (I find this hard to believe). Here, they get hometown favorite Pritchard, a first round pick, Horford's partially guaranteed contract, and they get out of the luxury tax.

Pistons get: Smart, Richardson, Mclemore
Smart just seems like a Detroit Piston and seems like the kind of player that Dwane Casey would love and develop. Pairing Smart with Cunningham makes good sense on paper as well. Richardson also seems like a Casey guy. These seems like really good value for Grant, almost too much.

I wouldn't mind sending Langford or Nesmith as part of this trade either, but it does complicate things with the luxury tax.

[Roy H.]

As a discussion point:  McCollum is better than Evan Fournier, but how much better in your opinion? 

Fournier (ORL 2021): 19.7 ppg, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 38.8% 3PT%, .560 eFG%

McCollum (POR 2022): 20.8 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 39.6% 3PT%, .531 eFG%

[Surferdad]

I don't see Smart and/or Horford being of interest to cellar-dwelling teams (POR, DET).  They would seem to be more valuable to teams trying add a vet for a deep playoff run.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

As a discussion point:  McCollum is better than Evan Fournier, but how much better in your opinion?

I would say significantly. He's much more consistent offensively and he is a higher level scorer. You could say that Evan Fournier is an inconsistent 85% of CJ McCullom.