If Jrue is to be traded...ideas

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

[Larry for 3]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

[Larry for 3]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

Yes he?s valued, just not at 35 million year. That?s a real bad contact. He wasn?t good in this years playoffs, you think that?s going to get better?

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

Yes he?s valued, just not at 35 million year. That?s a real bad contact. He wasn?t good in this years playoffs, you think that?s going to get better?

It really isn't a bad contract for a guy like that. Like I said, it may be a pretty ideal contract if it had one less year, but that is typical for a player like Jrue.

[Roy H.]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

It's interesting that you bring up Igoudala.  He was at a similar age, a year removed from a championship and on a reasonable expiring contract when he was traded.  It cost GS a #1 to dump him.

[Moranis]

As I proposed in another thread, I think Holiday for Vassell makes a fair amount sense for both teams.  Spurs get a veteran at a position of need and who fits their defensive scheme and is probably a better fit next to Castle than Vassell is.  Boston gets younger and saves a bit of cash.  Vassell has a reasonable contract for his production.  He has some positional versatility and has even come off the bench enough that it isn't uncommon.  That is an incremental salary reduction, but it would be a trade that makes sense even if it is the only one the team makes.

Holiday in Cleveland makes sense, but since both Cleveland and Boston are 2nd apron teams that would be difficult to swing.  Hard to work it, but I think this might work for all 3 teams, New Orleans gets Garland: Cleveland gets Holiday, Missi, 2026 IND 1st: Boston gets Herb Jones and KO.  So Boston gets a young wing and big depth while shaving 5 million.  Cavs get a better defensive fit, a young guy, and a future draft pick while shaving 3.6 million (which gets them almost out of the 2nd apron).  I suspect New Orleans would then move Murray, but I don't know that they'd have to.

[JBcat]

As I proposed in another thread, I think Holiday for Vassell makes a fair amount sense for both teams.  Spurs get a veteran at a position of need and who fits their defensive scheme and is probably a better fit next to Castle than Vassell is.  Boston gets younger and saves a bit of cash.  Vassell has a reasonable contract for his production.  He has some positional versatility and has even come off the bench enough that it isn't uncommon.  That is an incremental salary reduction, but it would be a trade that makes sense even if it is the only one the team makes.

Holiday in Cleveland makes sense, but since both Cleveland and Boston are 2nd apron teams that would be difficult to swing.  Hard to work it, but I think this might work for all 3 teams, New Orleans gets Garland: Cleveland gets Holiday, Missi, 2026 IND 1st: Boston gets Herb Jones and KO.  So Boston gets a young wing and big depth while shaving 5 million.  Cavs get a better defensive fit, a young guy, and a future draft pick while shaving 3.6 million (which gets them almost out of the 2nd apron).  I suspect New Orleans would then move Murray, but I don't know that they'd have to.

I?d love to get Vassell, but I?m not sure Jrue is a need for them or honestly if it?s enough to move on from Vassell. Vassell had a bit of setback last season with injuries but as long as his health checks out I think he can be a 3rd scoring option on a very good team as he enters his mid 20s. The Spurs are deep with guards with Fox, Castle, the likelihood of drafting Harper, and still have Paul on the books. Vassell is a little undersized to play the 3 as I think he?s just a true shooting guard. I think the Spurs could use either a legit wing with big size and another big as they can really only rely on Wemby and Sochon at this point.

Herb Jones would be interesting and I?d welcome KO back home.

[Vermont Green]

I had proposed two trades in another thread that I think are still possibilities to some extent.  None of these trades seem all that likely:

Holiday ($32.4M) for Smart and Bey (total $27.7M).  Smart expires after 2025-26 ($21,6M) so that would go a long way to getting us below the 2nd apron from that point forward.  WAS would have a more tradeable asset in Holiday.  Bey could be a useful piece moving forward.

Clay Thompson ($16.7M, 2 years) and Daniel Gafford ($14.4M Exp) for Holiday ($32.4M).  They might even throw in a pick.  Holiday adds to create their big 3 with Davis and Irving.  All these guys are old so Holiday's age would not be an issue for them.  Gafford's expiring is the big savings in 2026-27.

Both these trades are more about getting under the second apron in 2026-27, they don't get there for the 2025-26 season.  There is a little first season savings but not much.  I just don't see how we get under for 2025-26 without a total gut of the team including stretching of contracts.

[Roy H.]

Both these trades are more about getting under the second apron in 2026-27, they don't get there for the 2025-26 season.  There is a little first season savings but not much.  I just don't see how we get under for 2025-26 without a total gut of the team including stretching of contracts.

I'm hoping for a two-year transition, but I'm expecting it to be a "rip the band-aid off" approach.  The team presumably wants to not only get below the apron, but below the luxury tax (since we're stuck in repeater territory).  It's probably better to get below that threshold next season than to kick the can down the road into seasons when we have a healthy Tatum.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

It's interesting that you bring up Igoudala.  He was at a similar age, a year removed from a championship and on a reasonable expiring contract when he was traded.  It cost GS a #1 to dump him.

Production at that point was vastly different though. Jrue is a year younger and averaging twice the points. He's a much better three point shooter, which allows his offense to decline more smoothly than Iggy's did. He also has more ability to create his own shot than Iggy did for his last 5 years in Golden State. Igoudala NEVER averaged the PPG in Golden State than Jrue did for Boston last year.

[Roy H.]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

It's interesting that you bring up Igoudala.  He was at a similar age, a year removed from a championship and on a reasonable expiring contract when he was traded.  It cost GS a #1 to dump him.

Production at that point was vastly different though. Jrue is a year younger and averaging twice the points. He's a much better three point shooter, which allows his offense to decline more smoothly than Iggy's did. He also has more ability to create his own shot than Iggy did for his last 5 years in Golden State. Igoudala NEVER averaged the PPG in Golden State than Jrue did for Boston last year.

So, Jrue adds 3 more ppg, but costs $85 million more over three years.  I'm not sure that Jrue has significantly more trade value.

Now, you can argue that GS made a bad trade, particularly because Iggy was right back in the Finals the next year with Miami.  But, with the CBA being so restrictive right now, I'm not sure that a lot of teams are going to give up real assets.

I'm 100% sold on the "intangibles" argument for both guys, though.  They're two of my all-time favorite players, even when they put up lesser counting stats.  That said, I do think Jrue fell off a bit this year.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jrue + a second round pick for Gafford + Hardy (a 3rd team helps to facilitate)

Why are the Celtics giving up a pick in that? Gafford is a backup pick-and-roll big whose defense is a bit meh.

This feels like underrating Jrue to me.

Because he has 3 years & 100 million left on the contract and is 34. Same as KP you?re going to have to sweeten the pot to move these guys more than likely.

That extra year may be one too many, but that's pretty commonplace for a player like Jrue. He's a winning basketball player that you know can help win in big games in the playoffs. He is what Igoudala was for the Warriors.

It seems like we are treating him like he's an albatross contract, but when/if he gets traded, I think we are going to see he was highly valued around the league.

It's interesting that you bring up Igoudala.  He was at a similar age, a year removed from a championship and on a reasonable expiring contract when he was traded.  It cost GS a #1 to dump him.

Production at that point was vastly different though. Jrue is a year younger and averaging twice the points. He's a much better three point shooter, which allows his offense to decline more smoothly than Iggy's did. He also has more ability to create his own shot than Iggy did for his last 5 years in Golden State. Igoudala NEVER averaged the PPG in Golden State than Jrue did for Boston last year.

So, Jrue adds 3 more ppg, but costs $85 million more over three years.  I'm not sure that Jrue has significantly more trade value.

Now, you can argue that GS made a bad trade, particularly because Iggy was right back in the Finals the next year with Miami.  But, with the CBA being so restrictive right now, I'm not sure that a lot of teams are going to give up real assets.

I'm 100% sold on the "intangibles" argument for both guys, though.  They're two of my all-time favorite players, even when they put up lesser counting stats.  That said, I do think Jrue fell off a bit this year.

Fair enough. I think we disagree here. I think I'm a bit more optimistic about his trade value around the league. I know we both hope I'm right

[Roy H.]

I know we both hope I'm right

For sure.  I'd love to keep him and run it back.  But, assuming that the team is going to aggressively cut salaries, I'd be beyond thrilled with expiring contracts and a #1 pick.  I don't think we'll get that, but I'm happy to be wrong.

[wdleehi]

All it takes it two teams wanting him and a third team willing to take an extra salary for a low price.