Our bigs going forward

[Vermont Green]

This is the first chance I had to watch highlights. He has some skills. I think they will translate to the NBA. I don?t know how you aren?t excited about this guy.

We are currently selling plots on Amari Williams island for reasonable amounts. Come and get your land before its sold out!

I think I'm the only living here so far.

I will put down a deposit for that, not a full commitment.  We are talking about a 2nd round pick so expectations have to be calibrated accordingly.  I am not getting my hopes up really high, I would be more than satisfied if he ended up somewhere in the range of Kornet/RWilliams.  That is all.  And based on the highlights, I see that as within reach.

Highlights distort things like shooting as highlights only show makes.  But for things like running the floor, seeing the floor, smooth hands, dribbling at full speed, length, the kind of "can't teach" things, what you see on the highlights is real.  I had no idea that Amari Williams had the kind of raw materials that he has.

The highlights showed him making (1) 3-point shot, and it was ugly.  Looked more like a shot put throw than a basketball shot.  He is a long way from developing anything close to NBA shooting touch.  But Kornet and Williams couldn't shoot either.  Both understood and accepted their roles and contributed.  I am optimistic that Amari can do the same.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

This is the first chance I had to watch highlights. He has some skills. I think they will translate to the NBA. I don?t know how you aren?t excited about this guy.

We are currently selling plots on Amari Williams island for reasonable amounts. Come and get your land before its sold out!

I think I'm the only living here so far.

I will put down a deposit for that, not a full commitment.  We are talking about a 2nd round pick so expectations have to be calibrated accordingly.  I am not getting my hopes up really high, I would be more than satisfied if he ended up somewhere in the range of Kornet/RWilliams.  That is all.  And based on the highlights, I see that as within reach.

Highlights distort things like shooting as highlights only show makes.  But for things like running the floor, seeing the floor, smooth hands, dribbling at full speed, length, the kind of "can't teach" things, what you see on the highlights is real.  I had no idea that Amari Williams had the kind of raw materials that he has.

The highlights showed him making (1) 3-point shot, and it was ugly.  Looked more like a shot put throw than a basketball shot.  He is a long way from developing anything close to NBA shooting touch.  But Kornet and Williams couldn't shoot either.  Both understood and accepted their roles and contributed.  I am optimistic that Amari can do the same.

We do not do deposits, but I will sell you a timeshare on the island. You can come and enjoy it for a few weeks out of the year.

If you abandoned your reasonableness, I'd be willing to let you put a deposit down. But this island is not a place for reason.

[Vermont Green]

This is the first chance I had to watch highlights. He has some skills. I think they will translate to the NBA. I don?t know how you aren?t excited about this guy.

We are currently selling plots on Amari Williams island for reasonable amounts. Come and get your land before its sold out!

I think I'm the only living here so far.

I will put down a deposit for that, not a full commitment.  We are talking about a 2nd round pick so expectations have to be calibrated accordingly.  I am not getting my hopes up really high, I would be more than satisfied if he ended up somewhere in the range of Kornet/RWilliams.  That is all.  And based on the highlights, I see that as within reach.

Highlights distort things like shooting as highlights only show makes.  But for things like running the floor, seeing the floor, smooth hands, dribbling at full speed, length, the kind of "can't teach" things, what you see on the highlights is real.  I had no idea that Amari Williams had the kind of raw materials that he has.

The highlights showed him making (1) 3-point shot, and it was ugly.  Looked more like a shot put throw than a basketball shot.  He is a long way from developing anything close to NBA shooting touch.  But Kornet and Williams couldn't shoot either.  Both understood and accepted their roles and contributed.  I am optimistic that Amari can do the same.

We do not do deposits, but I will sell you a timeshare on the island. You can come and enjoy it for a few weeks out of the year.

If you abandoned your reasonableness, I'd be willing to let you put a deposit down. But this island is not a place for reason.

Very accommodating of you.  How about you let me see a couple of summer league games and then maybe I will be ready to make the full plunge.

[BringToughnessBack]

Could Walker Kessler be our target? We would need to give away 2 1st picks and Simons and one small contract. What does everyone think about him? We know Danny will get what he wants in a trade for sure. Taking our 2026 pick could be enticing knowing Tatum will be out.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/celtics-trade-idea-pairs-jayson-182736068.html

[Goldstar88]

Could Walker Kessler be our target? We would need to give away 2 1st picks and Simons and one small contract. What does everyone think about him? We know Danny will get what he wants in a trade for sure. Taking our 2026 pick could be enticing knowing Tatum will be out.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/celtics-trade-idea-pairs-jayson-182736068.html

Why for the Jazz? Kessler is a stud. He?s in his early 20?s. Seems like a player that would be good to keep for their rebuild.

[Celtics4ever]

Why would Ainge trade him?   The answer would he would not save for a big haul.

[boscel33]

Why would Ainge trade him?   The answer would he would not save for a big haul.

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2025/8/4/24475534/trade-block-nba-how-long-will-walker-kessler-be-with-the-utah-jazz

I think Ainge would and it wouldn't take a haul.  I think Simons might actually pull us back assets seeing as his stats are better than Kessler's, and it's really not close.  The have Kyle F already and Jusef to back him up.  Yeah, this might be a 1 for 1 like the Claxton thought or get us a pick or two.

[Vermont Green]

I am sure that the BOS front office would love to get Kessler but what does BOS have to trade?  Would something like Niang and 2 firsts (2026 and something in the future) do it?  People OK with giving up the 2026 First for Kessler?  Would this even be enough for UTA to be interested?

You have to factor in what BOS will have to pay Kessler as a FA.  There will be some room under the second apron in 2026.  They could offer him a very solid contract, something close to Porzingis money, and still probably manage the 2nd apron.

[Goldstar88]

Why would Ainge trade him?   The answer would he would not save for a big haul.

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2025/8/4/24475534/trade-block-nba-how-long-will-walker-kessler-be-with-the-utah-jazz

I think Ainge would and it wouldn't take a haul.  I think Simons might actually pull us back assets seeing as his stats are better than Kessler's, and it's really not close.  The have Kyle F already and Jusef to back him up.  Yeah, this might be a 1 for 1 like the Claxton thought or get us a pick or two.

That doesn?t seem like a very reliable site. Nurkic is 30, so I don?t think he?s going to be a part of their rebuild. Flipowski would get killed playing Center. He?s a really poor defender.

[Celtics2021]

Why would Ainge trade him?   The answer would he would not save for a big haul.

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2025/8/4/24475534/trade-block-nba-how-long-will-walker-kessler-be-with-the-utah-jazz

I think Ainge would and it wouldn't take a haul.  I think Simons might actually pull us back assets seeing as his stats are better than Kessler's, and it's really not close.  The have Kyle F already and Jusef to back him up.  Yeah, this might be a 1 for 1 like the Claxton thought or get us a pick or two.

That doesn?t seem like a very reliable site. Nurkic is 30, so I don?t think he?s going to be a part of their rebuild. Flipowski would get killed playing Center. He?s a really poor defender.

Utah is tanking one more year, their pick goes OKC if they pick outside the top 8, so I do not think they care if Filipowski gets killed at center for a season.  If, right before training camp, the Celtics are starting to feel more confident that Tatum will play this season, I might see if Utah is interested in our pick if it?s protected to convey if outside the top 6 to 8 range.  With Tatum missing likely 2/3 of the season at a minimum, our pick certainly has late lottery upside.  It would give the Celtics time to negotiate a rookie extension with Kessler before the end of camp deadline.

[Vermont Green]

It is interesting to me that UTA traded Sexton and a 2nd to get Nurkic.  Sexton has a $18M expiring contract.  Nurkic is expiring also, but why did UTA do this trade if they are just going to tank anyway?  Why give up a 2nd round pick to rearrange your deck chairs?

It seems to me that they saw something in Nurkic that they liked.

[JBcat]

It is interesting to me that UTA traded Sexton and a 2nd to get Nurkic.  Sexton has a $18M expiring contract.  Nurkic is expiring also, but why did UTA do this trade if they are just going to tank anyway?  Why give up a 2nd round pick to rearrange your deck chairs?

It seems to me that they saw something in Nurkic that they liked.

It could be they just wanted to open up more playing time for their young guards/wings Bailey, Sensabaugh, George, Collier, and Clayton. But now they are a little crowded at center. Can Fillipowski play some PF?

[Goldstar88]

Why would Ainge trade him?   The answer would he would not save for a big haul.

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2025/8/4/24475534/trade-block-nba-how-long-will-walker-kessler-be-with-the-utah-jazz

I think Ainge would and it wouldn't take a haul.  I think Simons might actually pull us back assets seeing as his stats are better than Kessler's, and it's really not close.  The have Kyle F already and Jusef to back him up.  Yeah, this might be a 1 for 1 like the Claxton thought or get us a pick or two.

That doesn?t seem like a very reliable site. Nurkic is 30, so I don?t think he?s going to be a part of their rebuild. Flipowski would get killed playing Center. He?s a really poor defender.

Utah is tanking one more year, their pick goes OKC if they pick outside the top 8, so I do not think they care if Filipowski gets killed at center for a season.  If, right before training camp, the Celtics are starting to feel more confident that Tatum will play this season, I might see if Utah is interested in our pick if it?s protected to convey if outside the top 6 to 8 range.  With Tatum missing likely 2/3 of the season at a minimum, our pick certainly has late lottery upside.  It would give the Celtics time to negotiate a rookie extension with Kessler before the end of camp deadline.

Jazz won 17 games last year. I don?t think they are going to do that again. Utah will still be bad, but I don?t think they will be actively trying to lose games like they did last year. The team was literally playing their starters against the good teams and then benching them against bad teams. Believe the league fined them for doing so. 

If the Jazz do decide to throw next year, might as well trade Markannen. He?s going to be 30 by the time they are a .500 team.

[Celtics2021]

Why would Ainge trade him?   The answer would he would not save for a big haul.

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2025/8/4/24475534/trade-block-nba-how-long-will-walker-kessler-be-with-the-utah-jazz

I think Ainge would and it wouldn't take a haul.  I think Simons might actually pull us back assets seeing as his stats are better than Kessler's, and it's really not close.  The have Kyle F already and Jusef to back him up.  Yeah, this might be a 1 for 1 like the Claxton thought or get us a pick or two.

That doesn?t seem like a very reliable site. Nurkic is 30, so I don?t think he?s going to be a part of their rebuild. Flipowski would get killed playing Center. He?s a really poor defender.

Utah is tanking one more year, their pick goes OKC if they pick outside the top 8, so I do not think they care if Filipowski gets killed at center for a season.  If, right before training camp, the Celtics are starting to feel more confident that Tatum will play this season, I might see if Utah is interested in our pick if it?s protected to convey if outside the top 6 to 8 range.  With Tatum missing likely 2/3 of the season at a minimum, our pick certainly has late lottery upside.  It would give the Celtics time to negotiate a rookie extension with Kessler before the end of camp deadline.

Jazz won 17 games last year. I don?t think they are going to do that again. Utah will still be bad, but I don?t think they will be actively trying to lose games like they did last year. The team was literally playing their starters against the good teams and then benching them against bad teams. Believe the league fined them for doing so. 

If the Jazz do decide to throw next year, might as well trade Markannen. He?s going to be 30 by the time they are a .500 team.

For sure they will be.  They are a) going to make sure they don?t finish with anything better than the 5th-best record, and b) once you do that you may as well aim all the way for the bottom.  They want at least one more top 5 pick to go with Ace Bailey.  The only reason they haven?t released KJ Martin and his fully unguaranteed $8 million salary, for example, is that he gives them a little cushion to stay above the salary floor in the event they send out more salary in a trade they take on between now and the start of the year.

And Markannen is absolutely on the block.  Might not get traded this if they don?t get the offer they want, but the Jazz are trying to copy the Thunder and have not finished bottoming out.  Kessler, too, is keepable but not key.

[Vermont Green]

the Jazz are trying to copy the Thunder...

It is interesting that the last 5 champions, all got their best player in the draft, except OKC.  They got their best player via a trade, but he was the 11th pick.  BOS got Tatum and Brown at #3 picks.  Jokic was the 41st pick.  GSW got Curry at #7.  And MIL got Giannis at #15.

I guess my point is that copying OKC may not be as easy as it seems.  I am sure that UTA sees it as Ainge drafted the key players for a championship in BOS so he can do it again in UTA.  And maybe he can.  But a lot of teams fail at this approach.