Is this team good enough?

[Goldstar88]

If the Celtics move Simons, plus a first round pick for Claxton and Tatum comes back, are the Celtics good enough to contend?

Starters: White, Brown, Hauser, Tatum, Claxton

Bench: Pritchard, Walsh, Minott, Queta

[Quetzalcoatl]

No not really.  The Thunder and Nuggets are still better and would likely beat us in a Finals series, although I think we could beat any team in the East.  I love his switchability but he's not good enough on offense and still loses to other Centers on D.  I'd still be interested if we could trade a first that's not this upcoming one because there's still a chance we end up with a high lottery pick

[ozgod]

Here's Claxton and Q's stats this season, compared.



If you look at their per-36 it's not that big a difference...Claxton is a slightly better passer, Q is a better rebounder. Neither space the floor, both suck from the FT line, Q has a better net rating but that's probably because  he plays with better players than Claxton. Defensively he's more mobile than Q so you don't have to play drop cover as much. So there's an argument that Claxton would be better if he played with the Cs, doing what Q does. And since you're not trading one for the other, you're basically just a slightly better Q for the cost of Simons and a first so you're helping your depth stocks. If Q is injured, you have your other Q. You don't  have to rely on Garza or X or go small ball.

It makes sense until you consider the salary cap impact. Q is on a 2 year contract at $2m. Claxton is on $25m a year give or take till 2028-29. It's a deal that washes out from a Cs cap point of view, but it's the opportunity cost of what else you could get back with that $27m, because so you're adding another Q (call him a 120% Q) for 12x the cost plus a first.

If your goal is to get a tradeable contract on the books, it would be better to trade Simons to fetch 2 or more players to break up his $27m. Claxton is probably tradeable at 25m, the fact you're considering it shows you feel he is worth what he is getting paid. I'm just wondering if that's the best deal out there for Simons.

As for whether it makes us a contender, what I see is it adds to our depth by having another player at the same level as our current starter, so we have insurance in that position, albeit at a much higher cost.

[slamtheking]

If the Celtics move Simons, plus a first round pick for Claxton and Tatum comes back, are the Celtics good enough to contend?

Starters: White, Brown, Hauser, Tatum, Claxton

Bench: Pritchard, Walsh, Minott, Queta

contenders?  no.

Claxton isn't the answer to get us there.  We'd need a center who's actually better than Q in the sense that they're at least as good at rebounding, a bit better in the team's defensive scheme and more of an offensive threat. 

Also, adding Hauser to the starting lineup is not the move I'd make.  I'd keep him with the bench brigade because that bench line-up is lacking shooting/scoring.

Ideally, if they get that scoring center, they could use either Minott or Walsh as the 5th starter (assuming they move PP to the bench which may not happen) since there'd be enough scoring to cover for that 5th non-scoring energy guy.  Bench would be strong with PP, Hauser, Q, Minott/Walsh and Hugo/Baylor with hopefully a good player with this year's pick and better back up big FAs picked up this offseason.

Team needs quality depth as well as a really good center.  If you're moving Simons and a first, we need someone coming back that's better than a player we already have in Q.

[Neurotic Guy]

If the Celtics move Simons, plus a first round pick for Claxton and Tatum comes back, are the Celtics good enough to contend?

Starters: White, Brown, Hauser, Tatum, Claxton

Bench: Pritchard, Walsh, Minott, Queta

contenders?  no.

Claxton isn't the answer to get us there.  We'd need a center who's actually better than Q in the sense that they're at least as good at rebounding, a bit better in the team's defensive scheme and more of an offensive threat. 

Also, adding Hauser to the starting lineup is not the move I'd make.  I'd keep him with the bench brigade because that bench line-up is lacking shooting/scoring.

Ideally, if they get that scoring center, they could use either Minott or Walsh as the 5th starter (assuming they move PP to the bench which may not happen) since there'd be enough scoring to cover for that 5th non-scoring energy guy.  Bench would be strong with PP, Hauser, Q, Minott/Walsh and Hugo/Baylor with hopefully a good player with this year's pick and better back up big FAs picked up this offseason.

Team needs quality depth as well as a really good center.  If you're moving Simons and a first, we need someone coming back that's better than a player we already have in Q.

Not disagreeing that we want someone overall better than Q, but Q keeps surprising me. He is better today than he was at the start of the season and I?m really not sure at all what his ceiling is.   If he continues to develop we go from a big weakness in the middle to a strength.   What im also really curious about is how the Jays adjust to each other after JT returns.  JB is clearly carrying the number 1 option role for today?s team - and it?s going to be an adjustment.

[Roy H.]

I wouldn't want to spend a first rounder.  Claxton isn't an ideal fit in Joe's system, and he's a pretty average center.

I'd rather pursue a two-year stop gap like Vucecic and keep the #1.

[Jiri Welsch]

I think Claxton is a great center but not what we need to elevate our team to clear contender status.

[slamtheking]

If the Celtics move Simons, plus a first round pick for Claxton and Tatum comes back, are the Celtics good enough to contend?

Starters: White, Brown, Hauser, Tatum, Claxton

Bench: Pritchard, Walsh, Minott, Queta

contenders?  no.

Claxton isn't the answer to get us there.  We'd need a center who's actually better than Q in the sense that they're at least as good at rebounding, a bit better in the team's defensive scheme and more of an offensive threat. 

Also, adding Hauser to the starting lineup is not the move I'd make.  I'd keep him with the bench brigade because that bench line-up is lacking shooting/scoring.

Ideally, if they get that scoring center, they could use either Minott or Walsh as the 5th starter (assuming they move PP to the bench which may not happen) since there'd be enough scoring to cover for that 5th non-scoring energy guy.  Bench would be strong with PP, Hauser, Q, Minott/Walsh and Hugo/Baylor with hopefully a good player with this year's pick and better back up big FAs picked up this offseason.

Team needs quality depth as well as a really good center.  If you're moving Simons and a first, we need someone coming back that's better than a player we already have in Q.

Not disagreeing that we want someone overall better than Q, but Q keeps surprising me. He is better today than he was at the start of the season and I?m really not sure at all what his ceiling is.   If he continues to develop we go from a big weakness in the middle to a strength.   What im also really curious about is how the Jays adjust to each other after JT returns.  JB is clearly carrying the number 1 option role for today?s team - and it?s going to be an adjustment.

I agree that his development has been a surprise this season but IMHO it's in areas that were already his strong points.  It's a long season so if he can develop his offense such that his man can't leave him if he's within the 3 point arc, that would be huge for clearing the lane for the others to drive.  he's picked up his scoring around the basket but having him around the basket means there's shotblockers waiting for whoever drives the lane. 

if he can develop a consistent jumper out to at least 15 feet, I think we have our starting center and Brad can work on getting his backup