If we trade Simons, who takes over our bench scoring?

[radiohead]

There?s been a lot of talk about how Simons will eventually be dealt when the right deal comes. We?ve heard names like Zubac, Claxton, etc. But once we get rid of him, who?s gonna replace his scoring? I think his bench scoring is being underrated in this little win streak that we have.

[Celtics2021]

Depends what we get back and when the trade happens.  If it is at the deadline and Tatum is close to a return, then Pritchard should move back to a 6th man role.  I assume we would get back someone who can play in the rotation at any rate.  If there is a playable wing, probably would move Hauser or that wing to the starting lineup and Pritchard to the 6th man.

[Phantom255x]

In theory someone like Queta probably also goes back to the bench, I know he's not a prolific scorer but he is averaging 10+ a game. Then Tatum comes back and maybe PP goes to the bench if they add another cheap guard via the trade or buyout.

[Neurotic Guy]

Depends when JT returns and how ready he is, but why wouldn?t Tatum come off the bench at least for a while? Preserve his minutes and, depending on who they get at the 5, maybe JT and Q come in together.

[Celtics2021]

Depends when JT returns and how ready he is, but why wouldn?t Tatum come off the bench at least for a while? Preserve his minutes and, depending on who they get at the 5, maybe JT and Q come in together.

You can manage minutes from starters easily enough.  Just remove Tatum at the 7-minute TV timeout every quarter and he will be between 20 and 24 minutes.

[slamtheking]

Depends when JT returns and how ready he is, but why wouldn?t Tatum come off the bench at least for a while? Preserve his minutes and, depending on who they get at the 5, maybe JT and Q come in together.

You can manage minutes from starters easily enough.  Just remove Tatum at the 7-minute TV timeout every quarter and he will be between 20 and 24 minutes.

I suspect that if Tatum comes back this season, the person going back to the bench is Walsh.  This is regardless of who they may get when they trade Simons. 

Personally, I'd prefer PP back to the bench and keeping Walsh in the starting line-up to help bolster the bench scoring and using Walsh to take some of the defensive load off of Tatum as he gets back into the grind.

[Celtics2021]

Depends when JT returns and how ready he is, but why wouldn?t Tatum come off the bench at least for a while? Preserve his minutes and, depending on who they get at the 5, maybe JT and Q come in together.

You can manage minutes from starters easily enough.  Just remove Tatum at the 7-minute TV timeout every quarter and he will be between 20 and 24 minutes.

I suspect that if Tatum comes back this season, the person going back to the bench is Walsh.  This is regardless of who they may get when they trade Simons. 

Personally, I'd prefer PP back to the bench and keeping Walsh in the starting line-up to help bolster the bench scoring and using Walsh to take some of the defensive load off of Tatum as he gets back into the grind.

I think if Simons is still on the team, you are correct, but if Simons is gone and we do not have another creator, PP will finish the season as the 6th man.  Out of respect to PP they will give it a chance to work with him as the starter after a Simons trade, but when it does not, as is most likely, they will rearrange things.

I do feel a Simons trade grows less likely by the day, despite my expectations that the Celtics very much want out of the luxury tax.

[jambr380]

Depends on who we move Simons for. Those are some more expensive names in your post, but it's just as possible we take back two or more cheaper/worse players in order to cut salary and one of those players might be a scoring guard.

But also, a bench scorer isn't as necessary if we have All-NBA 1st Team Tatum back on the team. Sure, you'd want somebody there who can score and defend, but we were close to signing Lonnie Walker last year. And this year, Ron Harper Jr. is lighting it up in Maine...like really lighting it up. He might be a good enough deep bench replacement to eat minutes if need be.

We also have Baylor who is pretty versatile. I like Simons, but he is way overpaid for what he is bringing to the team and he doesn't seem to be Joe's favorite type of player based on his inconsistent minutes.

[jambr380]

Depends when JT returns and how ready he is, but why wouldn?t Tatum come off the bench at least for a while? Preserve his minutes and, depending on who they get at the 5, maybe JT and Q come in together.

You can manage minutes from starters easily enough.  Just remove Tatum at the 7-minute TV timeout every quarter and he will be between 20 and 24 minutes.

I suspect that if Tatum comes back this season, the person going back to the bench is Walsh.  This is regardless of who they may get when they trade Simons. 

Personally, I'd prefer PP back to the bench and keeping Walsh in the starting line-up to help bolster the bench scoring and using Walsh to take some of the defensive load off of Tatum as he gets back into the grind.

I think if Simons is still on the team, you are correct, but if Simons is gone and we do not have another creator, PP will finish the season as the 6th man.  Out of respect to PP they will give it a chance to work with him as the starter after a Simons trade, but when it does not, as is most likely, they will rearrange things.

I do feel a Simons trade grows less likely by the day, despite my expectations that the Celtics very much want out of the luxury tax.

I agree that it takes another team to actually want Simons, but I'm not as pessimistic about him actually being moved. We haven't even reached 12/15 yet which [as you know] a lot more players can be moved. And as the trade deadline draws nearer, we may see more injuries, which may push a team to try and acquire a Simons level scorer.

Perhaps Brad softens on wanting only expiring contracts back. He has now seen this roster and who is producing and who is not. If the right affordable big came along on a good contract, he might pull the trigger now rather than trying to sign one in the offseason. Especially if we continue to win and it looks like Tatum is definitely coming back.