Time for a change?

[keevsnick]

Bill Simmons recently about Celtics offseason,

Is Jaylen on the Celtics next year? I am on the record that I want Jaylen to play his entire career on the Celtics. I just like Jaylen Brown and think he plays hard & he is durable.

But this would be the time to trade him right now, because he is earning 57, 61, 65 [million] over the next three years, Tatum is 58, 62, 67 [million].

If you are going to make a case to trade him [Brown], can you afford two guys making that much money?

I think at this point the money is actually way less of an issue than it ever been. They are as of now under the tax and have the backbone of a 55-60 win team with most of their future assets going forward and some intriguing young guys. I don't see any real reason to trade Brown for money reasons anymore, they more or less solved that by dumping Holiday/KP.

[Goldstar88]

Giannis or bust for Brown. I do not care who plays center. Giannis is as much a center as Horford or Porzingis. I would be OK with Banchero also, but I can not imagine him being traded. 

Much less interested in trading Brown for picks and prospects.

Definitely should be plan A.

[Larry for 3]

Bill Simmons recently about Celtics offseason,

Is Jaylen on the Celtics next year? I am on the record that I want Jaylen to play his entire career on the Celtics. I just like Jaylen Brown and think he plays hard & he is durable.

But this would be the time to trade him right now, because he is earning 57, 61, 65 [million] over the next three years, Tatum is 58, 62, 67 [million].

If you are going to make a case to trade him [Brown], can you afford two guys making that much money?

I think at this point the money is actually way less of an issue than it ever been. They are as of now under the tax and have the backbone of a 55-60 win team with most of their future assets going forward and some intriguing young guys. I don't see any real reason to trade Brown for money reasons anymore, they more or less solved that by dumping Holiday/KP.

Your regular season win totals mean nothing in today?s NBA. Talk about fake. This years Celtics proved all you have to do is play hard with just an ok roster and you can rack up wins against tanking teams and teams resting and not playing guys. It was more than half the league this year. They were not and are not a 55 win team. The nba regular season has never meant less then now vs any point in the history of the league.

[SparzWizard]

I trust Brad to do the right thing. He rarely misses.

He missed on the Vuc so I guess that's one. And appointing Joe to be head-coach in the middle of the season is another.

[Who]

Some perhaps realistic options where in most cases the Celtics should ask for additional assets:

LaMelo Ball (Hornets)
De'Aaron Fox (Spurs)
Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
Darius Garland (Clippers)
Trae Young (Wizards)

I wouldn't trade Jaylen for any of those PGs. None of the guards contribute as much or are as good as Jaylen is.

I would hate to have to watch LaMelo Ball full time. That guy's shot selection would drive me nuts. This team is bad enough already with their shot selection. It would be so much worse with LaMelo.

Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
Devin Booker (Suns)

More complete offensive players than Jaylen. Better ball-handlers & passers. Less capable defensive players than Jaylen.

I don't think it improves us. It changes us but doesn't improve us. I'll keep Jaylen.

Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)
Amen Thompson (Rockets)
Paolo Banchero (Magic)
OG Anunoby (Knicks)
Trey Murphy (Pelicans)

Neither Anunoby or Trey Murphy are in Jaylen's stratosphere. Both struggle mightily to create their own offense. They can only play off of others.

Amen is a long term prospect / project. He could prove more valuable in the long run if he develops his scoring / shooting. But he is definitely far inferior in the short term. Trading Jaylen for Amen would end our title chances in the short term.

Kawhi is too old and too injury prone. Not trading Jaylen for him.

Banchero is an inferior player to Jaylen. He is also a full time PF which means switch Tatum back to SF. I prefer Jaylen at SF alongside Tatum at PF to Tatum at SF and Banchero at PF.

Banchero still hasn't developed his jump-shot or overall scoring enough to lead a team in the playoffs. He had a career high TS% at 56.6% this season which is below average. That drops to 53.3% in the playoffs. Teams in the playoffs do a better job of limiting his driving lanes and force him to take more contested jump-shots. He isn't good enough at contested jump-shots to make that work. He also can't shoot the 3 well enough.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Zion Williamson (Pelicans)
Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)

I am not trading Jaylen for Zion. Too injury prone.

I am not trading Jaylen for Markkanen. Markkanen is more limited. More of a one-way player. Can disappear at times. Has never had a high level individual season on a winning team nevermind a title contender. Not worth Jaylen.

Evan Mobley is interesting. First reaction is no but I would think about it. The negative reaction is Mobley has been slow to improve these last few years. He still fails to show up in big games too often. The positive reaction is that Mobley is younger, his defensive game is impressive and his skill-set is one that is hard to find / rare.

Giannis is a good option talent wise. I don't want to do it because I don't like Giannis' game but trade value wise it is a good option. Some risk there with Giannis' recent injuries.

Alperen Seng?n (Rockets)
Jalen Duren (Pistons)
Bam Adebayo (Heat)
Domantas Sabonis (Kings)

No to Duren. He is a basic rim runner center. Not worth Jaylen.

No to Sengun and D Sabonis. I made a longer post on Sengun in one of the Sengun threads. Most of that applies to D Sabonis too. Two similar players.

No to Bam. I don't trust Mazzula / Stevens to use him well. I am not sure Bam is worth JB to begin with but given that I have no confidence in our ability to utilize Bam to his full extent, I definitely have no interest in him.

===============

So Giannis was my only "yes" value wise. Although I hope they do not do it because I don't like watching him play and would rather keep Jaylen.

Mobley was maybe. Likely no.

All the others were definite nos for me.

[Goldstar88]

NBA insider Marc Stein tabbed the Celtics as a team that could be in the running for the two-time MVP if the Bucks opt to move him after a disappointing 2025-26 season.

There have been some rumblings at various points during the season that the Celtics could be a stealth Giannis team and a team that potentially interests Giannis. So let?s keep our eye on the Celtics. We know Brad Stevens is not afraid to make big moves and take big swings. So I think we have to be ready for just about anything with Boston.

[Phantom255x]

If Giannis isn't feasible, I would be okay signing Timelord and then trying to add a PG via trade involving Hauser, White and/or picks in a package. A PG that can facilitate and run the offense and let Jaylen + Tatum just work off-ball instead of constantly dribbling up and down the court.

We don't need a center that can put up 20+ PPG, just someone that is playable in the postseason and can play decent defense is good enough. We had none of that the past series. Queta is still clearly developing.

[SparzWizard]

If Giannis isn't feasible, I would be okay signing Timelord and then trying to add a PG via trade involving Hauser, White and/or picks in a package. A PG that can facilitate and run the offense and let Jaylen + Tatum just work off-ball instead of constantly dribbling up and down the court.

We don't need a center that can put up 20+ PPG, just someone that is playable in the postseason and can play decent defense is good enough. We had none of that the past series. Queta is still clearly developing.

We'll need a center who can neutralize or hold down guys like Embiid, KAT, Zubac (once Hali returns next season, Pacers will be right back in the mix), Wemby, and Holmgren

[Moranis]

Who.  I don't think you are necessarily wrong with a lot of your valuation (though I do think you are overvaluing Brown some), but what is the alternative?  Keep him and lose in the 1st or 2nd round again as the team gets older and less talented.  I have no doubt that unless it is a player like Giannis, any individual piece being traded for Brown isn't going to be as good, but it appears to me the team needs to do a mini-rebuild by getting younger, cheaper, etc.  The team also needs more depth. 

I think something like Okongwu, NAW, Risacher, 7 for Brown, 27 makes some sense for both teams.  Atlanta gets another All NBA talent to pair with Johnson and Kuminga (along with Daniels, Kispert).  Boston gets a solid starting center, excellent shooting wing, and a young talented guy that clearly needs a change of scenery, plus the high draft pick (take someone like Flemings). So Boston ends up with 2 "high-level" young talents and 2 "veterans" that can start or at least be reliable rotation pieces.

With no other major moves

Guards - White, PP, Flemings, Hugo
Wings - Tatum, NAW, Hauser, Baylor, Jordan
Bigs - Okongwu, Queta, Risacher, Garza

If Flemings hits or Risacher just needed a change of scenery, that might be the kick start the team needs to actually become a contender again instead of just 1st or 2nd round and out.  I still might try to move White, though I like his steady hand in the backcourt. 

[Goldstar88]

If Giannis isn't feasible, I would be okay signing Timelord and then trying to add a PG via trade involving Hauser, White and/or picks in a package. A PG that can facilitate and run the offense and let Jaylen + Tatum just work off-ball instead of constantly dribbling up and down the court.

We don't need a center that can put up 20+ PPG, just someone that is playable in the postseason and can play decent defense is good enough. We had none of that the past series. Queta is still clearly developing.

How many teams have traditional point guards running their offense? I don?t see that happening. I?m fine with the ball being in JTs hands. JB, not so much.