Time for a change?

[No Nickname]

Looking at ESPN's recent article on free agents, if there was some way to sign and/or trade for both Porzingis and Anfernee Simons (the article says basically no one is getting over 15MM except for restricted free agents) would we be happy with that?

In 10 games this past March Porzingis averaged 24mpg, 18.2ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3bpg. So what if he's figured out a way to manage his illness?

I'd take that from a starter, and plug Queta in to the remaining 24mpg. 

As for Simons, we did really well with a no-conscience shooter who was a walking bucket at times.  Tatum/Brown need that kind of player on the floor late in games.

If he really can't get anything more than the MLE, would he consider coming back to the C's?

I would be happy with that.

We need a 3rd guard behind Pritchard & D White. Simons did well in the role. I'd be happy to have him back.

Porzingis I'd be nervous about but willing to take the risk. It looks like he is progressing. Still not dependable ... but improving. He looked most of the time when he played for GSW late last season. Missed a lot of games though.

I'd also be happy with a lesser center who will just defend & rebound like D Gafford instead of Porzingis. I'd see that as a very good summer for the Celtics. Gafford & A Simons.

G: Pritchard, A Simons
G: D White, Baylor
F: Jaylen, Hugo
F: Tatum, J Walsh
C: Queta, Porzingis / Gafford

Gafford would be great.  But we'd need to trade for him.  And also, does he play center?

[Who]

Looking at ESPN's recent article on free agents, if there was some way to sign and/or trade for both Porzingis and Anfernee Simons (the article says basically no one is getting over 15MM except for restricted free agents) would we be happy with that?

In 10 games this past March Porzingis averaged 24mpg, 18.2ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3bpg. So what if he's figured out a way to manage his illness?

I'd take that from a starter, and plug Queta in to the remaining 24mpg. 

As for Simons, we did really well with a no-conscience shooter who was a walking bucket at times.  Tatum/Brown need that kind of player on the floor late in games.

If he really can't get anything more than the MLE, would he consider coming back to the C's?

I would be happy with that.

We need a 3rd guard behind Pritchard & D White. Simons did well in the role. I'd be happy to have him back.

Porzingis I'd be nervous about but willing to take the risk. It looks like he is progressing. Still not dependable ... but improving. He looked most of the time when he played for GSW late last season. Missed a lot of games though.

I'd also be happy with a lesser center who will just defend & rebound like D Gafford instead of Porzingis. I'd see that as a very good summer for the Celtics. Gafford & A Simons.

G: Pritchard, A Simons
G: D White, Baylor
F: Jaylen, Hugo
F: Tatum, J Walsh
C: Queta, Porzingis / Gafford

Gafford would be great.  But we'd need to trade for him.  And also, does he play center?

Oh my mistake. I thought he was a free agent. That is why I kept mentioning him. I expected him to get MLE money if a FA. But he is under contract. He signed a long term deal. 3 years at $17-19mil per season. Pricy for a backup center.

He would fit in the TPE if Dallas was looking to move him. Maybe a 1st and the TPE for Gafford. Let Dallas cut salary. Sign A Simons to the MLE. Move Hauser to try and keep below the luxury tax threshold they are trying to avoid.

Yes, he plays center. D Lively was the starting center, Gafford the bench center. The 2 of them gave DAL 48min a night of quality center play. A 1-2 punch of Queta & Gafford could do the same here.

[Phantom255x]

1. Acquire Gafford using the TPE and ship out Hauser + future 1st round protected pick(s)

2. Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

3A.) Ship Walsh + 2nd round pick(s) to the Grizzlies for Ty Jerome (MEM is probably still gonna be bad and will look to shed salary so take advantage).....

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

Starters: PP/Jerome, White, Brown, Tatum, Gafford

Bench: Simons/PP, Queta, Porzingis/Timelord, Baylor, Hugo, Harper

[Celtics4ever]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.   

[No Nickname]

1. Acquire Gafford using the TPE and ship out Hauser + future 1st round protected pick(s)

2. Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

3A.) Ship Walsh + 2nd round pick(s) to the Grizzlies for Ty Jerome (MEM is probably still gonna be bad and will look to shed salary so take advantage).....

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

Starters: PP/Jerome, White, Brown, Tatum, Gafford

Bench: Simons/PP, Queta, Porzingis/Timelord, Baylor, Hugo, Harper

I love me some Ty Jerome, the dude balled out the last month of the season after he got healthy from his calf strain.

There's no way they'd give him up for Walsh and a 2nd.  He's only one year into the new contract he signed with them. 

And they'd rather trade Morant right now and let Jerome be a stud and a leader for the young guys on the roster.

They might give him up for a late 1st, since he's about to be 29, but even that probably wouldn't do it.

[Goldstar88]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

[No Nickname]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

[jambr380]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

If we do end up moving Jaylen in a deal where we don't get back a guard, then I would love to bring back Simons. He's an electric scorer from anywhere on the floor and the assumption would be that we have more of a back line of defense to back him up. Simons with more of a green light is a fun player. I think he and White make a great pair.

[Roy H.]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

If we do end up moving Jaylen in a deal where we don't get back a guard, then I would love to bring back Simons. He's an electric scorer from anywhere on the floor and the assumption would be that we have more of a back line of defense to back him up. Simons with more of a green light is a fun player. I think he and White make a great pair.

I would be worrried about point of attack defense.  That's not a strength with White, and Simons would make it worse.

[Goldstar88]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

Playoffs are different animal. Pritchard was fine in the regular season last year and then the Knicks hunted him relentlessly in the Postseason. Teams would do the same to Simons.

[jambr380]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

If we do end up moving Jaylen in a deal where we don't get back a guard, then I would love to bring back Simons. He's an electric scorer from anywhere on the floor and the assumption would be that we have more of a back line of defense to back him up. Simons with more of a green light is a fun player. I think he and White make a great pair.

I would be worrried about point of attack defense.  That's not a strength with White, and Simons would make it worse.

I understand the worry, but we did run a White/Pritchard/Simons backcourt for much of this year and still had a top 5 defense. With a much better defender in Tatum out there instead of Brown, and presumably a premium big like Giannis or Bam (yes, I have now added Bam as a Jaylen trade hopeful lol), the defense should be that much better. Especially with Queta, Walsh, and Hugo also still getting plenty of minutes.

In my scenario, I was just looking to replace a good chunk of Jaylen's scoring at a fraction of the cost. I'd prefer a player like Dosunmu, but I would generally be satisfied with Simons, Sexton, or Coby White.

I just think we have the ability to really maximize our MLE - whether that's a guard like the ones I mentioned above or a big like KP.

[No Nickname]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

Playoffs are different animal. Pritchard was fine in the regular season last year and then the Knicks hunted him relentlessly in the Postseason. Teams would do the same to Simons.

My point again is that Simons would be no worse than Brunson in terms of teams ?hunting? him.

Plus he?s a taller better defender than Brunson anyway.

Sometimes you have to give a little (defense) to get a little (offense). 

Heck, Simons is no worse than Mitchell for the Cavs on defense.

[Goldstar88]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

Playoffs are different animal. Pritchard was fine in the regular season last year and then the Knicks hunted him relentlessly in the Postseason. Teams would do the same to Simons.

My point again is that Simons would be no worse than Brunson in terms of teams ?hunting? him.

Plus he?s a taller better defender than Brunson anyway.

Sometimes you have to give a little (defense) to get a little (offense). 

Heck, Simons is no worse than Mitchell for the Cavs on defense.

My point is that you can?t have two small guards playing big minutes in the playoffs. The Celtics will get eaten alive. Pritchard is more than just a microwave scorer, so that makes up for it to some extent.

[No Nickname]

Sign 1 of Porzingis/Timelord using the full MLE

I am glad Rob is healthy, but we should stay away from these two due to rich injury/medical histories.

3B.) .....OR if they can get Anfernee Simons back for cheaper instead of trading for Jerome, I'd take that too.

I hear all the podcasts, say bring back Simons.   We all know he was a good soldier here, and he can score.   But the thought of him trying to guard Maxey or Edgcombe should scare you.

It would depend on the price tag. I?m sure other teams are going to be hesitant to pay a lot for those two due to the injury history.

I don?t really want Simons back. He would get Hunted in the postseason. Teams already do this to Pritchard.

Smart teams should also hunt Brunson, but for some reason they don't.  Or the Knicks' team defense does a good job covering for him.

Simons did a much better job than anticipated on defense when he was here.  It's not like he's 5'9".

Playoffs are different animal. Pritchard was fine in the regular season last year and then the Knicks hunted him relentlessly in the Postseason. Teams would do the same to Simons.

My point again is that Simons would be no worse than Brunson in terms of teams ?hunting? him.

Plus he?s a taller better defender than Brunson anyway.

Sometimes you have to give a little (defense) to get a little (offense). 

Heck, Simons is no worse than Mitchell for the Cavs on defense.

My point is that you can?t have two small guards playing big minutes in the playoffs. The Celtics will get eaten alive. Pritchard is more than just a microwave scorer, so that makes up for it to some extent.

The stats don't seem to back up your argument.  One of our colleagues on this board laid it out...

I understand the worry, but we did run a White/Pritchard/Simons backcourt for much of this year and still had a top 5 defense. With a much better defender in Tatum out there instead of Brown, and presumably a premium big like Giannis or Bam (yes, I have now added Bam as a Jaylen trade hopeful lol), the defense should be that much better. Especially with Queta, Walsh, and Hugo also still getting plenty of minutes.

[Vermont Green]

For those who believe in advanced stats, here are the DRtg numbers for some BOS guards for the regular season

White        108.0
Hauser      111.0
Pritchard    112.1
Simons      112.7
Brown        113.0

Gonzalez   106.2
Scheierm   109.0
Walsh        112.8

I am not sure what you can conclude from all that but Simons is not all that bad defensively when playing on a team like BOS that has a good defensive scheme and plays good team defense.  He is not going to shut down Brunson, but who does?

I don't see a need to bring Simons back, barring some major roster shake up.  I think Walsh, Scheierman, and Gonzalez will get those minutes.