TPE big man options?

[Who]

The other thing I like about M Turner is that he won't cost us any assets other than the TPE and having to salary dump Hauser. Other targets will require multiple 1st round picks and other such assets.

M Turner is available basically on a free or close to it because of his perceived bad contract (which I think is a fair value contract). 

[Who]

Ideally I'd love to use the TPE on a two-way perimeter player - either a guard or a wing. Give our team another scorer. And then pickup a defensive big in FA for the MLE or cheaper.

I thought we suffered in the playoffs from having only 4 guys who can get baskets (JB, JT, Pritch, D White) and then a bunch of a defensive role players who are too limited offensively. That is why I would prefer to use the TPE on a perimeter player rather than a big man.

However, if we were to use it on a big, I am happy with Myles Turner.

[Who]

There were 3 big man targets I thought could be gettable with the TPE and 2 of the 3 are already off the board.

* Chicago got Nic Claxton. 1st gone.
* Utah offered Kessler more money than the TPE. 2nd gone.

Myles Turner is the only quality big man left that I thought was available for the TPE.

Looks like OKC is keeping Hartenstein. I do not expect CLE to trade J Allen. They can trade other lesser players like Schroder or M Strus to reduce their tax bill. That is pretty much it ... for top 20 centers. Then you are just talking about bench guys really because Queta is in that top 20 center group.

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The next best option is probably Poeltl from Toronto. He is not as good as Queta. So Poeltl would be a bench player here. $19.5mil per year. MLE is $15mil. So a bit over the MLE. Poeltl struggled in the playoffs against CLE. He is a slow footed big who can be targetted by perimeter players in the postseason. He is also probably better than anyone we can get for the MLE in FA.

[Celtics2021]

Turner sucks, especially at his contract. The Bulls just got Claxton for literally nothing and he makes less than Turner. I will seriously start to question Brad?s judgment if he trades for Turner.

Turner has had good seasons and playoff runs. Fit and motivation are more likely the issue with him but that's the case for a lot of NBA players that been well paid. I feel here with the Js he could step up his game again.

Sucks is harsh, but he is really uninspiring. I'd take him as a FA for the MLE (which obviously isn't available), but have no desire to go into the tax for him. I'd honestly still want to start Queta if we did acquire Turner. There are other comparable options that will cost a lot less. Unless we are getting a clear upgrade on Queta, we shouldn't be spending big on the Center position.

I believe that is the hard part about upgrading from Queta. In 25 mpg last year he averaged 10/8/1.3 blocks. He is only on a 2.6 million team option next year.

If we find a noticeably better replacement, the cap hit will be disproportionately higher. If we commit, it has to be the right upgrade.

That is correct.  We will be hard-pressed upgrade from Queta.  With the MLE we hopefully find someone to platoon him with that is an upgrade on Garza, like a Mitchell Robinson or TimeLord.  As part of Queta?s playoff problems was staying on the court due to foul troubles, and extra 6 quality fouls is not a small value.  Kessler would cost a pick and $25-30 million a year, and options better than him will cost even more.  Queta was fine, good even, but his limitation is that he can turn into a pumpkin some times, so we just need an equivalent Option B.

Also, regarding Queta.  He played double the minutes last year as he had the prior year, and triple the year before even if we include G League minutes.  He very well could have run into a wall by the end of the year, having played so much more, and hopefully he has a bit more endurance towards the end of the year.  But we still need another center, no ifs ands or buts.

[celticinorlando]

What about trading for Gafford?

[Who]

What about trading for Gafford?

Good option. Good reserve behind Queta.

Gafford or I Stewart would be good backup centers.

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Poeltl $19.5mil. Gafford $17mil. Stewart $15mil. Poeltl would cost the least in terms of additional assets. Gafford would cost some assets. Stewart too. It might be worth paying Poeltl the extra money to avoid paying the extra assets (1st round picks) in a trade.

DET would likely look to get assets for Stewart to reroute them elsewhere to get some perimeter help. Although maybe they could be interested in Hauser. I don't know. They need shooters. But they also want ball-handlers / playmaking as well.

[rondohondo]

Is it realistic to add porzingis and Rob Williams back around 15 mil each?

P.p.   
White.   Hugo
JB.        Baylor
Tatum.    Williams
Porzingis. Queta

[keevsnick]

It is interesting to me that the Bulls essentially got Nic Claxton for nothing other than the willingness to take on his contract, tells you that teams around the league must not see him as having much value. He has taken a pretty significant step back defensively recently.

In terms of big men the obvious targets are Myles Turner, Daniel Gafford, Wendell Carter Jr, Isaiah Stewart, Santi Aldama and Onyeku Okongwu in the MLE-->TPE price range.

Myles Turner may simply make too much money at 26.6 million to fit into the Celtics salary structure and he's also a little older than these other guys at 30.

Myles Turner (30)- 26.6, 27.9, 19.1
Wendell Carter Jr (27)- 18.1, 19.6, 21.0
Daniel Gafford (27)- 17.3, 18.1, 19.0
Santi Aldama (25)- 17.0, 17.0
Onyeka Okongwu (25)- 16.1, 16.9
Isaiah Stewart (25)- 15.0, 15.0

[Csfan1984]

It is interesting to me that the Bulls essentially got Nic Claxton for nothing other than the willingness to take on his contract, tells you that teams around the league must not see him as having much value. He has taken a pretty significant step back defensively recently.

In terms of big men the obvious targets are Myles Turner, Daniel Gafford, Wendell Carter Jr, Isaiah Stewart, Santi Aldama and Onyeku Okongwu in the MLE-->TPE price range.

Myles Turner may simply make too much money at 26.6 million to fit into the Celtics salary structure and he's also a little older than these other guys at 30.

Myles Turner (30)- 26.6, 27.9, 19.1
Wendell Carter Jr (27)- 18.1, 19.6, 21.0
Daniel Gafford (27)- 17.3, 18.1, 19.0
Santi Aldama (25)- 17.0, 17.0
Onyeka Okongwu (25)- 16.1, 16.9
Isaiah Stewart (25)- 15.0, 15.0

Wolves have a TPE if they took White and gave two first the salary slot is open for a big man. Between Harper, Hugo, Walsh and Schier I see no reason for this team to hold on to White.

[Roy H.]

Between Harper, Hugo, Walsh and Schier I see no reason for this team to hold on to White.

Isn't the reason that we want to contend, and those guys just aren't nearly as good as White?

[Who]

Between Harper, Hugo, Walsh and Schier I see no reason for this team to hold on to White.

Isn't the reason that we want to contend, and those guys just aren't nearly as good as White?

Yeah, I don't understand that either. All 4 of those guys are below average bench players. D White is a well above average starting caliber player.

[Csfan1984]

Between Harper, Hugo, Walsh and Schier I see no reason for this team to hold on to White.

Isn't the reason that we want to contend, and those guys just aren't nearly as good as White?

I feel White is a problem not solution. He can't be counted on. Makes him a fourth option player making $30 million. I'd rather play Hugo and Harper and use the salary on a big. 

[Who]

Myles Turner (30)- 26.6, 27.9, 19.1
Wendell Carter Jr (27)- 18.1, 19.6, 21.0
Daniel Gafford (27)- 17.3, 18.1, 19.0
Santi Aldama (25)- 17.0, 17.0
Onyeka Okongwu (25)- 16.1, 16.9
Isaiah Stewart (25)- 15.0, 15.0

I don't think Okongwu is gettable. Atlanta seem committed to him. I think a trade for Jaylen Brown is the only way you get him in a trade package.

Santi Aldama is an interesting name. Not a center. 7 feet tall but he is a forward rather than a center. He needs to play alongside an interior player. He is a weak defender. Physically weak too. He needs to play forward, not center. I'd view him more as a backup to Tatum & JB at forward. That would be an awesome 3 man forward rotation. I like Aldama's game a lot.

I don't know whether MEM would consider letting him go. He'd be a nice fit alongside Cam Boozer & Zach Edey as a 6th man. A different sort of big. One who can open up the floor and speed up the game. He can work with either one of them. With Boozer sliding over to center in small ball lineups.

If MEM would let him go, I'd make a run at him. I don't know how much I'd give up though. They'd probably want at least 2 first round picks for him. If not 3. Or 2 and swap. Or 2 and a young player. 3 feels too much. Probably 2 firsts and something else.

[keevsnick]

In terms of MLE targets they could go after:

Mitchell Robinson 7'0, 28 years old
Sandro Mamukelashvili 6'9, 27 years old
Jusuf Nurkic 6'11, 31 years old
DeAndre Ayton 7'0, 27 years old
Mark Williams 7'1, 24 years old
Kristaps Porzingis 7'3, 30 years old

More of a PF than a center but also an option:
John Collins 6'9, 28 years old (shot 37.1, 39.9, 40.6% from three last three years)

Also can't rule out Robert Williams III return.

[Who]

In terms of MLE targets they could go after:

Mitchell Robinson 7'0, 28 years old
Sandro Mamukelashvili 6'9, 27 years old
Jusuf Nurkic 6'11, 31 years old
DeAndre Ayton 7'0, 27 years old
Mark Williams 7'1, 24 years old
Kristaps Porzingis 7'3, 30 years old

More of a PF than a center but also an option:
John Collins 6'9, 28 years old (shot 37.1, 39.9, 40.6% from three last three years)

Also can't rule out Robert Williams III return.

I want nothing to do with M Robinson, Porzingis or Timelord for the MLE. All are too injury prone. If they are at the minimum, yes. Or near the minimum, fine. But not the full MLE. We can't rely on any one of them.

Mamu can't play defense. It will be a repeat of what happened in last year's playoffs with Vooch and L Garza. TOR had to bench him in the playoffs because he couldn't play defense. San Antonio dumped him for Kornet because Mamu couldn't play defense. He is a strong offensive player but he is really only a regular season player and not a postseason player because he cannot defend anybody.

Mark Williams would be the same as M Robinson, Timelord, Porzingis. Too injury prone. It sounds like PHX are trying to re-sign him at the MLE or slightly above the MLE. So he won't be available at the MLE for us.

That is 5 of 7 out (for me). That leaves Ayton & Nurkic.

I'd take Ayton. I wouldn't be overly happy about it but I'd take him. He is at least athletic enough to play defense and he generally does play solid defense.

Not interested in Nurkic. Utah are trying to re-sign him. I don't know why. Maybe it is Kessler-insurance. They have that supersized frontcourt with Kessler, JJJ, Markkanen. I'd start them together but only play them a few minutes together. 90% of the time I'd have 2 of the 3 on the court together as the 2 bigs. No need for Nurkic. But hey, they see it differently and they want to keep him. He would likely still be gettable because I doubt they want to pay Nurkic much. I don't want to pay him either. I think he is a minimum contract to taxpayer MLE ($5-6mil?) level player at this point in his career. I also think he'll be played off the court in the playoffs by many teams due to his lack of footspeed. Not a fan of his.

So Ayton is the only 1 of the 7 centers that I would look at. Not particularly excited about that. Adequate enough I suppose. I don't think he would be happy here as a backup to Queta. Queta is better than Ayton too. So he would be the backup. An unhappy Ayton who already struggles to stay engaged and play with effort is not anything to get excited about.

I'd rather just give some guy the minimum and spend the MLE on a perimeter player. I don't think any of those guys are worth it.