Real GM Article....Great In Depth Opinions

[hardlyyardley]

http://www.realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/775/20090518/mission_impossible_all_eyes_on_danny_ainge/

[cordobes]

Where the "in depth" part? It's a well-written article, but not exactly ground-breaking stuff. A solid, but not extensive, summary of our off-season options.

And "Danny played it safe a year ago"? I completely disagree; it was quite the opposite - Ainge ran unnecessary risks (to the point he's still paying for them this off-season). Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

[Redz]

http://www.realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/775/20090518/mission_impossible_all_eyes_on_danny_ainge/

Ahem, please don't use all caps in title.    (my Dad, I can stick my tongue out while moderating)

[ChampKind]

Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

I think the author's suggestion here was to eat Nazr's contract in order to pick up a low first round pick later on down the road, as well as clear out some space on the roster.

[cordobes]

Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

I think the author's suggestion here was to eat Nazr's contract in order to pick up a low first round pick later on down the road, as well as clear out some space on the roster.

What's the point? Charlotte would only trade a lottery protected pick and the  money you would be paying Nazr would be more than enough to buy about 4 1st round picks. Considering our luxury tax situation, this is exactly the kind of deals the C's won't be doing (eating salaries to get draft picks; if Nazr was a productive players things would be different).

[Roy Hobbs]

Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

I think the author's suggestion here was to eat Nazr's contract in order to pick up a low first round pick later on down the road, as well as clear out some space on the roster.

What's the point? Charlotte would only trade a lottery protected pick and the  money you would be paying Nazr would be more than enough to buy about 4 1st round picks. Considering our luxury tax situation, this is exactly the kind of deals the C's won't be doing (eating salaries to get draft picks; if Nazr was a productive players things would be different).

Co-sign.

Danny worked hard to get some semblance of salary flexibility with the contracts we have on the roster.  I don't know why we'd cash in that flexibility for a stiff like Nazr.

[Fan from VT]

Where the "in depth" part? It's a well-written article, but not exactly ground-breaking stuff. A solid, but not extensive, summary of our off-season options.

And "Danny played it safe a year ago"? I completely disagree; it was quite the opposite - Ainge ran unnecessary risks (to the point he's still paying for them this off-season). Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

the deal was 2 expirings for mohammed and a future #1 from charlotte. And actually, 2 seasons ago mohammed was still effective. but considering that the trade is 2 players that shouldn't be playing for one player that shouldn't be playing plus a likely lottery draft pick, the deal is essentially buying a likely lottery pick from Charlotte if management were willing to spend the money.



Oh, someone beat me to it. But the key to the deal is not the players, it's the pick. I wouldn't touch the deal if the pick were protected, but if not (or with the option to roll it over for a couple years) you'd have to consider taking the gamble to be able to steal some lottery talent.

[Casperian]

Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

I think the author's suggestion here was to eat Nazr's contract in order to pick up a low first round pick later on down the road, as well as clear out some space on the roster.

What's the point? Charlotte would only trade a lottery protected pick and the  money you would be paying Nazr would be more than enough to buy about 4 1st round picks. Considering our luxury tax situation, this is exactly the kind of deals the C's won't be doing (eating salaries to get draft picks; if Nazr was a productive players things would be different).

I think the point is that these are exactly the Draft Picks that can net you a top five pick. IIRC, Detroit did the same when they had the Darko pick.
Let´s say it´s lottery protected this year, top ten next year, and top three the following year. There´s a very good chance that this pick could turn into a top five pick in a few years.

I don´t know if it´s the smartest move possible, but I can understand the line of thinking behind this proposal.

[cordobes]

Why would the Bobcats trade a non-protected pick to drop some salary? When has that happened? The Pistons traded Thorpe, he was still a productive 15/8 starter at that time. Anyway, there are plenty of teams in a better position than the Celtics to make that kind of deals - especially those not in luxury tax territory.

[CoachBo]

Plus, suggesting we should trade 2 expirings for Nazr Mohammed is insane. I'll assume the writer hasn't been following the Bobcats in the past couple of years.

I think the author's suggestion here was to eat Nazr's contract in order to pick up a low first round pick later on down the road, as well as clear out some space on the roster.

What's the point? Charlotte would only trade a lottery protected pick and the  money you would be paying Nazr would be more than enough to buy about 4 1st round picks. Considering our luxury tax situation, this is exactly the kind of deals the C's won't be doing (eating salaries to get draft picks; if Nazr was a productive players things would be different).

Co-sign.

Danny worked hard to get some semblance of salary flexibility with the contracts we have on the roster.  I don't know why we'd cash in that flexibility for a stiff like Nazr.

And one.

Elrod's never met an Ainge move he wouldn't defend to the death, anyway, and he's hyper-infatuated with rebuilding. That's the context I keep him in.

[Mr October]

"Before answering these questions, a little context is necessary. LeBron James is 24 and Dwight Howard is 23. Their teams are going to be powerhouses next year and for the next half-decade. There are other teams in the east that are improving. Even if Danny fields a very strong team, even if he does his job brilliantly, he may have trouble just getting to the Eastern Conference Finals, even the second round of the playoffs. The bar is very high. The Cs now are in the situation faced by the superb Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee Bucks teams of the early 1980s: no matter how well they played the Celtics and Sixers were always a tad better."

No way I believe this. If the C's are healthy, they beat Orlando 4-1. And at least push Cleveland to 4-3. If we pick up just 2 nice pieces for the bench this summer, the Celtics are back on top for 1-2 more years.

[Casperian]

Why would the Bobcats trade a non-protected pick to drop some salary? When has that happened? The Pistons traded Thorpe, he was still a productive 15/8 starter at that time. Anyway, there are plenty of teams in a better position than the Celtics to make that kind of deals - especially those not in luxury tax territory.

We´ve traded one of these picks back to Minny in the KG trade. and the Clippers also have one of Minny`s picks. The Utah Jazz have the Knicks first-rounder next year. As I´ve said, the Pistons had the Darko pick from Memphis. If we add a valuable piece (Walker, Tony or Scal), it could happen. Value is relative during an economy crisis.

An expiring contract is an expiring contract. If the Bobcats are in financial trouble, it`s absolutely possible that such a trade could happen, imo. If I were the Bobcats GM (everyone wants to be like Mike^^), and I would consider trading my first for expiring contracts, I´d rather trade it to a contending team than to another troubled team, cause I don`t compete with contending teams in the next years. <--that`s not really smart, but who said that NBA GMs have to be smart?

And it`s not always about the "better package". Or do you think Memphis got the best package possible in the Gasol trade?

[nickagneta]

If the Celtics want a pick so bad why would they trade for a quickly becoming stiff like Mohammed and his salary to get one? Over the next few years, teams with bad financial situations will give you a first round pick for $2-3 million. Heck, Sacramento, Memphis, and Oklahoma City all have two first rounders this year and will probably want to sell their later first rounder. Phoenix might sell their pick if they stay at 14th.

I think the entire referenced, in-depth, analysis is rather pedestrian and obvious. Also, some of the conclusions the author came to is rather ridiculous. Howard and the Magic are going to be a dominant powerhouse in the East for the next half decade? Howard is a top five player in the league and maybe soon to be top 15 all-time? Rondo's improvement is the second most important thing happening for the Celtics this off season?

I think, at least for me, I'm still waiting for the definitive, best, off-season analysis of what the Celtics will need to do.

[CoachBo]

If the Celtics want a pick so bad why would they trade for a quickly becoming stiff like Mohammed and his salary to get one? Over the next few years, teams with bad financial situations will give you a first round pick for $2-3 million. Heck, Sacramento, Memphis, and Oklahoma City all have two first rounders this year and will probably want to sell their later first rounder. Phoenix might sell their pick if they stay at 14th.

I think the entire referenced, in-depth, analysis is rather pedestrian and obvious. Also, some of the conclusions the author came to is rather ridiculous. Howard and the Magic are going to be a dominant powerhouse in the East for the next half decade? Howard is a top five player in the league and maybe soon to be top 15 all-time? Rondo's improvement is the second most important thing happening for the Celtics this off season?

I think, at least for me, I'm still waiting for the definitive, best, off-season analysis of what the Celtics will need to do.

True. I especially chuckled at the notion of a player with no low post offensive game - at all - becoming a top 15 all-timer.

[Who]

I don't think the Bobcats are trying to cut salary. All their moves over the last 12 months go against that theory ... and I've seen no signs management (Larry Brown) wants to go in that direction, and I can't imagine Larry Brown being willing to go in that direction.