C's interested in acquiring the second pick?

[Chris]

In my opinion, Thabeet is not mobile or fluid enough to ever be a dominate rebounding, shot blocking big man. I see his ceiling as a bench player who can give you a useful twenty-five minutes a night.

I agree.  I also think he is going to have a hard time getting strong enough to be able to really bang inside with NBA big men without losing even more mobility.

I don't necessarily think he will be a total bust, but I would be shocked if he is ever more than a role-player.  I think his absolute ceiling is someone like Dikembe, but he has a LONG way to go to get there.

[nickagneta]

In my opinion, Thabeet is not mobile or fluid enough to ever be a dominate rebounding, shot blocking big man. I see his ceiling as a bench player who can give you a useful twenty-five minutes a night.

I agree.  I also think he is going to have a hard time getting strong enough to be able to really bang inside with NBA big men without losing even more mobility.

I don't necessarily think he will be a total bust, but I would be shocked if he is ever more than a role-player.  I think his absolute ceiling is someone like Dikembe, but he has a LONG way to go to get there.

You see, I don't agree with you guys at all. I think he has grown leaps and bounds as a player since arriving at UConn and has developed a nice little touch in his shot and has shown increased mobility and knowledge of the game each year. He has been playing the game only 4-5 years and is a pretty intelligent kid who learns fairly quickly.

Yes, he isn't NBA starting ready right now, but he can give a team like the C's some definite minutes off the bench and within a couple years I think he could be the best player in this draft. He has the height, length, athleticism, weight, and intelligence to be special if he pushes himself. He's taller, longer and younger than both Howard and Perk and just needs some good big man coaching to exceed.

[wdleehi]

In my opinion, Thabeet is not mobile or fluid enough to ever be a dominate rebounding, shot blocking big man. I see his ceiling as a bench player who can give you a useful twenty-five minutes a night.

I agree.  I also think he is going to have a hard time getting strong enough to be able to really bang inside with NBA big men without losing even more mobility.

I don't necessarily think he will be a total bust, but I would be shocked if he is ever more than a role-player.  I think his absolute ceiling is someone like Dikembe, but he has a LONG way to go to get there.

You see, I don't agree with you guys at all. I think he has grown leaps and bounds as a player since arriving at UConn and has developed a nice little touch in his shot and has shown increased mobility and knowledge of the game each year. He has been playing the game only 4-5 years and is a pretty intelligent kid who learns fairly quickly.

Yes, he isn't NBA starting ready right now, but he can give a team like the C's some definite minutes off the bench and within a couple years I think he could be the best player in this draft. He has the height, length, athleticism, weight, and intelligence to be special if he pushes himself. He's taller, longer and younger than both Howard and Perk and just needs some good big man coaching to exceed.

I would like to see the Celtics get him as well, but not at the price of Perk or Rondo or Ray.

[afflatus]

Look...

I think we should get the #2 pick and give up Big Baby (Via Sign and Trade) and Gabe Pruitt.

Now before you all tell me I am crazy to think this. Well, I am suggesting it on basic principle.

That team gave the Lakers Pau Gasol for NOTHING. Pretty much enabling them to get to the finals for 2 straight years.

All we are asking for is the #2 pick for "a bit of something".

Chris Wallace, you owe us a solid on this one.

[Chris]

Look...

I think we should get the #2 pick and give up Big Baby (Via Sign and Trade) and Gabe Pruitt.

Now before you all tell me I am crazy to think this. Well, I am suggesting it on basic principle.

That team gave the Lakers Pau Gasol for NOTHING. Pretty much enabling them to get to the finals for 2 straight years.

All we are asking for is the #2 pick for "a bit of something".

Chris Wallace, you owe us a solid on this one.

I think I already posted this in this thread, but they did not trade Gasol for nothing.  They got back Marc Gasol (who has proven to be a very good player), and essentially 3 first rounders (2 from the Lakers, and the one they got back for Crittenden).

Maybe it wasn't a huge haul, but it was nowhere near nothing.

Oh the other hand, Chris Wallace does owe us...so maybe he will do Mayo and #2 for Rondo.  Please?

[RAcker]

Look...

I think we should get the #2 pick and give up Big Baby (Via Sign and Trade) and Gabe Pruitt.

Now before you all tell me I am crazy to think this. Well, I am suggesting it on basic principle.

That team gave the Lakers Pau Gasol for NOTHING. Pretty much enabling them to get to the finals for 2 straight years.

All we are asking for is the #2 pick for "a bit of something".

Chris Wallace, you owe us a solid on this one.

I think I already posted this in this thread, but they did not trade Gasol for nothing.  They got back Marc Gasol (who has proven to be a very good player), and essentially 3 first rounders (2 from the Lakers, and the one they got back for Crittenden).

Maybe it wasn't a huge haul, but it was nowhere near nothing.

Oh the other hand, Chris Wallace does owe us...so maybe he will do Mayo and #2 for Rondo.  Please?

Going with the asking nicely approach and using manners.  Very nice, Chris.  That is one of the few "absolutely" responses I'd give to a Rondo trade.

[lon3lytoaster]

Instead of looking at two, why not five? Washington doesn't want it, and they really want to shed salary. We could trade for Caron or Jamison, actually if Washington wanted we could do Ray for BOTH Butler and Jamison and then the five pick if they really want to get out of those contracts. Then we could have one of Harden (Yes, please) Thabeet (Maybe there) Jordan Hill (I like him, too) or Tyreke Evans.

[Tradetime]

In my opinion, Thabeet is not mobile or fluid enough to ever be a dominate rebounding, shot blocking big man. I see his ceiling as a bench player who can give you a useful twenty-five minutes a night.

I agree.  I also think he is going to have a hard time getting strong enough to be able to really bang inside with NBA big men without losing even more mobility.

I don't necessarily think he will be a total bust, but I would be shocked if he is ever more than a role-player.  I think his absolute ceiling is someone like Dikembe, but he has a LONG way to go to get there.

You see, I don't agree with you guys at all. I think he has grown leaps and bounds as a player since arriving at UConn and has developed a nice little touch in his shot and has shown increased mobility and knowledge of the game each year. He has been playing the game only 4-5 years and is a pretty intelligent kid who learns fairly quickly.

Yes, he isn't NBA starting ready right now, but he can give a team like the C's some definite minutes off the bench and within a couple years I think he could be the best player in this draft. He has the height, length, athleticism, weight, and intelligence to be special if he pushes himself. He's taller, longer and younger than both Howard and Perk and just needs some good big man coaching to exceed.

I agree with Nick here. Thabeet is going to be a very solid bigman for a long time in the league. When he first came to UConn, he was little more than a shot blocking presence, and he's even improved greatly on that since then. He now has some moves around the basket that make him a guy that could average 10 a game this year. He does need fine tuning, and what better guy could offer him that than the man known as Clifford Ray?

[johnnyrondo]

Instead of looking at two, why not five? Washington doesn't want it, and they really want to shed salary. We could trade for Caron or Jamison, actually if Washington wanted we could do Ray for BOTH Butler and Jamison and then the five pick if they really want to get out of those contracts. Then we could have one of Harden (Yes, please) Thabeet (Maybe there) Jordan Hill (I like him, too) or Tyreke Evans.

Trading Butler, Jamison, and the #5 for Ray Allen?  Washington is too dangerous a city to risk that big a riot.

[Jon Niednagel]

Memphis:
Trades #2, Gay, Arthur, #27, and Darko
Receives Rondo, David Lee, and Glenn Davis (with contract extensions), along with Wilson Chandler and Eddie Curry, Boston's 2010 1st

New York:
Trades Eddie Curry, Wilson Chandler, David Lee
Receives Darko, #27, Arthur

Boston:
Trades Rondo, Big Baby, 2010 1st
Receives #2 & Gay

Memphis:
PG: Rondo, Mike C., Marko J.
SG: OJ, Buckner, #36
SF: W. Chandler, Hakim
PF: Lee, Big Baby
C: Gasol, Eddie C, Haddadi

This Memphis team has a nice balance. It becomes more experienced, tougher, deeper, and improves the defensive character of the Grizz. Memphis picks up another first rounder for next year to pair with their other firsts to move up in the draft of 2010.

Knicks do this to shed Curry's contract. They give up two good pieces to shed salary for 2010, so they obviously lose in the short-term. However, they will be a lottery team and should receive a very good pick in 2010 (possibly the first pick in a strong draft) while potentially upgrading Lee and Chandler to Bosh and LeBron. If the gamble pays off, they are the easy winners in this trade.

2009/2010
PG: Duhon, Nate(resigned), #8 (Curry)
SG: Hughes, Joe Crawford
SF: Richardson, Gallinari, #27
PF: Harrington, Jefferies, Arthur
C: Gortat (MLE), Darko, Sene

2010/2011
Steph Curry, Duhon, Nate
Hughes (resigned), 2010 Lottery Pick
Lebron, Gallinari, (2009 #27)
Bosh, Harrington (resigned), Arthur
Gortat,

Boston will only do this if they feel Rondo is going to ask for too much money next year and essentially handcuff the organization. Rubio won't be ready to lead the Celtics, so they have to pray Kidd, Miller, or Bibby is willing to take the mid-level for a chance at a ring two years while grooming Rubio. The Cs also have to trade their expiring contracts for a serviceable big and hope to get a ring-chaser for the LLE. Boston has the expiring contracts of House (if he signs his player option), T. Allen, Scal, Pruitt (team option), and Giddens (team option) to trade for a big from a team looking to dump salary. If things worked out, they could field a team that would compete for a title for at least two more years while continuing to add younger pieces to stay competitive even longer.

PG: Miller or Kidd (MLE), Rubio
SG: Allen, Pruitt
SG: Pierce, Gay, Walker
PF: KG, Antonio McD (LLE), Powe
C: Perkins, Kaman (Trade)

[RAcker]

I like things more when I hear Rudy Gay in the mix.

[action781]

Memphis:
Trades #2, Gay, Arthur, #27, and Darko
Receives Rondo, David Lee, and Glenn Davis (with contract extensions), along with Wilson Chandler and Eddie Curry, Boston's 2010 1st

New York:
Trades Eddie Curry, Wilson Chandler, David Lee
Receives Darko, #27, Arthur

Boston:
Trades Rondo, Big Baby, 2010 1st
Receives #2 & Gay

Memphis:
PG: Rondo, Mike C., Marko J.
SG: OJ, Buckner, #36
SF: W. Chandler, Hakim
PF: Lee, Big Baby
C: Gasol, Eddie C, Haddadi

This Memphis team has a nice balance. It becomes more experienced, tougher, deeper, and improves the defensive character of the Grizz. Memphis picks up another first rounder for next year to pair with their other firsts to move up in the draft of 2010.

Knicks do this to shed Curry's contract. They give up two good pieces to shed salary for 2010, so they obviously lose in the short-term. However, they will be a lottery team and should receive a very good pick in 2010 (possibly the first pick in a strong draft) while potentially upgrading Lee and Chandler to Bosh and LeBron. If the gamble pays off, they are the easy winners in this trade.

2009/2010
PG: Duhon, Nate(resigned), #8 (Curry)
SG: Hughes, Joe Crawford
SF: Richardson, Gallinari, #27
PF: Harrington, Jefferies, Arthur
C: Gortat (MLE), Darko, Sene

2010/2011
Steph Curry, Duhon, Nate
Hughes (resigned), 2010 Lottery Pick
Lebron, Gallinari, (2009 #27)
Bosh, Harrington (resigned), Arthur
Gortat,

Boston will only do this if they feel Rondo is going to ask for too much money next year and essentially handcuff the organization. Rubio won't be ready to lead the Celtics, so they have to pray Kidd, Miller, or Bibby is willing to take the mid-level for a chance at a ring two years while grooming Rubio. The Cs also have to trade their expiring contracts for a serviceable big and hope to get a ring-chaser for the LLE. Boston has the expiring contracts of House (if he signs his player option), T. Allen, Scal, Pruitt (team option), and Giddens (team option) to trade for a big from a team looking to dump salary. If things worked out, they could field a team that would compete for a title for at least two more years while continuing to add younger pieces to stay competitive even longer.

PG: Miller or Kidd (MLE), Rubio
SG: Allen, Pruitt
SG: Pierce, Gay, Walker
PF: KG, Antonio McD (LLE), Powe
C: Perkins, Kaman (Trade)

Lots of MLE, signing, and drafting speculations here.  I don't think NY would do this.  Lee has good value and Chandler is a hell of a young player.  They get nearly nothing in return but shedding Curry's salary.  I guess weirder things have happened, but I just don't see it.  They need some pieces to attract a FA in 2010.

[SoulHonky]

I agree with Nick here. Thabeet is going to be a very solid bigman for a long time in the league. When he first came to UConn, he was little more than a shot blocking presence, and he's even improved greatly on that since then. He now has some moves around the basket that make him a guy that could average 10 a game this year. He does need fine tuning, and what better guy could offer him that than the man known as Clifford Ray?

But is that worth Rajon Rondo? We're doing just fine with Perkins. In fact, I might take Perkins over Thabeet simply because Perk is a tough Edited for profanity.  Please do not do it again. and Thabeet is a bit soft. I'd also prefer Jason Thompson or Nocioni and the #4 over just getting Hasheem.

If I'm going to battle against Dwight Howard, I'd rather have Perk. After seeing what DeJuan Blair did to Thabeet, I'd hate to see what Superman 2.0 does.

[Jon Niednagel]

Lots of MLE, signing, and drafting speculations here.  I don't think NY would do this.  Lee has good value and Chandler is a hell of a young player.  They get nearly nothing in return but shedding Curry's salary.  I guess weirder things have happened, but I just don't see it.  They need some pieces to attract a FA in 2010.

Probably true. My reasoning was that in looking at all the possible FA, it might not be too hard to upgrade from Chandler and Lee if the Knicks had the cap room. Thus, it might behoove them to do the trade. However, swapping Gallinari for Chandler might more reasonable. As far as the Cs, it would be a gamble. I think there is a good chance they could get a good point guard for a couple of years at the mid-level, trade expirings for a big, and get a LLE ring chaser. Looking at the potential PGs available, Nash can opt out if he doesn't like what is going on in Phoenix (a real possibility). Miller, Kidd, and Bibby are out there. Marbury could be had as a last resort. I'm sure I'm forgetting others as well. Then, there are teams looking to shed salary who have bigs. Chandler and Kaman come to mind most readily. But if you can land a Mcdyess, even going with a Wilcox or Stromile Swift as a backup for Perk could do fine in the limited backup roll. As you say, weirder things have happened.

[LarBrd33]

I only trade Rondo for Rubio if Ainge believes most of the following things will occur:

#1 - That Rondo is going to demand over 10 mil a year... or that his rumored "attitude" problems and ego are coming out of the woodworks and that Rondo might want to test free agency down the line.  Theoretically a guy with that much ego might get sick of being known as "the other guy" to the "Big 3".  Maybe he wants to be "the guy" on a team that sucks.
#2 - That Ray and Pierce are both going to be willing to sign extensions for half of what they are making currently. In other words... if Ray and Pierce are both making 10 mil each instead of 20 mil each
#3 - That Rubio is going to be the next Larry Bird
#4 - That by doing this trade, extending our stars for less money and potentially freeing up some cap room... we might be able to go after Kevin Durant and Greg Oden when they become free agents to pair with "the phenom" Rubio and the "elders" KG, Ray and Pierce to transition the Celtics into a dynasty that lasts for the next 20 years.