Josh Smith rumor / Atlanta interested?

[KCattheStripe]

no thanks. this would be an end to 2012 plan.

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

this is the first time we've heard that a player with All-Star level talent (and DPOY potential, too) actually wants to play here. 

I say do whatever it takes to get J-Smoove.  He'd be a great guy to combine with Rajon Rondo moving forward.

bu but but the spacing. Rondo needs shooters to do what he does. They can co-exist in a half-court grind out playoff game. It won't work.

yet Dwight Howard would work great? 

Josh Smith is a very good player with a ton of talent, especially on defense.  Smith isn't completely hopeless from mid-range, either, though he was terrible from there this post-season.

Danny could find a way to make it work, and he'd have quite a few years to do so since both Rondo and Smith are 25.

I don't want to build around two players who are at best the third best player on a championship team.

[RR9]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6htc6gb

It says Atl loses wins, but they get the center they'll need!

Wow, this is an interesting deal.  People should take a look at this.  I don't know if Chicago would be crazy about aging so much in this deal considering how young Rose is.  But this could be something to build on...

THANK  YOU...no one else has commented on this move!  Honestly, this could happen if ATL wants to let Horford play the 4.  bledsoe backs up kirk; teague backs up JJ.  yeah we let ray go UGH, but we get j smoove.  as hollinger says, everyone wins except atl...but i get the feeling with j smoove gone, JJ and AL could easily step up more!

This is another wild thought: Allen's last year is spent with ATL. Next year, he comes back to the C's for vet min or part of MLE, AND we'd have Jsmoove.  hmmmm!

rondo/delonte/avery
pierce/j.r. smith/jamal crawf
jgreen/pierce
jsmoove/kg
kg/JO/signed bigman for 1 yr

Then, get Allen back for 2012.....HI DWIGHT!  COME JOIN US! (also kg'd come back due to bird rights!  

Celtics= mix of vets and youth/athleticism.  we'd have leadership and fire power and defense. in other words, a perfect team missing D12.  Thoughts?

[PosImpos]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

What happened with LeBron, Amare, and Bosh is exactly why all of the teams with upcoming superstar free agents are doing what Denver and Utah did this season.  They are getting something for their players prior to losing them in free agency.  There's no way Orlando lets Dwight Howard walk for nothing -- and that's the only way the Celtics could possibly get him.

And I agree that there are any number of things that you can do with cap space, but you can't use it to become a contender unless you already have the major pieces in place.  In 2012, the Celtics won't have any other than Rondo, and he's not the guy.  Neither is Josh Smith, but he'd be a very good part of the puzzle. 

Unless you're a major free agent destination (the C's aren't), the most you can do with cap space is acquire very good role players that make between $5 and $10 million a year.  Putting those types of players around Rondo and a 34 year old Pierce won't make us a contender.

[Change]

no thanks. this would be an end to 2012 plan.

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

this is the first time we've heard that a player with All-Star level talent (and DPOY potential, too) actually wants to play here. 

I say do whatever it takes to get J-Smoove.  He'd be a great guy to combine with Rajon Rondo moving forward.

bu but but the spacing. Rondo needs shooters to do what he does. They can co-exist in a half-court grind out playoff game. It won't work.

yet Dwight Howard would work great? 

Josh Smith is a very good player with a ton of talent, especially on defense.  Smith isn't completely hopeless from mid-range, either, though he was terrible from there this post-season.

Danny could find a way to make it work, and he'd have quite a few years to do so since both Rondo and Smith are 25.

at this day in age, Power-forwards need to have ability to stretch the floor. Dwight is not a power-forward. he is a center like ShaQ. opposing teams won't ever dare to leave him open inside. They will however leave Rajon & Josh open to take those perimeter shots.

[PosImpos]

no thanks. this would be an end to 2012 plan.

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

this is the first time we've heard that a player with All-Star level talent (and DPOY potential, too) actually wants to play here. 

I say do whatever it takes to get J-Smoove.  He'd be a great guy to combine with Rajon Rondo moving forward.

bu but but the spacing. Rondo needs shooters to do what he does. They can co-exist in a half-court grind out playoff game. It won't work.

yet Dwight Howard would work great? 

Josh Smith is a very good player with a ton of talent, especially on defense.  Smith isn't completely hopeless from mid-range, either, though he was terrible from there this post-season.

Danny could find a way to make it work, and he'd have quite a few years to do so since both Rondo and Smith are 25.

I don't want to build around two players who are at best the third best player on a championship team.

Fair enough.  The alternative is to jettison everyone and rocket towards absolute rock bottom and hope to rebuild through the draft.

Rondo + J-Smoove and potentially Jeff Green is probably not the core of a championship team, but it's certainly possible that we could eventually move those guys for an All-NBA type if that group doesn't work out and somebody becomes available.

For those talking about Dwight Howard, what if acquiring J-Smoove gives the Celtics the ability to then offer Rondo + Smith for DH12?  That's the sort of package it'd take.

[Lucky17]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

What happened with LeBron, Amare, and Bosh is exactly why all of the teams with upcoming superstar free agents are doing what Denver and Utah did this season.  They are getting something for their players prior to losing them in free agency.  There's no way Orlando lets Dwight Howard walk for nothing -- and that's the only way the Celtics could possibly get him.

And I agree that there are any number of things that you can do with cap space, but you can't use it to become a contender unless you already have the major pieces in place.  In 2012, the Celtics won't have any other than Rondo, and he's not the guy.  Neither is Josh Smith, but he'd be a very good part of the puzzle. 

Unless you're a major free agent destination (the C's aren't), the most you can do with cap space is acquire very good role players that make between $5 and $10 million a year.  Putting those types of players around Rondo and a 34 year old Pierce won't make us a contender.

You can also use cap space to acquire talent via trade.

[Fafnir]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

What happened with LeBron, Amare, and Bosh is exactly why all of the teams with upcoming superstar free agents are doing what Denver and Utah did this season.  They are getting something for their players prior to losing them in free agency.  There's no way Orlando lets Dwight Howard walk for nothing -- and that's the only way the Celtics could possibly get him.

I disagree with this statement, teams are still going to hold out hope and try to keep players. Especilaly when they've been contenders as recently as the Magic.

They might trade him sure, same as he might decide to sign elsewhere its a risk. But they need to take that chance because you don't get a shot at MVP talent very often.

[PosImpos]

no thanks. this would be an end to 2012 plan.

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

this is the first time we've heard that a player with All-Star level talent (and DPOY potential, too) actually wants to play here. 

I say do whatever it takes to get J-Smoove.  He'd be a great guy to combine with Rajon Rondo moving forward.

bu but but the spacing. Rondo needs shooters to do what he does. They can co-exist in a half-court grind out playoff game. It won't work.

yet Dwight Howard would work great? 

Josh Smith is a very good player with a ton of talent, especially on defense.  Smith isn't completely hopeless from mid-range, either, though he was terrible from there this post-season.

Danny could find a way to make it work, and he'd have quite a few years to do so since both Rondo and Smith are 25.

at this day in age, Power-forwards need to have ability to stretch the floor. Dwight is not a power-forward. he is a center like ShaQ. opposing teams won't ever dare to leave him open inside. They will however leave Rajon & Josh open to take those perimeter shots.

While there are many stretch power forwards in the league, it is not absolutely necessary to have a power forward who can make long 2's.  Anyway, Josh Smith has at least shown the potential to develop his jump shot to the point where he can stretch the floor a decent amount.

[Fafnir]

Rondo + J-Smoove and potentially Jeff Green is probably not the core of a championship team, but it's certainly possible that we could eventually move those guys for an All-NBA type if that group doesn't work out and somebody becomes available.

For those talking about Dwight Howard, what if acquiring J-Smoove gives the Celtics the ability to then offer Rondo + Smith for DH12?  That's the sort of package it'd take.

By your own logic that won't work, because Howard wouldn't sign an extension for a team that has no Rondo or Josh Smith to play next to him.

[Moranis]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

I recall reading plenty of reports that Chris Bosh was going to leave Toronto when his contract was up.  Toronto felt it was worth hanging on to him to try and convince him to stay and if not was willing to sign and trade.  They took the risk and it just didn't work, but Toronto knew keeping Bosh was far from a given.

James obviously threw Cleveland for a loop, but had Bosh been willing to go there, James would have stayed put.  James and the Cavs couldn't convince Bosh to go to Cleveland.

[PosImpos]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

What happened with LeBron, Amare, and Bosh is exactly why all of the teams with upcoming superstar free agents are doing what Denver and Utah did this season.  They are getting something for their players prior to losing them in free agency.  There's no way Orlando lets Dwight Howard walk for nothing -- and that's the only way the Celtics could possibly get him.

I disagree with this statement, teams are still going to hold out hope and try to keep players. Especilaly when they've been contenders as recently as the Magic.

They might trade him sure, same as he might decide to sign elsewhere its a risk. But they need to take that chance because you don't get a shot at MVP talent very often.

Well, I disagree that the Celtics are going to get that shot.  What you're advocating here is that the Celtics ignore all options to improve the team that will use cap space between now and then in the hope that Dwight Howard makes it to free agency and chooses to sign here instead of any of the places in which he's expressed interest -- despite the fact that our roster in the summer of 2012 will not be particularly impressive if we've done what's necessary to have that cap room.

This is the strategy that so many teams employed trying to get LeBron, and the only reason it worked out for more than one or two of them is that there were other prizes last summer.  Dwight is really it, unless Deron and CP3 are both allowed to reach free agency, too (fat chance of that).  More likely than not going with this strategy would just leave us with a bunch of cap space and an obligation to spend it on overpaid role players.

[PosImpos]

Rondo + J-Smoove and potentially Jeff Green is probably not the core of a championship team, but it's certainly possible that we could eventually move those guys for an All-NBA type if that group doesn't work out and somebody becomes available.

For those talking about Dwight Howard, what if acquiring J-Smoove gives the Celtics the ability to then offer Rondo + Smith for DH12?  That's the sort of package it'd take.

By your own logic that won't work, because Howard wouldn't sign an extension for a team that has no Rondo or Josh Smith to play next to him.

Probably not.  Any way you cut it, I don't believe there's a realistic chance that Dwight Howard would come here.

[jdpapa3]

A gm crazy enough to trade for Gilbert Arenas is a wildcard to make any sensible moves. This rumored amnesty clause has enough traction that Orlando will possibly hold off trading Dwight because they might be under the impression that they can somewhat clear their books for Dwight and CP3 or Deron.

And if you are Orlando, plan A has to be to look around for moves and hope to latch onto for Dwight.

[Fafnir]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

I recall reading plenty of reports that Chris Bosh was going to leave Toronto when his contract was up.  Toronto felt it was worth hanging on to him to try and convince him to stay and if not was willing to sign and trade.  They took the risk and it just didn't work, but Toronto knew keeping Bosh was far from a given.

James obviously threw Cleveland for a loop, but had Bosh been willing to go there, James would have stayed put.  James and the Cavs couldn't convince Bosh to go to Cleveland.

Yeah, Bosh was saying he was leaving, he never really said where he'd go. Though moost figured he'd end up somewhere with other high level players and a big market.

I don't think Toronto got that many really good offers for Bosh either, Howard will draw better ones but it takes a lot to line up for those in season big trades to happen.

[PosImpos]

what 2012 plan?  sign Dwight Howard?  please.  not happening.

Clear our cap room to sign Wade, Lebron, and Bosh this summer? please. not happening. Not a fan of definite statements in situations that aren't definite.

what evidence have we seen so far to make us think that Dwight Howard to Boston in 2012 is a realistic possibility?  Dwight hasn't even once mentioned that he's interested in coming here, while he has named other places.  we've seen the past couple years what happens when star players make it known to their teams that they are going to leave in free agency; the team finds a trade. 

the celtics dont' have the pieces to compete with the other teams that will want to trade for him.  in 2012, we won't be able to boast that we're a winning team with a championship pedigree anymore, either, since Ray and KG will likely retire.
the only way Dwight Howard ends up here is if he tells Orlando that there's no other team he wants to play for.  no reason so far to think that that will happen.

Why do you assume we'd have to trade for him? With proper cap space the C's can just sign him.

I'll also add that LeBron really didn't send signals about where he'd end up until he was actually a FA, neither did Chris Bosh. Howard is already sending signals that he's going to move on if Orlando doesn't improve the team around him. That's all the signal that the C's need.

I recall reading plenty of reports that Chris Bosh was going to leave Toronto when his contract was up.  Toronto felt it was worth hanging on to him to try and convince him to stay and if not was willing to sign and trade.  They took the risk and it just didn't work, but Toronto knew keeping Bosh was far from a given.

James obviously threw Cleveland for a loop, but had Bosh been willing to go there, James would have stayed put.  James and the Cavs couldn't convince Bosh to go to Cleveland.

You're being silly if you don't think Orlando is going to do anything possible to avoid being the next Cleveland / Toronto.  I think it's very likely that Dwight gets moved sometime before the trade deadline next year, unless the new CBA gives Orlando measures to hold onto him.