Does Brandon Bass become trade bait with the way JJJ is devloping ?

[pearljammer10]

There's absolutely no way. If JJJ was "developing" so well he would be in the bench rotation. So the kid has played some great garbage minutes in 2 GAMES! Im proud of him but certainly not going to dangle out most consistent bench (and arguably our most consistent player overall) player. Bass gives the team a sense of toughness and intimidation while he is on the floor and is a reliable option. No offense to JJJ, but he wouldnt give the same presence on the floor that Bass does.

[mqtcelticsfan]

For the record, I'd be entirely on board with trading Bass for a comparable true Center. It's just that the market for Centers of that quality is completely dry. We aren't getting Hibbert for Bass or something like that, so we're better off keeping our PF spot strong to overcome the lack of depth at Center.

[KGs Knee]

I agree with the others here who think this would be a bad idea.

Having depth in the front court is a real benefit.  We saw last year what can happen when you trade that depth away.  With the age and mileage JO/KG have, there will be plenty of games where one or the other is out.  Bass is a very important member of our front court rotation.

Also, this is just one game.  While it does appear Trey J has the skills to succeed, he is still just a rookie.  I don't feel comfortable relying on a rookie as KG's primary backup.

[Change]

Bad idea. How fast have we forgotten 2010 NBA finals Game7! Depth matters in the playoffs.

[Vermont Green]

I can understand the logic.  If you accept JJJ as a "rotation ready" player (which is a question although a possiblility), then we would have 4 rotation ready players who can contribute at the 4 (KG, Wilcox, Bass, JJJ).  We are thinner at 5 when you consider that Steisma is probably not rotation ready and KG and Wilcox are  out of position at best.

You would only trade away the valuable depth at 4 if you were able to get even more valuable depth at 5.  I am not sure we can pull this off but I would certainly consider it for a true 5 who can step into the rotation.  If that meant trading Bass, we would still have Wilcox to back up at 4 as well as JJJ as we wouldn't need Wilcox to be the primary back up at 5.

[guava_wrench]

For the record, I'd be entirely on board with trading Bass for a comparable true Center. It's just that the market for Centers of that quality is completely dry. We aren't getting Hibbert for Bass or something like that, so we're better off keeping our PF spot strong to overcome the lack of depth at Center.

It is easy for people to say 'get a Center', but hard for them to say who to get for the reasons you mention.

As for the 'trade Bass' idea, imagine if we would have traded Wilcox when Stiemsma had his good first game assuming he would be our backup? He sure has faded.

[ScoobyDoo]

I wouldn't trade Bass, I like his physicality and he can step in and start if KG gets a minor injury. I'd actually like to see Bass as a long term Celtic off the bench. He's exactly the type of worker bee type of player you need off the bench.

I would say this though. If I could get more rest during this regular season for KG and JO by sitting them longer while playing some combination of Wilcox / Bass and JJJ more without losing games because of it, I would do it to the maximum amount of time I could get away with for the rest of the season.

This would be a win / win for the team:

1. KG and JO won't lose their rhythm playing less minutes - they're too experienced.

2. Bass, Wilcox and JJJ all grow and develop more quickly, creating greater depth for the team as the season moves along.

[GreenFaith1819]

Plus, another reason why I wouldn't consider trading Bass is his mean side.

I'm sure everyone here saw him chestbump Amare Stoudemire in the NY game?

While it was not a smart move at the time, I welcomed the mean streak from a Big on this team.

We had JO finger-wagging in DH's face in the 1st ORL game, and now Bass-Amare?

We haven't had this since Kendrick Perkins, and for me I love it!

[guava_wrench]

I wouldn't trade Bass, I like his physicality and he can step in and start if KG gets a minor injury. I'd actually like to see Bass as a long term Celtic off the bench. He's exactly the type of worker bee type of player you need off the bench.

I would say this though. If I could get more rest during this regular season for KG and JO by sitting them longer while playing some combination of Wilcox / Bass and JJJ more without losing games because of it, I would do it to the maximum amount of time I could get away with for the rest of the season.

This would be a win / win for the team:

1. KG and JO won't lose their rhythm playing less minutes - they're too experienced.

2. Bass, Wilcox and JJJ all grow and develop more quickly, creating greater depth for the team as the season moves along.

Vets do lose their rhythm. Look at how KG started the season.

But I agree that missing some games would be good since games are more frequent this season than they usually are.

[GrandTheftRondo]

There's absolutely no way. If JJJ was "developing" so well he would be in the bench rotation. So the kid has played some great garbage minutes in 2 GAMES! Im proud of him but certainly not going to dangle out most consistent bench (and arguably our most consistent player overall) player. Bass gives the team a sense of toughness and intimidation while he is on the floor and is a reliable option. No offense to JJJ, but he wouldnt give the same presence on the floor that Bass does.

I take it you missed today's game.

[guava_wrench]

There's absolutely no way. If JJJ was "developing" so well he would be in the bench rotation. So the kid has played some great garbage minutes in 2 GAMES! Im proud of him but certainly not going to dangle out most consistent bench (and arguably our most consistent player overall) player. Bass gives the team a sense of toughness and intimidation while he is on the floor and is a reliable option. No offense to JJJ, but he wouldnt give the same presence on the floor that Bass does.

I take it you missed today's game.

Haha. That previous post made me think I had entered a time warp.

[kgiessler]

I at least see what the OP is getting at.  Bass's great performance has turned him into a worthwhile trade chip.  Given that there appears to be another capable player at his position, does it make sense to trade Bass for a player at the team's weakest position?  Perhaps his thinking includes something he didn't mention:

Next year is a player option for Bass.  With the way he is performing, he may be playing himself into a very well paying contract. I'll assume that he is going to turn down his 4M option.  

The off-season is pretty uncertain, so consider the possibility of a situation where the Celtics are unwilling to pay him what another team is willing to and Bass walks. Now as arm chair GM we have to decide whether to cash in on the asset's value prematurely (have a post season without him) or risk having the asset become zero value at the end of the season.

Sound familiar?

I was for it last time even though some bizarre happenings made it ultimately a poor return.  If the return value is high enough this time around though, I'm still for it.

[LooseCannon]

Bass becomes trade bait in the off-season.  Even if he declines his player option, there are some cases where a sign-and-trade makes sense despite the Celtics being under the cap.

I like how this team is gelling and think they have a shot at being the team considered to have the third-best chance of making the NBA Finals out of the Eastern Conference (even if they don't have the third-best record), so I would be reluctant to trade Bass in any deal that isn't considered a steal on the part of Ainge.  On the other hand, Bradley and Moore make me very willing to flip Keyon Dooling's expiring contract packaged with a second-round pick for a solid back-up center on a modest contract.

[2short]

For the right trade yes.  I hope he resigns as kg is moving into part time center mold.  I think JJJ with some tutorials from kg could Really develop.  Love his smoothness.  Bass brings a tough chip and is explosive on offense.  I see keeping them both.

[GrandTheftRondo]

There's absolutely no way. If JJJ was "developing" so well he would be in the bench rotation. So the kid has played some great garbage minutes in 2 GAMES! Im proud of him but certainly not going to dangle out most consistent bench (and arguably our most consistent player overall) player. Bass gives the team a sense of toughness and intimidation while he is on the floor and is a reliable option. No offense to JJJ, but he wouldnt give the same presence on the floor that Bass does.

I take it you missed today's game.

Haha. That previous post made me think I had entered a time warp.

LOL seriously