Is Steve Nash open to coming to Boston?

[Finkelskyhook]

I actually approve of this trade.

It's essentially young Rondo for young Gortat

THEN

OLD O'Neal for old Nash.

Cut down on Nash's minutes with Bradley so that the defense doesn't suffer as much, then with Nash closing out games the C's could be unstoppable.

If you don't want the defense to suffer you'd have to cut all of los Nash's minutes.

[indeedproceed]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

Is Rondo really playing better than Nash so far this season? Seems like Nash is having a heck of a year.

It's pretty easy to have a heck of a year when you're only playing on one end of the court.  

I'd say if you want to bring a player like los Nash to Boston...Make it a 3-way trade.  Send Rivers to either the Knicks or Suns and bring D'Antoni to Boston....Then you have the perfect offensive juggernaut philosophy with an NFL pro bowl defensive philosophy to complement the worst defensive player in the NBA.

The nickname los nash doesn't make any sense.

But Nash is pretty bad defensively. Not as bad as his reputation might say (kind of like Amar'e), but pretty bad none the less.

[Change]

I actually approve of this trade.

It's essentially young Rondo for young Gortat

THEN

OLD O'Neal for old Nash.

Cut down on Nash's minutes with Bradley so that the defense doesn't suffer as much, then with Nash closing out games the C's could be unstoppable.

If you don't want the defense to suffer you'd have to cut all of los Nash's minutes.

first of all, rondo's defense is overrated. Celtics already have a defensive specialist in Avery Bradley if it ever came down to defense. Nash offense + Avery defense > Rajon Rondo

on most teams there's one guy Steve Nash wouldn't have problem guarding. For instance, Last night that guy would be Derrick Fisher. Chicago has Ashton Kutcher. Miami's point guards rarely handle the ball.

[soap07]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

How are we giving up the best player in the deal?

[Finkelskyhook]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

How are we giving up the best player in the deal?

Since we're not playing horse, I'd say Rondo is by far the best player in the deal.

It's sort of like what Bird said when comparing the messiah to Kobe.

If your goal is to have fun, choose los Nash.  Because you're not going anywhere in the playoffs with him.

[Fafnir]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

How are we giving up the best player in the deal?

I think Nash and Rondo have similar value for this season. But once you consider that Rondo is just turning 26 and is locked up to a reasonable deal he's the better player as you have all his future years as well.

[indeedproceed]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

How are we giving up the best player in the deal?

I think Nash and Rondo have similar value for this season. But once you consider that Rondo is just turning 26 and is locked up to a reasonable deal he's the better player as you have all his future years as well.

Agree.

[Chris]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

How are we giving up the best player in the deal?

Since we're not playing horse, I'd say Rondo is by far the best player in the deal.

It's sort of like what Bird said when comparing the messiah to Kobe.

If your goal is to have fun, choose los Nash.  Because you're not going anywhere in the playoffs with him.

Actually, Rondo is great at Horse.  He almost beat Durant a few years ago.

With that said, I would argue that Gortat is the best player in the deal...or at least the most valuable.  He has quietly become a top 5 player at the most coveted position in the game, and is arguably the most underpaid player not on a rookie contract, based on his production relative to others who make more than him at his position.

There aren't many true centers out there who are averaging 15 points, 10 boards, 1.5 blocks, while shooting 56%...and he is only 27.

This deal would not be Rondo for Nash, it would be Rondo for Gortat.  The draft pick(s) would be thrown in so you can essentially trade JO for Nash to replace Rondo, and try to make a run this year.

[Fafnir]

There aren't many true centers out there who are averaging 15 points, 10 boards, 1.5 blocks, while shooting 56%...and he is only 27.

He's a good finisher in the pick and roll, which is awesome. But he's not creating those scoring chances so I wouldn't be too excited about the 56% or the points.

Now his rebounding and solid defense is appealing, though he has issues in the P&R on the other end. But yes Gortat would be the sort of impact center that the Cs (or Spurs for that matter) need desparately.

I do think Rondo is a better overall player however.

[Chris]

There aren't many true centers out there who are averaging 15 points, 10 boards, 1.5 blocks, while shooting 56%...and he is only 27.

He's a good finisher in the pick and roll, which is awesome. But he's not creating those scoring chances so I wouldn't be too excited about the 56% or the points.

Now his rebounding and solid defense is appealing, though he has issues in the P&R on the other end. But yes Gortat would be the sort of impact center that the Cs (or Spurs for that matter) need desparately.

I do think Rondo is a better overall player however.

Yes, he is not perfect.  But, he would be the reason the deal would stall from Phoenix' end, and he would be the reason the C's would make the deal.  Even if his scoring goes down going to another team (although I think he would be even better on a team like the C's, because defenses won't focus on him, and he may not be Nash, but Pierce can certainly run a pick and roll), a legit starting center who is above average on both ends of the floor for $7 million is a VERY valuable asset.

[LarBrd33]

This trade idea has come up several times.  I posted a thread about it a couple weeks ago as well.  Here were my thoughts:

Presuming this team continues to play surprisingly well (despite not having a starting center) and Ainge decides NOT to blow up the big 3 (meaning trading Pierce and Ray for cap space, young players and draft picks)... Would you do this?

Rondo (10 mil) for Steve Nash (11 mil expiring) + the Suns unprotected 1st rounder?

Why for Boston:  Nash, Ray and KG will all come off the books next year... we could try to bring them back for cheap.  Instead of having 25 mil in cap space, this trade would give us 36 mil in cap space, but we'd still need to make decisions on what to do with Nash, Ray, KG, Bass, Jeff Green and Pietrus.  Also... the Suns pick is currently projected #8 in the lotto so we aren't leaving empty handed.

Why for the Suns:  Nash is old.  He would likely make the playoffs on Boston (though they still wouldn't really be contenders if you ask me) and he deserves to play on a winning team.  Rondo is in his prime and is a solid 26 year old replacement PG for their future.

Why not for the Suns:  If I'm them, I'm not sure I'd give up the face of our franchise (despite him being 38 years old) AND our biggest building block (2012 unprotected lotto pick) for Rondo.  It seems to contradict itself... getting a young star (Rondo) and trading away our best asset (lotto pick).  Doesn't make much sense.

Alternatives:

#1 Rondo and JO for Nash and Gortat.  Can't see it happening.  Gortat is too good.  He's 27.  Not sure it makes sense for the Suns.

#2 Rondo and our 1st rounder (make it lotto protected) for Nash and their 1st rounder (unprotected) ....   I don't think it's enough for Boston.

FYI that Suns pick is now projected 10th... they've won some games.

[ssspence]

This team has one thing that it does at an elite level: defend. It seems like a terrible idea to give up that strength by trading for a guy who can't defend.

That's very nicely and concisely put.  Tommy point.

Gortat would be a massive upgrade at center. And Nash is a far better offensive player than Rondo. You'd just have to protect him on defense, but the Boston system is built to do that.

This definitely improves the C's this season.

Like the way this is stated. Id be torn about this deal, but given the choice between standing pat (ie, not trading Big 3ers this season with an eye toward the future) and making this 'win now' move, I'd do it.

[BballTim]

I actually approve of this trade.

It's essentially young Rondo for young Gortat

THEN

OLD O'Neal for old Nash.

Cut down on Nash's minutes with Bradley so that the defense doesn't suffer as much, then with Nash closing out games the C's could be unstoppable.

If you don't want the defense to suffer you'd have to cut all of los Nash's minutes.

first of all, rondo's defense is overrated. Celtics already have a defensive specialist in Avery Bradley if it ever came down to defense. Nash offense + Avery defense > Rajon Rondo

  Yes, good plan. Nash and Bradley can each stay on one end of the court and both play at once. That will prevent a big dropoff on either end of the court.

[Inside-Out]

I'd do it.  Works for this season, and clears the decks for next year.  Start over with both DH and DW, plus JGreen.

I bet the old timers stick around off the bench a few more years in that case.

[BballTim]

  Gotta love a trade where we give up the best player *and* draft picks. Maybe Wyc could throw in a ton of cash, and we could give them a few years worth of merchandise revenue as well.

How are we giving up the best player in the deal?

Since we're not playing horse, I'd say Rondo is by far the best player in the deal.

It's sort of like what Bird said when comparing the messiah to Kobe.

If your goal is to have fun, choose los Nash.  Because you're not going anywhere in the playoffs with him.

Actually, Rondo is great at Horse.  He almost beat Durant a few years ago.

With that said, I would argue that Gortat is the best player in the deal...or at least the most valuable.  He has quietly become a top 5 player at the most coveted position in the game, and is arguably the most underpaid player not on a rookie contract, based on his production relative to others who make more than him at his position.

There aren't many true centers out there who are averaging 15 points, 10 boards, 1.5 blocks, while shooting 56%...and he is only 27.

This deal would not be Rondo for Nash, it would be Rondo for Gortat.  The draft pick(s) would be thrown in so you can essentially trade JO for Nash to replace Rondo, and try to make a run this year.

  How Gortat compares to other centers isn't relevant when considering who's the better player, it's who has more of a positive impact on the game. I'd go Rondo.