Hansbrough is Bass (same age) with a little more zest in the paint and a much crappier jumper. I'd consider Bass the more valuable commodity at the moment, but a straight swap wouldn't be out of the question if Ainge prefers Hansbrough's extra year @ $3 mil.
But to throw in Ray Allen for Dahntay Jones on top of it? Wow.
Perhaps the Pacers could be convinced to throw in a 1st round pick, too, but I doubt it.
I think you have to manage expectations with trades involving Ray Allen. He's a nice player, but a team isn't going to give up a ton to rent him for half the season.
If you're idea of managing expectations for Ray is dumping him for a far inferior journeyman wing player who reduces our cap space next year, than you must consider Ray to have negative trade value.
See, I don't view it that way, because I don't think the Pacers would be interested in a Bass - Hansbrough swap. I think they view Hansbrough as a slightly better player with some upside (while Bass has none) who will be cheaper for at least next season. Bass could leave for nothing after this season.
The Celtics trade two players who are likely to be gone anyway after this season who nonetheless have a lot of value to a competitive playoff team for an okay bench wing and a productive young player with some upside who they'll get to hold onto for at least another season with no increase in salary. If the Pacers throw in a pick (1st or 2nd), so much the better.
Hansbrough has upside because he spent 3 extra years at NC, while Bass has none because he spent two years on the bench in NO? I don't buy it. Hansbrough is the same player he was in his rookie year and in college: a high energy, slightly undersized big who tries to make up for an iffy jumper by playing hard and flailing his arms like a maniac around the rim. Where is the upside here?
And he's due for $3 mil next season, so it's not like he's a great bargain. You can get Hansbrough-level bigs for $3 mil or under pretty easily.
Bass is the better player right now because he can hit the jumper at a much better rate (though he's down a bit this year, he's typically a much more efficient scorer), while providing similar energy/results defensively and on the boards.
Even if there was a difference between them in Hans' favor, it would have to be pretty big to make up for the enormous gap between Ray Allen's and Dahntay Jones' trade value.
I think we just view Bass and Hansbrough's relative trade value very differently.
Hansbrough has upside because he's only been in the league 2 seasons. Bass has been in it for 6. Years spent in the NBA mean a lot more in terms of development -- as a professional basketball player playing NBA basketball -- than age or years spent in college.
I think you're really wrong, though, about getting a player of Hansbrough's production for less then $3 million. This off-season, for example, the Celtics got Wilcox for $3 million, which I think may have actually been a little bit below his market value. Wilcox is not nearly as valuable a player as Hansbrough. Glen Davis is getting paid $7 million a year, and he's not as good as Hansbrough. Bass has similar value right now, with less upside, and he's probably going to get a 3-4 year deal at $7.5-8 million a year this off-season.
Also important to note that Ray Allen really doesn't have a whole lot in terms of trade value, despite what many here seem to think.
Hate both trades.
But you're part of the "let's let them play out the year and see what happens" crowd, right? So I'm not surprised. These trades are an attempt to get something -- anything, really -- in return for the players on this team that can be traded.
I think a young player with a decent amount of value and some upside beyond this season or a couple of future mid to late first rounders is probably the best we could hope to do trading Ray and / or Bass.
