Ray was almost traded for OJ Mayo and Pierce for a lottery pick

[indeedproceed]

On board with the Ray deal 100% if it was a 1st round pick.  hard to believe he'd return that much in a deal.  Even a second rounder would probably be a good deal since Ray's missed a number of games and Mayo would have been able to play.

The PP deal was not enough.  a salary dump and a single 1st rounder?  no way.  PP has been showing he's still got a lot in the tank.  There's no way he'd bring in less than Ray in a deal.  I don't want to see PP go but if he does, it needs to be a deal that almost everyone would think is a steal for the C's.

a single first round that was likely in the top ten, that is worth at least 3 late first round picks.

I'm not sure there is a number of late 1st round picks that one could trade for the 4th overall pick. If someone was offered picked 20-30 for #4, I bet they still say no.

[LooseCannon]

Actually, I now don't completely buy this Ray rumor.  I am sure there is some truth to it, but I think Wojo must have missed some crucial information.  In order to match salaries, Memphis would have had to include a decent player or two, along with Mayo and the pick to make it work, plus Memphis was already pushing the tax line, and any deal for Ray that didn't include another major player would have put them over the tax line...a place Memphis does not go.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a third team involved, which also complicated the whole process.

I could buy that there was a deal in place with trade ballast involved and ownership shot down a raise in payroll that would have the team paying tax.

[jdz101]

As an aside. How many times has mayo almost been traded?

He's like a cat in Memphis...9 lives.

[Kane3387]

I'm not so sure a Pierce deal come draft time is off the table.  If Ainge has his player in mind, and is willing to get 2-3 bodies for Pierce, he's all over it.

Was thinking this as well. We all know Ainge is about winning titles. If we show in the playoffs that we just can't compete. I mean lose in 5 games to Miami or Chicago and not have any injuries to use as an excuse. Then I can see Pierce being moved.

His value will be incredibly high if he keeps playing like this. Plus his contract is basically a one year deal since only 4 mill of the last season is guaranteed. I could see a team who doesn't win it all but gets close making a move for him and offering a player they pick on draft night.

[Celts Fan 92]

I can understand RayRay for OJ, but Pierce for Okur and a pick?!

I couldn't imagine Pierce bringing in much more than that.

are u kidding me? a top 5 small forward couldnt get u more then a washed up injury prone big man nd a 1st round pick who is gonna be a bust for the most part

[Kane3387]

On board with the Ray deal 100% if it was a 1st round pick.  hard to believe he'd return that much in a deal.  Even a second rounder would probably be a good deal since Ray's missed a number of games and Mayo would have been able to play.

The PP deal was not enough.  a salary dump and a single 1st rounder?  no way.  PP has been showing he's still got a lot in the tank.  There's no way he'd bring in less than Ray in a deal.  I don't want to see PP go but if he does, it needs to be a deal that almost everyone would think is a steal for the C's.

a single first round that was likely in the top ten, that is worth at least 3 late first round picks.

I'm not sure there is a number of late 1st round picks that one could trade for the 4th overall pick. If someone was offered picked 20-30 for #4, I bet they still say no.

Yup. When it comes to the draft the NBA is nothing like the NFL. It's all about Quality and Quantity really doesn't matter.

[Marcus13]

I can understand RayRay for OJ, but Pierce for Okur and a pick?!

I couldn't imagine Pierce bringing in much more than that.

are u kidding me? a top 5 small forward couldnt get u more then a washed up injury prone big man nd a 1st round pick who is gonna be a bust for the most part

lol New Jersey is the ONLY team in teh league that would have been stupid enough to give up a lottery pick for a 34 year old small forward who is discussing retirement.

[FreeGreen]

Doesn't Pierce have a no trade clause in his new contract?

(I thought that was one of the reasons he opted out of his last deal.)

Also -- Ray and KG are eligible to request a no trade clause in their new deals as players with eight years service in the league and the last four with the same team.

If I was either of them, there's NO WAY I would resign in Boston without one.  (Of course if I was Ainge I might feel different.)

[Boris Badenov]

I can understand RayRay for OJ, but Pierce for Okur and a pick?!

I couldn't imagine Pierce bringing in much more than that.

are u kidding me? a top 5 small forward couldnt get u more then a washed up injury prone big man nd a 1st round pick who is gonna be a bust for the most part

In terms of trade value, Pierce is borderline top 10 in small forwards. If Danny tried to trade him for anyone on this list, the answer is definitely no:

Anthony
Durant
James
Iggy
Deng
Granger
Batum

It is probably no for these guys:

Leonard
Gallinari
Gay
G. Wallace

That puts Pierce 12th.

Trade value and current ability as a player are two different things.

NJ picked Gerald Wallace when they could have had Pierce, if the rumor is true.

Wallace is a middle of the pack SF who is on the tail end of his career.

[ManUp]

I would've understood the Pierce trade, but I wouldn't have liked it. I would've loved the Allen trade, assuming the pick was a first. Both trades make sense for rebuilding, but I want Pierce to retire a Celtic.

[Boris Badenov]

I'm not so sure a Pierce deal come draft time is off the table.  If Ainge has his player in mind, and is willing to get 2-3 bodies for Pierce, he's all over it.

Was thinking this as well. We all know Ainge is about winning titles. If we show in the playoffs that we just can't compete. I mean lose in 5 games to Miami or Chicago and not have any injuries to use as an excuse. Then I can see Pierce being moved.

His value will be incredibly high if he keeps playing like this. Plus his contract is basically a one year deal since only 4 mill of the last season is guaranteed. I could see a team who doesn't win it all but gets close making a move for him and offering a player they pick on draft night.

This makes a lot of sense.

And if by this time Ray has left, or it is obvious that Ray is leaving, then it can't be said that Danny broke up the Big Three.

The PR is much better in that scenario.

[indeedproceed]

I can understand RayRay for OJ, but Pierce for Okur and a pick?!

I couldn't imagine Pierce bringing in much more than that.

are u kidding me? a top 5 small forward couldnt get u more then a washed up injury prone big man nd a 1st round pick who is gonna be a bust for the most part

In terms of trade value, Pierce is borderline top 10 in small forwards. If Danny tried to trade him for anyone on this list, the answer is definitely no:

Anthony
Durant
James
Iggy
Deng
Granger
Batum

I think Pierce for Granger gets done everytime. Maybe Batum too, but that's much less likely.

[alajet]

I can understand RayRay for OJ, but Pierce for Okur and a pick?!

I couldn't imagine Pierce bringing in much more than that.

are u kidding me? a top 5 small forward couldnt get u more then a washed up injury prone big man nd a 1st round pick who is gonna be a bust for the most part

In terms of trade value, Pierce is borderline top 10 in small forwards. If Danny tried to trade him for anyone on this list, the answer is definitely no:

Anthony
Durant
James
Iggy
Deng
Granger
Batum

It is probably no for these guys:

Leonard
Gallinari
Gay
G. Wallace

That puts Pierce 12th.

Trade value and current ability as a player are two different things.

NJ picked Gerald Wallace when they could have had Pierce, if the rumor is true.

Wallace is a middle of the pack SF who is on the tail end of his career.

Who is Leonard, I can't figure it out. 

[indeedproceed]

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6450/kawhi-leonard

[Donoghus]

I can understand RayRay for OJ, but Pierce for Okur and a pick?!

I couldn't imagine Pierce bringing in much more than that.

are u kidding me? a top 5 small forward couldnt get u more then a washed up injury prone big man nd a 1st round pick who is gonna be a bust for the most part

In terms of trade value, Pierce is borderline top 10 in small forwards. If Danny tried to trade him for anyone on this list, the answer is definitely no:

Anthony
Durant
James
Iggy
Deng
Granger
Batum

It is probably no for these guys:

Leonard
Gallinari
Gay
G. Wallace

That puts Pierce 12th.

Trade value and current ability as a player are two different things.

NJ picked Gerald Wallace when they could have had Pierce, if the rumor is true.

Wallace is a middle of the pack SF who is on the tail end of his career.

Who is Leonard, I can't figure it out. 

Kawhi