Trade Idea: Pierce, Melo, etc. For Howard

[samjones]

With so many young players like Melo, Sullinger and Bradley, plus future draft picks, and a matching salary piece in Pierce, what would be an acceptable price to gamble on Howard without an agreed-upon extension? Celts are loaded with assets.
The rookie contracts can't be traded immediately, but they can at some point. 30 days?
Or is Pierce untouchable?

[Lightskinsmurf]

NO

[fitzhickey]

Never never never
 

[samjones]

Weakens your three-point shooting and spacing, which is already an issue with Rondo, plus Pierce being the end-of-game go-to guy, but it does solve the rebounding/interior defense issues when KG is out of the game.

[myteamisbetterthanyours]

NO.|

[WsAllDay]

meh im not up for sacrificing the future of the Celtics for a Talented but immature player in Howard. I want players who wanna play for the C's until they hang em up.

[eugen]

I do not know why people saying "no". Keep it on mind...

1. Pierce has a terrific salary around 16 mil/year
2. He is 35 years old
3. We can't expect more from him
4. If Howard goes to LAL, they are gonna dominate for years the NBA

[EDWARDO]

You have to do that. Arguing PP should retire a C is one thing. Arguing about spacing and his marurity is beyond ridiculous. You win with great ayers and he's the 3rd best player in the league hands down.

[samjones]

Let me play devil's advocate.
1) Howard's extension
After a year in a top-notch organization, trophy(?), old teammates (Lee, Bass, and maybe Pietrus), and max salary rights, Celts have a good shot at retaining Howard.
2) Obtaining Howard extends the Celts window of opportunity for ten years, and keeps Boston as a desirable landing spot for veteran free agents looking for a title and willing to take a pay cut.
3) The Celts are one significant injury to Garnett from being non-competitors for the trophy.
4) Potential Outgoing Assets
A) Bradley - shoulders may not hold up long-term given his style of play, and he will always have match-up issues with tall guards like Joe Johnson or Kobe.
B) Sullinger - great rebounder, but will be limited in post on offense by height, and is not a shot-blocker on defense; plus he has been already shown to have very poor foot speed playing against faster power forwards who can put the ball on the floor (LeBron would have a field day). Players are going around him with ease when he is drawn out to the perimeter, and that's just the summer league.  
C) Melo - may only become very useful when Garnett on last legs; may not be a significant contributor for immediate push for trophy
5) Pierce and Garnett cannot carry this team through 4 exhausting playoff rounds any more ... they will have off-nights due to age, especially on offense
6) Synergy - Players like Garnett and Howard cover up the defensive deficiencies of players like Bass and Sullinger
7) Doc leans to winning games by defense. Howard and Garnett create a formidable interior defense for the final minutes, and Garnett can leave the lane to cover Chris Bosh in the corner if there is another dominant rebounder on the floor.
Keeps Howard out of LA and lets Boston match-up height-wise with Bynum/Gasol combination. May force Miami to keep two big men on the floor at the end of games, keeping Lebron at small forward in final minutes, where he is less effective and can be covered by a quicker player. Miami coach will have an interesting choice to make ... attack with Lebron at power forward and another shooter on the floor, or beef up the defense.

[EDWARDO]

You aren't playing devil's advocate, the only choice would be to do this trade. It's not even close. 100% no brainer.

[Neurotic Guy]

the only choice would be to do this trade. It's not even close. 100% no brainer.

I agree.  However, Pierce is only useful in the trade as a salary number as he has no real value to Orlando.

[samjones]

Orlando will also have a need for veteran leadership to show the young guys how to work, and to keep the locker room in order. Plus, Orlando can move Pierce in the next two years for another major contract.

[celticslove]

as much as i love all the fantasy GMs here there's just no way that this is gonna happen. otis smith is gone so no hope for a genius gm on the other side.

[action781]

Yeah, no way Orlando does this.  Celtics absolutely should do this with a starting-quality SF in Green to step in.

What would it take?  Pierce, Melo, plus two future firsts might get it done without an extension in place.  I don't see other teams being able to offer more on a gamble unless they are sufficiently under the cap.  How many teams have $20M in expiring contracts that they wouldn't need to stay competitive?

[Moranis]

Howard and J. Richardson

for

Pierce, Bradley, Sullinger, Melo, 2013 1st, 2013 2nd


I think I would do that even without an extension.  It would totally put Boston on Miami's level this year and with the change in rules regarding sign and trades, Boston has a lot more power in retaining Dwight next summer.