Rumor: Cs passed on PP & 1st for Smith

[crownontherocks]

Say they do talk again in the summer could it still be a sign and trade with 3 teams or does it have to be boston and atl only?

[Roy H.]

As much as I'd like to see Dirk and Pierce play together, I'm glad this fell through.

I think it was probably a bad move for Atlanta to insist on a #1.  Getting Crowder and moving up in the draft may be better than they can do in a sign-and-trade.

[Eddie20]

Say they do talk again in the summer could it still be a sign and trade with 3 teams or does it have to be boston and atl only?

I doubt Atlanta is looking to take on contracts, so any deal with Smith is a real longshot now.

[RJ87]

"Close" by the way these reporters use it, still leads me to believe that it was still quite far away.

In any case, I still envision Josh Smith as a candidate for a S&T situation next offseason, but Pierce won't be going anywhere in that scenario I would imagine.

Won't we be over the hard cap, making us ineligible for a S&T?

[BudweiserCeltic]

As much as I'd like to see Dirk and Pierce play together, I'm glad this fell through.

I think it was probably a bad move for Atlanta to insist on a #1.  Getting Crowder and moving up in the draft may be better than they can do in a sign-and-trade.

I'm a huge believer of the possibility of a S&T for Josh Smith or Al Jefferson next year, and we have assets to make it happen. We'll have to see about the willingness of Ainge to part with draft picks.

I'd be moronic in my opinion to hold off on doing a trade of this caliber during next summer and insist on keeping your draft picks.

I'm not a fan of Josh Smith, but if we can acquire him by giving up some our would be expendable assets (including those non-guaranteed contracts), you have to pull the trigger. It allows you to keep the team ultra competitive, and not break any of the core pieces.

I hope Ainge sees it this way too, and hope Utah, Atlanta, and the like aren't to stubborn about letting a player go for nothing.

[BudweiserCeltic]

"Close" by the way these reporters use it, still leads me to believe that it was still quite far away.

In any case, I still envision Josh Smith as a candidate for a S&T situation next offseason, but Pierce won't be going anywhere in that scenario I would imagine.

Won't we be over the hard cap, making us ineligible for a S&T?

We should be under the tax apron next year. But it's always possible, but estimations around don't have us that high.

[sofutomygaha]

"Close" by the way these reporters use it, still leads me to believe that it was still quite far away.

Yeah, agree. A first rounder is kind of a big deal, particularly with the new CBA. And that just means it's where the negotiation was, not that it would have been agreed on ultimately. It sounds like they weren't really close.

[CoachBo]

Flatly don't believe this report.

Woj has swung and missed an awful lot lately.

[gpap]

Wow, IF this is true I can't believe Ainge didn't pull the trigger because of a measley first round draft pick in a weak draft class.

A lineup of AB, Lee, Green, Smith and KG would've been pretty [dang] sweet.

No offense to Paul, but this is a lineup that could've competed for this year and future seasons.

That said, am I the only one who hates hearing about trades that "almost happened"?

Either a trade happens or it doesn't

[Who]

I would have loved to make that trade.

Josh Smith and Kevin Garnett together. Bradley. Lee. Rondo to return next year. Larger role for Jeff Green. I would have loved to see that team.

[lightspeed5]

ainge wants trey burke.

[rutzan]

This is not even close too being real...I used to think Woj was pretty good but I’m starting to wonder…look at what Denver got for Carmelo Anthony…heck…look at what Orlando got for Dwight Howard…those 3 players are not even rotation players…and…switching picks and adding another 1st round pick would still be bad for Atl…Atl would have never accepted this deal…they can do much better this summer with a S&T

[Fafnir]

Atl would have never accepted this deal…they can do much better this summer with a S&T

How do you think they'll do better?

Who says Smith will even want to sign and trade, he could just as easily go to a team with cap space.

[LooseCannon]

If Pierce was traded for Smith and that was followed up by the Garnett to the Clippers trade, there is a decent chance that the Celtics would miss the playoffs and the pick would have been a lottery pick.  Even if the draft is perceived as weak, would it be wise to give up a pick that you thought had a decent shot of being a late lottery pick?

[celticmania]

if kg and paul pierce retire this offseason, would we have enough cap space to sign smith ? and can we possibly bring pierve back but on a smaller contract ?