Idea: Bass and Lee to Chicago for Boozer

[LooseCannon]

The Celtics trade Brandon Bass and Courtney Lee to Chicago for Carlos Boozer.  The Celtics also throw in as many un-guaranteed contracts as needed to make it fit.

The Bulls would like to save money on luxury tax.  If Chicago's path to a title goes through the Heat and possibly the Knicks, then Bass is someone they can use to guard Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James.  Lee gives them another three-point shooter.  The Bulls were reportedly willing to trade Boozer for Bargnani and filler and rumors abound that Boozer is an amnesty candidate as his contract nears its end.

The Celtics would probably ask for a first-round pick to be added.  Would they get one?  (Ainge would probably start by asking for the Bobcats' protected pick from the Tyrus Thomas trade and get turned down.)  Is the trade worth it for the Celtics if they don't get a pick (assuming Garnett and Pierce come back for one more year)?  Is it worth it if they do get a pick and Garnett/Pierce are gone?  What if the pick is Chicago's 2013 first-round pick?

[Moranis]

I'd do that trade and wouldn't give it a second thought as long as PP and KG come back and would do it without a pick (though would obviously want one).

[Lucky17]

Wow, Boozer has two years, $15.3 million/$16.8 million remaining on his contract.

Celtics would shed that final year on Lee's contract, but increase their 2014-15 payroll significantly. Boozer would represent a talent upgrade in the starting lineup, though.

Tough call for me.

[Who]

Not wild about the fit with Boozer on this team alongside KG and Sully.

I am leaning towards a no. Too much duplication of strengths and weaknesses. Diminishing returns. Lack of balance. Concerns over defensive integrity.

I would look to make a smaller deal involving C-Lee (likely for a backup PG like JJ Barea) and continue to try and acquire one of those free agent power forwards (Josh Smith, Paul Millsap) in a sign and trade.

[Fafnir]

Not wild about the fit with Boozer on this team alongside KG and Sully.

I am leaning towards a no. Too much duplication of strengths and weaknesses. Diminishing returns. Lack of balance. Concerns over defensive integrity.

I would look to make a smaller deal involving C-Lee (likely for a backup PG like JJ Barea) and continue to try and acquire one of those free agent power forwards (Josh Smith, Paul Millsap) in a sign and trade.

Millsap strikes me as duplicating Bass to a high degree too, if Bass doesn't hit the door as part of that move. Not that it'd stop me from trying for him.

[KGs Knee]

Don't see Chicago biting on that.  Too much of a talent downgrade from Boozer to Bass.

Chicago may want out of Boozer's contract, but not for a deal like that.

[LooseCannon]

Don't see Chicago biting on that.  Too much of a talent downgrade from Boozer to Bass.

Chicago may want out of Boozer's contract, but not for a deal like that.

It might depend on if they can be convinced to overvalue Courtney Lee and think he is a legit starter who is a big upgrade over Belinelli/Hamilton at SG.

What sort of draft considerations do you think the Celtics would have to add to make the Bulls at least think about the trade?

[KGs Knee]

Chicago would demand our 2013 1st, at minimum, I would think.

[kg is king]

Don't see Chicago biting on that.  Too much of a talent downgrade from Boozer to Bass.

Chicago may want out of Boozer's contract, but not for a deal like that.

It might depend on if they can be convinced to overvalue Courtney Lee and think he is a legit starter who is a big upgrade over Belinelli/Hamilton at SG.

What sort of draft considerations do you think the Celtics would have to add to make the Bulls at least think about the trade?

I feel so bad for Bass and Lee. Think about how many threads in this past year involved tossing the "Bass, Lee, Melo" combo for an absurd package. And by absurd I mean no one will take our trash for a good player like Boozer.

[Who]

Not wild about the fit with Boozer on this team alongside KG and Sully.

I am leaning towards a no. Too much duplication of strengths and weaknesses. Diminishing returns. Lack of balance. Concerns over defensive integrity.

I would look to make a smaller deal involving C-Lee (likely for a backup PG like JJ Barea) and continue to try and acquire one of those free agent power forwards (Josh Smith, Paul Millsap) in a sign and trade.

Millsap strikes me as duplicating Bass to a high degree too, if Bass doesn't hit the door as part of that move. Not that it'd stop me from trying for him.

I don't even think of Brandon Bass as part of next year's team anymore.

I would like Garnett to be the starting center, to acquire an impact big to be starting power forward (preferably Josh Smith or Paul Millsap) and Sullinger to play big minutes off the bench as the combo backup PF/C. And then, ideally anyway, have a legitimate seven footer as the fourth big in the rotation (like Mozgov).

Bass wouldn't even be a rotation player in that scenario. He wouldn't be part of my plans at all.

If that seven footer falls through, Bass could be a 5-10 minute a night backup PF. That is about all I would be willing to depend on him for. As far as I am concerned, Bass is no longer part of the picture. Well other than being a bloody nuisance to move / dead weight on the C's payroll.

If they could move Bass for Mozgov in a sign and trade, if new PF is acquired, I say do it. Two birds, one stone. Dump Bass + Acquire 4th big / legitimate center.

----------------------------------------------------

Like I said, I don't even think of Brandon Bass as part of next year's team anymore. Just some guy who has already lost his role here. Sullinger has taken his spot. Taken his minutes. 

The only time I think of Bass having a role on next year's team is in rebuilding scenarios where the team is being blown up. Garnett and Pierce leaving. Aside from that, I just don't see Bass having a place here any longer.

If Sully were traded, Bass could take his role back. But as long as Sully is here, Bass should be out.

[manl_lui]

in a heartbeat

I still think we are overloaded on guards with

Rondo/Bradley/Terry/Crawford/Williams

and Boozer is an upgrade over Bass

[SparzWizard]

Gold medalist? Aggressive rebounder? 2x NBA All Star?

I'll do it in a heartbeat without further discussion. Have a nice day!

[aporel#18]

A better trade, only if KG is retiring, of course:

Pierce+Bass for Boozer+Rip Hamilton+Bobcats 2014 first rounder (unprotected in 2016, top-10 protected in 2014, top-8 in 2015) makes more sense for both teams.

The Bulls save Boozer's 2nd year, start Taj Gibson, get the 6th man of the year in Pierce and a quality backup 4 in Bass. The pick is well worth the chance to win it all, even if it's just a one year window. I'd hate to see the Captain in red, but at least he would be playing for Thibs. And the Cs won't sniff the playoffs next season. Pierce could sign with the Cs as a FA in 2014-2015, with a full roster, and retire in green, but that's a bit unlikely.

The Bobcats pick could be a top 1 in 2016, but they could improve a bit and then it's in the late lottery, so the value of the pick is uncertain, and totally worth the chance to add Pierce, Bass and substract Boozer, Hamilton.

[eugen]

I always liked Boozer to come and play for Cs. But I see it impossible

[Moranis]

A better trade, only if KG is retiring, of course:

Pierce+Bass for Boozer+Rip Hamilton+Bobcats 2014 first rounder (unprotected in 2016, top-10 protected in 2014, top-8 in 2015) makes more sense for both teams.

The Bulls save Boozer's 2nd year, start Taj Gibson, get the 6th man of the year in Pierce and a quality backup 4 in Bass. The pick is well worth the chance to win it all, even if it's just a one year window. I'd hate to see the Captain in red, but at least he would be playing for Thibs. And the Cs won't sniff the playoffs next season. Pierce could sign with the Cs as a FA in 2014-2015, with a full roster, and retire in green, but that's a bit unlikely.

The Bobcats pick could be a top 1 in 2016, but they could improve a bit and then it's in the late lottery, so the value of the pick is uncertain, and totally worth the chance to add Pierce, Bass and substract Boozer, Hamilton.

frankly I think you could swap out Pierce for Garnett (if he isn't retiring) and just eliminate Hamilton and it would make more sense for Chicago as KG is a starter on that team (next to Noah) while Pierce is not.  I don't think they give up the Bobcats pick for Pierce, but they might for Garnett.