Woj: Paul Pierce Was Nearly A Maverick At Trade Deadline

[kozlodoev]

The problem is , it has been reported that he views himself as a max contract guy. This isnt happening for him in boston or any other well run franchise.

The combination of Rondo, Green and Smith would have to leave enough $$ to bring in a dynamic scoring 2G to cover up the offensive deficiency. I don't see that happening.

Yeah, I know -- I guess there was hope that he'll take a discount to be in a good team situation with his buddy Rondo? It's not like this is asking him to play for pennies.

That's a moot point right now, I guess.

Do you mean Smith? If so, I don't consider it moot - he could still do it in a different S&T.

And as for the 2G, the only way I see that happening is by getting lucky in the draft.

Yes, I do mean Smith. I'm not too concerned about SG, I think some combination of Bradley, Lee, and Terry can man the spot adequately, if underwhelmingly.

[nostar]

Of all the Pierce trade deadline rumors I've heard, the only one that really made me stop and think was the Harrison Barnes trade.

This was never a real rumor as far as I know. I'm not in love with the Warriors front office but they don't have Kahn in their to hold a decade long fire sale either. Pierce for the 7th pick in a stacked draft was just too much to believe.

Smith I think is still about the money more so than ring

I think the Lakers want to trade Pau for Josh,  if Dwight reups,

Danny Ferry wouldn't take Pau at this point. Two bum knees on a $20M contract is not something any fringe playoff team needs, especially after Johnson took them for a ride. At least Bynum's bum knees come with 25 years instead of 32 like Pau.

OP:

The new CBA makes picks incredibly valuable. Rookie contracts are pretty much gold these days and since we're looking at rebuilding anyway I'm not sure Danny wanted to give up a talented player in Pierce for a guy he'd have to over AND lose a 1st rounder. Picks are more valuable now than even is the impression I'm getting.

[LooseCannon]

(2) If he wanted a ring, why would he come to Boston?

Maybe he has an exaggerated opinion of how much better he can be if he goes somewhere where he thinks he will be the #1 option on offense and can shoot as much as he wants.

[Evantime34]

I find it kind of hilarious that of any NBA team Celtics fans would actually want J smith.

The guy gets booed in Atlanta! Imagine him here?

I mean Antoine was ripped apart here for a while, rondo is constantly ripped apart, Pierce was for a while.

At least those guys can take it. Smith doesn't seem like he'd be able to.

Aside from me not wanting to pay him or pay him long term, I think it would jist be a disaster in Boston

I see where you are coming from, but the hope is that with the stability of his best friend from HS (Rondo), a championship winning coach and playoff tested veterans that Smith could remodel his game in a more efficient manner

I guess.

To me Smith isn't that good anyway. If you pay him a bunch of money and he and his "buddy" aren't playing like a 1-2 punch should than man will they be in for it.

Plus I think the two of them are a horrible combination anyway, at least offensively

In the half court they probably aren't great offensively although both are very good passers, can crash the boards and finish around the rim.

Offensively where they mesh would be on the break. Picture a poor man's Cp3 and Blake combination. Both create a lot of steals while Smith also blocks shots, pairing the two together would lead to a lot of break outs in our favor. I'm of the mind that Smith would excel in the fast paced system we should be running to maximize Rondo.

His best pg has been Teague who is decent (especially in the playoffs) but not really one to set up others for easy buckets.

[CelticG1]

Does Ainge hold too much value on mid to late 1st round picks?

If he was offering Pierce for Smith, he holds too much value on Smith.

I think SMith is about the top end of the players you could get for Pierce though, but I understand why Danny balked at what was going to be a reasonable first round pick.

He might be the top, but you might be better off w/ the flexibility. Add Smith and between him, Rondo and Jeff Green you're at about 40 mil for 3 of the most polarizing players in the league.

Agreed, good return on the player iffy on the contract.

I don't think Smith is some sort of a world beater, but he's clearly going to be better than Pierce over the next 3-5 years, and probably better than anyone else we'd be able to get. Especially if he were willing to agree to something ~$12 million per.

I'd rather roll the dice and see what other free agents are available in the next 5 years rather than be tied to Smith even at a reasonable contract would be a lot of money tied for a gyy who is a borderline star

[SHAQATTACK]

yeah , I'm not sure we want to get tangled up in HUGE Smith deal that will weight on the Club for a years ,  all while Celtic fan s  are yelling ....WHAT THE  devil is Smith taking all those long range twos and threes.

Much as I like the guy ,  I think Smith is the wrong personality for this club.....he 'd be either loved or hated  .

Look  seen too many games ,  J Smooth is more often than not the best player the Celtics have on the court NOT in green.

[gpap]

The problem is , it has been reported that he views himself as a max contract guy. This isnt happening for him in boston or any other well run franchise.

The combination of Rondo, Green and Smith would have to leave enough $$ to bring in a dynamic scoring 2G to cover up the offensive deficiency. I don't see that happening.

Yeah, I know -- I guess there was hope that he'll take a discount to be in a good team situation with his buddy Rondo? It's not like this is asking him to play for pennies.

That's a moot point right now, I guess.

Do you mean Smith? If so, I don't consider it moot - he could still do it in a different S&T.

And as for the 2G, the only way I see that happening is by getting lucky in the draft.

Yes, I do mean Smith. I'm not too concerned about SG, I think some combination of Bradley, Lee, and Terry can man the spot adequately, if underwhelmingly.

I am not a fan of Bradley, Lee or Terry. I'd love to see if we can pry Monta Ellis from Milwaukee. An actual scorer, not someone who runs hot and cold like the 3 guys on our team.

[Evantime34]

The problem is , it has been reported that he views himself as a max contract guy. This isnt happening for him in boston or any other well run franchise.

The combination of Rondo, Green and Smith would have to leave enough $$ to bring in a dynamic scoring 2G to cover up the offensive deficiency. I don't see that happening.

Yeah, I know -- I guess there was hope that he'll take a discount to be in a good team situation with his buddy Rondo? It's not like this is asking him to play for pennies.

That's a moot point right now, I guess.

Do you mean Smith? If so, I don't consider it moot - he could still do it in a different S&T.

And as for the 2G, the only way I see that happening is by getting lucky in the draft.

Yes, I do mean Smith. I'm not too concerned about SG, I think some combination of Bradley, Lee, and Terry can man the spot adequately, if underwhelmingly.

I am not a fan of Bradley, Lee or Terry. I'd love to see if we can pry Monta Ellis from Milwaukee. An actual scorer, not someone who runs hot and cold like the 3 guys on our team.

The only way I bring in Monta is if KG and Pierce are still there. Mark Jackson talked about him creating a culture of losing in Golden State, and only after they traded him were they able to install a winning culture.

Larry Sanders and him almost came to blows in the playoffs this year because Ellis was being selfish. If we don't have KG and Pierce as veterans to keep him in line I want him no where near our young players.

[indeedproceed]

I don't think there is a trade scenario feasible where I want to take Monta Ellis back in any deal.

[kozlodoev]

The problem is , it has been reported that he views himself as a max contract guy. This isnt happening for him in boston or any other well run franchise.

The combination of Rondo, Green and Smith would have to leave enough $$ to bring in a dynamic scoring 2G to cover up the offensive deficiency. I don't see that happening.

Yeah, I know -- I guess there was hope that he'll take a discount to be in a good team situation with his buddy Rondo? It's not like this is asking him to play for pennies.

That's a moot point right now, I guess.

Do you mean Smith? If so, I don't consider it moot - he could still do it in a different S&T.

And as for the 2G, the only way I see that happening is by getting lucky in the draft.

Yes, I do mean Smith. I'm not too concerned about SG, I think some combination of Bradley, Lee, and Terry can man the spot adequately, if underwhelmingly.

I am not a fan of Bradley, Lee or Terry. I'd love to see if we can pry Monta Ellis from Milwaukee. An actual scorer, not someone who runs hot and cold like the 3 guys on our team.

Didn't say I was a fan -- just said they could be adequate. Certainly adequate enough so that we don't need to sink major resources in bringing in another SG.

[LooseCannon]

The problem is , it has been reported that he views himself as a max contract guy. This isnt happening for him in boston or any other well run franchise.

The combination of Rondo, Green and Smith would have to leave enough $$ to bring in a dynamic scoring 2G to cover up the offensive deficiency. I don't see that happening.

Yeah, I know -- I guess there was hope that he'll take a discount to be in a good team situation with his buddy Rondo? It's not like this is asking him to play for pennies.

That's a moot point right now, I guess.

Do you mean Smith? If so, I don't consider it moot - he could still do it in a different S&T.

And as for the 2G, the only way I see that happening is by getting lucky in the draft.

Yes, I do mean Smith. I'm not too concerned about SG, I think some combination of Bradley, Lee, and Terry can man the spot adequately, if underwhelmingly.

I am not a fan of Bradley, Lee or Terry. I'd love to see if we can pry Monta Ellis from Milwaukee. An actual scorer, not someone who runs hot and cold like the 3 guys on our team.

An undersized offense-oriented guard who is not a good three-point shooter and doesn't care about defense is probably the type of player I least want playing a significant role.

[Evantime34]

I don't think there is a trade scenario feasible where I want to take Monta Ellis back in any deal.

If he signed with us for the MLE (and then moved Terry) or traded him in a sign and trade for Terry, either way he's making around $6 MM, would you take a flier on him?

[nickagneta]

...And a Clipper

...And a Net

...And a .....

I am sure Danny almost had a bunch of trades at the deadline for Pierce. Old news as far as I am concerned.

[LooseCannon]

I don't think there is a trade scenario feasible where I want to take Monta Ellis back in any deal.

If he signed with us for the MLE (and then moved Terry) or traded him in a sign and trade for Terry, either way he's making around $6 MM, would you take a flier on him?

Monta Ellis has an ETO.  I don't think he is exercising it to sign for half of what he would make next season.

[Evantime34]

I don't think there is a trade scenario feasible where I want to take Monta Ellis back in any deal.

If he signed with us for the MLE (and then moved Terry) or traded him in a sign and trade for Terry, either way he's making around $6 MM, would you take a flier on him?

Monta Ellis has an ETO.  I don't think he is exercising it to sign for half of what he would make next season.

Oh, I thought he was a free agent. nvm then.