Celtics interview Nerlens Noel

[Sketch5]

If the Celtics could trade Rondo for Noel, it would be a huge improvement.

MAYBE in 5 years when Rondo is in the decline and Noel is hitting his prime, and even then its WAY to early to tell. If we trade Rondo, we should be getting next years pick as well. And thats not going to happen...

[CelticConcourse]

If the Celtics could trade Rondo for Noel, it would be a huge improvement.

MAYBE in 5 years when Rondo is in the decline and Noel is hitting his prime, and even then its WAY to early to tell. If we trade Rondo, we should be getting next years pick as well. And thats not going to happen...

Again, known>unknown.

[Celtics4ever]

At 206 lbs he has a lot of work in the weight room to do before he makes meaningful impact on the court.

[mmmmm]

uhmm...the celtics biggest problem all year was the lack of big men. Sure losing Rondo hurt our chances significantly, but honestly, we were not going to contend with the lineup we had even if Rondo was healthy. We desperately needed a defensive big to help KG.

OKC also got killed because Perk was useless against stopping Gasol and Randolph inside.

How do you know?

was Rondo going to fix our interior defense?

No, but interior defense was not what needed the most fixing for the Celtics in this year's playoffs. 

Our playoff defense was elite.  Our playoff offense was woeful.  Rondo would have helped the latter immensely.

Raymond Felton repeatedly killed us in the playoffs, our defense was definitely not "elite" If we had a big man in the paint to close the lane, Felton would have been a non-factor.

The Celtics posted a team DRtg of 98.9 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs.  That says our defense was fantastic.

The Celtics posted a team ORtg of 92.9 points per 100 possessions.  That says our offense was pathetic.

'Doesn't really mean anything that 'Felton repeatedly killed us' if his team as a whole didn't score all that much.

The problems for the C's were clearly and obviously on the other end of the court, where we just plain couldn't shoot the [dang] ball.   A 41.3% FG% was just not going to get the job done.

[Monkhouse]

uhmm...the celtics biggest problem all year was the lack of big men. Sure losing Rondo hurt our chances significantly, but honestly, we were not going to contend with the lineup we had even if Rondo was healthy. We desperately needed a defensive big to help KG.

OKC also got killed because Perk was useless against stopping Gasol and Randolph inside.

How do you know?

was Rondo going to fix our interior defense?

No, but interior defense was not what needed the most fixing for the Celtics in this year's playoffs. 

Our playoff defense was elite.  Our playoff offense was woeful.  Rondo would have helped the latter immensely.

Raymond Felton repeatedly killed us in the playoffs, our defense was definitely not "elite" If we had a big man in the paint to close the lane, Felton would have been a non-factor.

If we had Rondo, Felton would have been a non-factor.

If we had Rondo, Jeff Green might have been a non-factor.

They both need the ball to be effective.

I'd trade Rondo for Noel.  Good way to kick-start a rebuild.

Noel to me is basically a weaker, and smaller Tyson Chandler. Only good at blocking, catching lobs, absolutely none to limited offense, no post game for a big, could be a defensive anchor if properly conditioned and learned the skills. But as of right now only good at blocking in my mind.

If your the number one picked  big, and you don't score over 15 PPG. I'm going to go and ahead assume the chances of Noel scoring more than his college career is slim. He may or may not. But at this point you're going to take a risk at a big coming off an ACL?

Tanking isn't the way to go. In fact tanking on purpose has never ever worked for us.

And Rondo has seen how Jeff Green can play now, you're telling me a player like Rondo who has very high basketball IQ, and knows how to dissect plays wouldn't be able to feed Jeff Green? Other than the occasional Bradley cut, who else really drives to the paint?

[BigAlTheFuture]

Why would Cleveland trade their pick (Noel) for Rondo when they already have Irving? I wouldn't do that trade if I were Ainge, either.

[Monkhouse]

Why would Cleveland trade their pick (Noel) for Rondo when they already have Irving? I wouldn't do that trade if I were Ainge, either.

Irving may be undersized, but if they could utilize enough plays for pick and pops. I see Noel/Varejao setting a pick, Rondo drives, then feeds Irving at the perimeter, and he wets it.

Just like in 2K

[clover]

Tanking is something of a desperation move, but if the C's ever tanked, it was the year they were unlucky with the 5, landed Ray, and then bsgged KG.

I'd say that worked out for them.

[Monkhouse]

Tanking is something of a desperation move, but if the C's ever tanked, it was the year they were unlucky with the 5, landed Ray, and then bsgged KG.

I'd say that worked out for them.

Whether or not we were tanking, we had assets.

That's what we should get if we trade KG/PP. Try to obtain the assets needed to get better superstars. Draft picks are never guaranteed, I'd like to get the assets to get the 1 or 2 superstars with good role players who can contend.

[hpantazo]

uhmm...the celtics biggest problem all year was the lack of big men. Sure losing Rondo hurt our chances significantly, but honestly, we were not going to contend with the lineup we had even if Rondo was healthy. We desperately needed a defensive big to help KG.

OKC also got killed because Perk was useless against stopping Gasol and Randolph inside.

How do you know?

was Rondo going to fix our interior defense?

No, but interior defense was not what needed the most fixing for the Celtics in this year's playoffs. 

Our playoff defense was elite.  Our playoff offense was woeful.  Rondo would have helped the latter immensely.

Raymond Felton repeatedly killed us in the playoffs, our defense was definitely not "elite" If we had a big man in the paint to close the lane, Felton would have been a non-factor.

If we had Rondo, Felton would have been a non-factor.

If we had Rondo, Jeff Green might have been a non-factor.

They both need the ball to be effective.

I'd trade Rondo for Noel.  Good way to kick-start a rebuild.

Noel to me is basically a weaker, and smaller Tyson Chandler. Only good at blocking, catching lobs, absolutely none to limited offense, no post game for a big, could be a defensive anchor if properly conditioned and learned the skills. But as of right now only good at blocking in my mind.

If your the number one picked  big, and you don't score over 15 PPG. I'm going to go and ahead assume the chances of Noel scoring more than his college career is slim. He may or may not. But at this point you're going to take a risk at a big coming off an ACL?

Tanking isn't the way to go. In fact tanking on purpose has never ever worked for us.

And Rondo has seen how Jeff Green can play now, you're telling me a player like Rondo who has very high basketball IQ, and knows how to dissect plays wouldn't be able to feed Jeff Green? Other than the occasional Bradley cut, who else really drives to the paint?

Green will thrive playing with Rondo next season. Green runs the floor really well, Rondo will get him a ton of open looks. Saying he would be a non-factor with Rondo is rediculous.

[mmmmm]

uhmm...the celtics biggest problem all year was the lack of big men. Sure losing Rondo hurt our chances significantly, but honestly, we were not going to contend with the lineup we had even if Rondo was healthy. We desperately needed a defensive big to help KG.

OKC also got killed because Perk was useless against stopping Gasol and Randolph inside.

How do you know?

was Rondo going to fix our interior defense?

No, but interior defense was not what needed the most fixing for the Celtics in this year's playoffs. 

Our playoff defense was elite.  Our playoff offense was woeful.  Rondo would have helped the latter immensely.

Raymond Felton repeatedly killed us in the playoffs, our defense was definitely not "elite" If we had a big man in the paint to close the lane, Felton would have been a non-factor.

If we had Rondo, Felton would have been a non-factor.

If we had Rondo, Jeff Green might have been a non-factor.

They both need the ball to be effective.

I'd trade Rondo for Noel.  Good way to kick-start a rebuild.

On what are you really basing this assertion on?

It may interest you to know that Green relied on assisted shots (55.7%) at pretty much the same rate as Pierce (55.3%).   That's also about the same rate that Pierce has had the last 4 straight years.

Has Pierce been unable to work well with Rondo?

The fact that Green had a sub-par start to last season almost certainly had far more to do with his health and recovery than it had to do with inability to work with Rondo.

[ScoobyDoo]

I think the kid's a PF. Because of his weight I think you need to pair him with a big physical center and then you'd have something special.

I also believe that with work he could develop a "good enough" mid range jump shot and with his athleticism he could develop a decent post game as well - jump hooks, up and under moves, etc.

Noel and Jeff Green on the break at the SF and PF positions...nice.

So I'm thinking:

1. Rondo & Lee for Nelson, Harrington and the #2. Orlando dumps dead salary and gets a true, proven point to run their young team. They also get another nice back court piece in Lee.

Back court foundation: Rondo, Aflalo and Courtney
Front court foundation: Vuj, Nicholson, Harkless and Harris       
Rondo runs the show. add another Vet...
We draft Nerlens Noel - keep him in Boston

2. KG, Pierce and Wilcox for Jordan, Bledsoe, Butler and the Clippers 25th pick.

3. With the 16th pick? best available Off guard or PG

DeAndre Jordan / Fab Melo / Player
Jared Sullinger / Brandon Bass / Nerlens Noel (recovery) 
Jeff Green / Harrington / Caron Butler
Bradley / Jason Terry / Crawford
Bledsoe / Nelson / Twill 

We then work on packaging some combinations of Nelson, Bass, Butler and Harrington for expiring contracts and young talent.

[BigAlTheFuture]

I think the kid's a PF. Because of his weight I think you need to pair him with a big physical center and then you'd have something special.

I also believe that with work he could develop a "good enough" mid range jump shot and with his athleticism he could develop a decent post game as well - jump hooks, up and under moves, etc.

Noel and Jeff Green on the break at the SF and PF positions...nice.

So I'm thinking:

1. Rondo & Lee for Nelson, Harrington and the #2. Orlando dumps dead salary and gets a true, proven point to run their young team. They also get another nice back court piece in Lee.

Back court foundation: Rondo, Aflalo and Courtney
Front court foundation: Vuj, Nicholson, Harkless and Harris       
Rondo runs the show. add another Vet...
We draft Nerlens Noel - keep him in Boston

2. KG, Pierce and Wilcox for Jordan, Bledsoe, Butler and the Clippers 25th pick.

3. With the 16th pick? best available Off guard or PG

DeAndre Jordan / Fab Melo / Player
Jared Sullinger / Brandon Bass / Nerlens Noel (recovery) 
Jeff Green / Harrington / Caron Butler
Bradley / Jason Terry / Crawford
Bledsoe / Nelson / Twill 

We then work on packaging some combinations of Nelson, Bass, Butler and Harrington for expiring contracts and young talent.

We'd probably be the worst team in the league. Sets us up perfectly to land Wiggins in 2014.

[Who]

I think the kid's a PF. Because of his weight I think you need to pair him with a big physical center and then you'd have something special.

I also believe that with work he could develop a "good enough" mid range jump shot and with his athleticism he could develop a decent post game as well - jump hooks, up and under moves, etc.

Noel and Jeff Green on the break at the SF and PF positions...nice.

So I'm thinking:

1. Rondo & Lee for Nelson, Harrington and the #2. Orlando dumps dead salary and gets a true, proven point to run their young team. They also get another nice back court piece in Lee.

Back court foundation: Rondo, Aflalo and Courtney
Front court foundation: Vuj, Nicholson, Harkless and Harris       
Rondo runs the show. add another Vet...
We draft Nerlens Noel - keep him in Boston

2. KG, Pierce and Wilcox for Jordan, Bledsoe, Butler and the Clippers 25th pick.

3. With the 16th pick? best available Off guard or PG

DeAndre Jordan / Fab Melo / Player
Jared Sullinger / Brandon Bass / Nerlens Noel (recovery) 
Jeff Green / Harrington / Caron Butler
Bradley / Jason Terry / Crawford
Bledsoe / Nelson / Twill 

We then work on packaging some combinations of Nelson, Bass, Butler and Harrington for expiring contracts and young talent.

We'd probably be the worst team in the league. Sets us up perfectly to land Wiggins in 2014.

That team looks like it would win somewhere in the 30s to me.

Too many wins to get a top five pick.

Gotta blow it up more to get one of those top five picks.