Is Danny trying to trade Pierce for a draft pick?

[danglertx]

I like Bill Simmons suggestion, Pierce to the Cavs for two first rounders and a giant 15mil trade exception.  Turn around and send that trade exception to ATL with Bradley or Bass or whatever lesser player they want for sign and trade of Josh Smith.

We replace Pierce with Smith with roughly the same salary and pick up two #1s.

Pierce would be probably the best player Irving has had a chance to play with and would give them the veteran leadership they need for such a young team.  Cleveland really doesn't need any more late first round picks, they have enough youth.

ATL picks up a piece for basically a player they want to get rid of anyway. 

Seems like a win/win/win although I don't think a lot of Smith.

The Cleveland picks would be 19 and 31.  We'd draft the Greek Freek, one of Deing/Plumlee/ or Withey, and Ledo with the 31st pick.

[LooseCannon]

I'd imagine the Cavs might want to take a run at someone like Iguodala in free agency before settling for Pierce.

[Chief Macho]

I like Bill Simmons suggestion, Pierce to the Cavs for two first rounders and a giant 15mil trade exception.  Turn around and send that trade exception to ATL with Bradley or Bass or whatever lesser player they want for sign and trade of Josh Smith.

We replace Pierce with Smith with roughly the same salary and pick up two #1s.

Pierce would be probably the best player Irving has had a chance to play with and would give them the veteran leadership they need for such a young team.  Cleveland really doesn't need any more late first round picks, they have enough youth.

ATL picks up a piece for basically a player they want to get rid of anyway. 

Seems like a win/win/win although I don't think a lot of Smith.

The Cleveland picks would be 19 and 31.  We'd draft the Greek Freek, one of Deing/Plumlee/ or Withey, and Ledo with the 31st pick.

I think simmons was saying their two 2nds, the 31st and 33rd.   i still don't know why cleveland would do that.  Pierce seems more suited to a team ready to compete next year. 

[Chief Macho]

I like Bill Simmons suggestion, Pierce to the Cavs for two first rounders and a giant 15mil trade exception.  Turn around and send that trade exception to ATL with Bradley or Bass or whatever lesser player they want for sign and trade of Josh Smith.

We replace Pierce with Smith with roughly the same salary and pick up two #1s.

Pierce would be probably the best player Irving has had a chance to play with and would give them the veteran leadership they need for such a young team.  Cleveland really doesn't need any more late first round picks, they have enough youth.

ATL picks up a piece for basically a player they want to get rid of anyway. 

Seems like a win/win/win although I don't think a lot of Smith.

The Cleveland picks would be 19 and 31.  We'd draft the Greek Freek, one of Deing/Plumlee/ or Withey, and Ledo with the 31st pick.

I think simmons was saying their two 2nds, the 31st and 33rd. There is no way they are giving up that 19th.   And I  still don't know why cleveland would do both 2nds.  Pierce seems more suited to a team ready to compete next year.

[LooseCannon]

I think simmons was saying their two 2nds, the 31st and 33rd.   i still don't know why cleveland would do that.  Pierce seems more suited to a team ready to compete next year.

Do you believe that Cleveland will consistently do things in a way that makes sense to you?

[Cman]

I like Bill Simmons suggestion, Pierce to the Cavs for two first rounders and a giant 15mil trade exception.  Turn around and send that trade exception to ATL with Bradley or Bass or whatever lesser player they want for sign and trade of Josh Smith.

We replace Pierce with Smith with roughly the same salary and pick up two #1s.

Pierce would be probably the best player Irving has had a chance to play with and would give them the veteran leadership they need for such a young team.  Cleveland really doesn't need any more late first round picks, they have enough youth.

ATL picks up a piece for basically a player they want to get rid of anyway. 

Seems like a win/win/win although I don't think a lot of Smith.

The Cleveland picks would be 19 and 31.  We'd draft the Greek Freek, one of Deing/Plumlee/ or Withey, and Ledo with the 31st pick.

That just strikes me as much too high of a price for the Cavs to pay for PP. it would be a no-brainer for the Cs. And no, I don't hate PP, I love him and expect his number to be retired in Boston and for him to enter the HOF with a Celtics hat on.

[Celtics Insider]

CLE isn't looking to contend. Why they would trade a huge trade exception and 2 1sts for Pierce is beyond me.

[LooseCannon]

CLE isn't looking to contend. Why they would trade a huge trade exception and 2 1sts for Pierce is beyond me.

Let's say the Heat win Game 7 and it drives Dan Gilbert nuts enough to try and put an instant contender on the floor no matter how many draft picks it costs him.

[danglertx]

I'd imagine the Cavs might want to take a run at someone like Iguodala in free agency before settling for Pierce.

The Cavs won't make a run at Iguodala because it will tie up money past next year.  They want free cap space for that rumor about that person that can opt out after next season.

Other things that people have mentioned that aren't quite right.  The Cavs wouldn't be trading us an exception.  We'd get the exception because we are trading without taking back salary.  They don't own the exception, it gets created when we trade a player for just picks.

I was under the impression it was a first and second round pick and not both second rounders because I don't think the Cavs want to be committed to two players on their roster from this year.  Obviously they will be stuck with one, lots of people say Noel, I think it will be Len.  They'd have to guarantee money and a roster spot to a second first round pick and with all the young players they have, I don't think that is the way they want to go.

Finally, to the guy that said they don't want to contend next year.  That is just silly.  They are starting the prime of Kyrie Irving's career.  They want to contend next year and I believe they will baring injury to set themselves up as a spot an available free agent two years from now would want to go to.  Being in the lottery again doesn't make you look like a desirable destination.  However, if you make it to the conference finals and you just need that one more guy to come in and push you over the top, making that guy the hero of Ohio, then you go for a veteran who can contribute next year rather than a rookie who will probably be in the d-league for a year or two.

[erisred]

It's not my money, so I'd rather keep Pierce and KG in Boston, but I suspect Wyc has told Danny he needs to cut costs and rebuild. That's just my guess.

If my guess is right, then yeah, I reckon Danny is trying to trade Pierce for a pick and either an expiring or a big trade exception. He could do the amnesty thing or the "not pick up the option", but I rather suspect Danny wants to move Pierce for value instead of just dumping him for cash savings.

[greg_kite]

I don't know if picks are out there.  If they are going to get anything for Pierce it's going to be a salary dump.

For salary dumps you're mostly going to get bad contracts.  There are two situations that might be "salary dumps" but not necessarily bad contracts.

Houston:  Pierce for Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin and Thomas Robinson.  Lin is a bad contract next season but Asik and Robinson are good young bigs that would start in Boston and are on reasonable contracts.  Lin could start until Rondo comes back from injury or gets traded.

Denver:  Pierce for Javale McGee.  McGee is a bench player getting $10 million a year.  He's a knucklehead so he's sort of overpaid.  But he has all-star athleticism and has shown that he can put up decent stats.  If we get Jordan trading for McGee would be a little redundant.  But two young centers for Rondo to lob to wouldn't be a bad thing either.  He could always be trade bait.

I think the Houston deal is pie-in-the sky but as much as I'd hate to see PP go, I'd pull the trigger on that one in a heartbeat.  solves a bunch of issues for us.  New starting center, quality backup PG and a young big with some potential.  I like Asik and Lin a lot better than I like Jordan and Bledsoe

I don't think the Houston deal is that outrageous.  Houston could afford to get Howard and Chris Paul if they can drop another $15 million in salary, which is exactly what this deal does.  There isn't really another salary like Pierce's that would allow Houston to drop $15 million unless it's to another team with cap space, and it would most likely be after July 1st.  This deal would give Houston the jump on free agency and give them a Big 3 that would probably trump Miami's.

But how would they get Howard? Who would they trade?

Houston wouldn't have to trade for Howard.  If they waived Pierce they would have room to sign Howard and Chris Paul to go along with James Harden and Chandler Parsons.  Any power forward could fill the leftover spot.

[fantankerous]

Pierce to LAL for World Peace, Duhon, Blake and Lakers 2015 first.

I don't think we can hope for more than expirings and a single asset for Pierce. 

[Celtics4ever]

It's not my money, so I'd rather keep Pierce and KG in Boston, but I suspect Wyc has told Danny he needs to cut costs and rebuild. That's just my guess.

If my guess is right, then yeah, I reckon Danny is trying to trade Pierce for a pick and either an expiring or a big trade exception. He could do the amnesty thing or the "not pick up the option", but I rather suspect Danny wants to move Pierce for value instead of just dumping him for cash savings.

If we are rebuilding they will try to get younger and stack up assets.

Maybe Wyc realizes that running it back will only yield a mediocre team ( this team was that, I still love these guys) and no deep playoff run.   No player can beat father time, every one gets old.  I recall the doldrums of the post Bird era and it was horrible.   Better to suck 3-5 years than 10!

[saltlover]

I'm torn.  I want pierce to always be a Celtic, but I want a winning team.  If they can get an asset or two for pierce in exchange for taking on bad salary from a team who needs to shed such contracts (Golden State seems like a good fit to me), I think you have to do it.  Get a future pick and Ezeli from Golden State, for instance, in exchange for taking on two if their bad but expiring contracts, and maybe you could make the following offer to Atlanta:

Jordan, 3 firsts, Ezeli, and expiring salary filler for smith and Horford.  That could make for a great new core.

[lightspeed5]

I'm torn.  I want pierce to always be a Celtic, but I want a winning team.  If they can get an asset or two for pierce in exchange for taking on bad salary from a team who needs to shed such contracts (Golden State seems like a good fit to me), I think you have to do it.  Get a future pick and Ezeli from Golden State, for instance, in exchange for taking on two if their bad but expiring contracts, and maybe you could make the following offer to Atlanta:

Jordan, 3 firsts, Ezeli, and expiring salary filler for smith and Horford.  That could make for a great new core.

horford and smith for deandre jordan and a bunch of no names?