C's trying to s+t for Josh Smith

[LEHGOCELTICS]

What the hell are we doing? We're supposed to tank, not become the treadmill Atlanta Hawks.

[kgainez]

I don't understand the fascination with Josh Smith.

DeAndre Jordan
Josh Smith
Jeff Green
Avery Bradley
Rajon Rondo

That team's spacing and FT% makes me cringe.

Still only 27.  Averaged 18/8/4 in the final year of his Atlanta contract.  Shot selection would improve playing with a guy like Rondo.

Yeah, I kinda doubt Smith's awful shot selection really has much to do with who he's playing with.  Rondo would get him some good looks, but Smith is still going to rear back and fire up that 18 ft jumper whenever he feels like it.

Mike

I think the amount of bad shots we say come from J Smith is wildly overrated. Let's not act like PP didn't chuck some up.
Josh is used to being that guy.

[nickagneta]

I'm not in love with Josh Smith as an overall player but if you get a coach that pushes pace and transition offense, with KG rebounding the ball and outletting it to run, then a lineup of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Smith/KG is a good lineup and you can have a 4th quarter ending lineup of Rondo/Terry/Green/Sullinger/KG and won't have to worry about free throw shooting.

I don't love the idea of Smith but to have a core of

Rondo
Bradley
Green
Smith
Sullinger
First round pick 2013
First round pick 2014

going forward, is a lot better than tanking for years hoping to get great players and then waiting 6 years for them to get good enough to win.

Also, IMHO, Lee, Terry, Bass, Melo, Crawford, Williams, Randolph and White are all trade bait parts or filler going forward.

[badshar]

Getting Josh Smith means we are retooling and getting ready for another run at Banner 18 next year. That would run in line with KG playing next year.

I'm all for trying again next year. Would much rather hope to win a championship and enjoy than set my mind to the fact that we aren't trying to contend.

But I'm not sure how I feel about giving up Pierce for all this.

Its a business, but there is something called emotion and sentiment too.

[gpap]

If the Celtics want to rebuild, do not be scared of being bad.  Do not overpay for fringe all-stars.

I would much rather the Celts retooled as opposed to rebuild.

[celtsfan84]

I'm not in love with Josh Smith as an overall player but if you get a coach that pushes pace and transition offense, with KG rebounding the ball and outletting it to run, then a lineup of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Smith/KG is a good lineup and you can have a 4th quarter ending lineup of Rondo/Terry/Green/Sullinger/KG and won't have to worry about free throw shooting.

I don't love the idea of Smith but to have a core of

Rondo
Bradley
Green
Smith
Sullinger
First round pick 2013
First round pick 2014

going forward, is a lot better than tanking for years hoping to get great players and then waiting 6 years for them to get good enough to win.

Also, IMHO, Lee, Terry, Bass, Melo, Crawford, Williams, Randolph and White are all trade bait parts or filler going forward.

I think it would be reasonable to expect some of the assets listed above to be sent to Atlanta to interest them in a sign-and-trade.

[Kane3387]

This is what I've been advocating in a lot of larbird33's blow it up threads. Getting trade exceptions and assets to compete, if not this coming season then the one after it.

Acquiring the exceptions is feasible. For example pierce and kg to Dallas for Marion. Pierce to Cleveland and kg perhaps to SA who has cap space. Nearly 18 mill. In those trades try to add lee to Memphis in a salary dump to increase the exception.

Use the exceptions via s+t, like last year with Steve Nash to lakers, to acquire, for example, big al and josh smith. Both guys get deals worth 10-12 mill annually. After what I saw Indiana do in the ECF,a core four of rondo, green, smith, and big al surrounded by other assets in the form of Bradley, melo, sullinger, and draft picks would have the ammunition to compete for a title.

Teams like 2004 pistons are becoming the way to build a contender now.

[RJ87]

If we do get Smith, one has to think Sully and even Avery would become expendable. I'd probably try to package them for an upgrade at the 2 (Eric Gordon? Maybe not at that salary).

If we draft Dieng, his mid range jumper would make him a good fit on a front line with Smith and Green.

[kgainez]

I'm not in love with Josh Smith as an overall player but if you get a coach that pushes pace and transition offense, with KG rebounding the ball and outletting it to run, then a lineup of Rondo/Bradley/Green/Smith/KG is a good lineup and you can have a 4th quarter ending lineup of Rondo/Terry/Green/Sullinger/KG and won't have to worry about free throw shooting.

I don't love the idea of Smith but to have a core of

Rondo
Bradley
Green
Smith
Sullinger
First round pick 2013
First round pick 2014

going forward, is a lot better than tanking for years hoping to get great players and then waiting 6 years for them to get good enough to win.

Also, IMHO, Lee, Terry, Bass, Melo, Crawford, Williams, Randolph and White are all trade bait parts or filler going forward.

TP, well said

[wdleehi]

This is what I've been advocating in a lot of larbird33's blow it up threads. Getting trade exceptions and assets to compete if not thus coming season then the one after it.

Acquiring the exceptions is feasible. For examine pierce and kg to Dallas for Marion. Pierce to Cleveland and kg perhaps to SA who has cap space. Nearly 18 mill. In those trades adding lee to Memphis in a salary dump to increase the exception.

Using the exceptions via s+t ala Steve Nash to lakers to acquire for example big al and josh smith. Both guys get deals with 10-12 mill annually. After what I saw Indiana do in the ECF,a core four of rondo, green, smith, and big al surrounded by other assets in the form of Bradley, melo, sullinger, and draft picks would have the ammunition to compete for a title.

Teams like 2004 pistons are becoming the way to build a contender now.

Then why can we find one example in the past 20 years?  (or more)

[blink]

If we do get Smith, one has to think Sully and even Avery would become expendable. I'd probably try to package them for an upgrade at the 2 (Eric Gordon? Maybe not at that salary).

If we draft Dieng, his mid range jumper would make him a good fit on a front line with Smith and Green.

As much as I like Sully and AB I kind of agree.  I worry that they would become trade fodder for a serious scoring 2 to space the floor.  We need 2 good 3 point shooters on the floor.  Right now with our roster, we rarely have that weapon.

[Roy H.]

I don't love the idea of Smith but to have a core of

Rondo
Bradley
Green
Smith
Sullinger
First round pick 2013
First round pick 2014

going forward, is a lot better than tanking for years hoping to get great players and then waiting 6 years for them to get good enough to win.

I don't know.  Having a second round playoff exit as the team's ceiling for the next half-decade doesn't entice me.

[rondohondo]

If we do get Smith, one has to think Sully and even Avery would become expendable. I'd probably try to package them for an upgrade at the 2 (Eric Gordon? Maybe not at that salary).

If we draft Dieng, his mid range jumper would make him a good fit on a front line with Smith and Green.

As much as I like Sully and AB I kind of agree.  I worry that they would become trade fodder for a serious scoring 2 to space the floor.  We need 2 good 3 point shooters on the floor.  Right now with our roster, we rarely have that weapon.

JJ Redick or Korver for the MLE?

[fantankerous]

If we do get Smith, one has to think Sully and even Avery would become expendable. I'd probably try to package them for an upgrade at the 2 (Eric Gordon? Maybe not at that salary).

If we draft Dieng, his mid range jumper would make him a good fit on a front line with Smith and Green.

Either Bradley, Sully or a 1st would go to Atlanta in the Smith s&t.

[kgainez]

Getting Josh Smith means we are retooling and getting ready for another run at Banner 18 next year. That would run in line with KG playing next year.

I'm all for trying again next year. Would much rather hope to win a championship and enjoy than set my mind to the fact that we aren't trying to contend.

But I'm not sure how I feel about giving up Pierce for all this.

Its a business, but there is something called emotion and sentiment too.

I don't think we go for it this year
I think this is a 'watch and see' kind of year
but with this core, I could see us (1) overachieving next year (see: 2012 ecf) or (2) just trying to get a feel for each other and coming back better year after next.

at the end of the day, Rondo may not be in our plans early in the season
BUT, he'll probably not be kept out -- he'll want to play with his homie.
I also think Rondo will be straight up with Josh and tell him to stop trying to hit some of the shots he's going for.
we'll see. lots of things to consider

but I am, essentially a fan of a Rondo/AB(esp 2012 AB)/Green/Smith line up. It also won't hurt if Rondo continues to hit his midrange jumper.