Could a Rondo to Pistons deal be in the works ???

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While I prefer to remain competitive, if the Celts could dump either Lee or Bass with Rondo and get either Drummond or Monroe along with a couple expirings (Stuck/Charlie V.) then I say do it.

Monroe is already a beast and Drummond is going to become one. If you could then go out and get another decent PG, hell you might even be a good team, this year!

Don't expect DA too make any trades until the trade deadline looms. With all the contracts he's acquired he will maximize their potential throughout the season, load up on strictly expiring contracts and draft picks. The core i see remaining is Rondo, Bradley, Green, Sully and Olynyk

And that looks like a pretty good starting 5 in a couple of years.

[bobbyv]

While I prefer to remain competitive, if the Celts could dump either Lee or Bass with Rondo and get either Drummond or Monroe along with a couple expirings (Stuck/Charlie V.) then I say do it.

Monroe is already a beast and Drummond is going to become one. If you could then go out and get another decent PG, hell you might even be a good team, this year!

Don't expect DA too make any trades until the trade deadline looms. With all the contracts he's acquired he will maximize their potential throughout the season, load up on strictly expiring contracts and draft picks. The core i see remaining is Rondo, Bradley, Green, Sully and Olynyk

And that looks like a pretty good starting 5 in a couple of years.

If Sully and Olynyk improve in defence, absolutely. Olynyk would take a KG role (offense-wise) and Sully could work down low and get rebounds. Bradley and Green for corner 3s, and Rondo coming back with hopefully an improved jumper and lots of people to assist to.

[LilRip]

I don't know about Rondo, but I feel that Detroit is definitely shopping Drummond for a star guard or a wing player.  Drummond is a great athlete and a great defensive player, but he doesn't give a lot of offense and a big liability at the free throw line.

I thought it was interesting that they sat him against the summer league Celtics, who are a big physical defensive team.  They probably didn't want to hurt his trade value (or maybe just his confidence going into the season) by risking a poor showing.

While it would certainly be interesting if they were shopping Drummond, regarding the summer league, the pistons generally pull him out of games from time to time. They were doing that last year as well, so it's nothing new nor does it connote any intrigue to look into. I think the reason is because they'd rather see what they have in other players. If they're shopping him, it wouldn't necessarily have any correlation with PT in summer league.

[byennie]

I know people around here love Drummond, but in my opinion Monroe is so much better that it's not even close. 

Drummond is a big kid.  He's really nice, very athletic and he'll get a lot of rebounds, blocks and steals.  He's very young, so people can imagine him developing in all kinds of ways, so his value is very high right now.  If he continues to show no development in the offensive end he will just become a liability. 

Monroe is such a smart player.  He is great offensively in the post.  He is a tremendous passer.  He gets steals and blocks.  He can rebound.  He can develop an offensive game like Tim Duncan.  He is nowhere near the physical specimen Drummond is, but I think he will be by far the better player over the course of their careers.

Monroe's a very nice player - a 15/10 guy who can pass. But, he doesn't block shots (0.7 per game) and isn't an efficient shooter (career 51% FG). That nitpicking at a good young big man, but I don't think there's a GM in the league who would take him over Drummond.

At age 19, Drummond already blocks 3 times as many shots and grabs 25% more rebounds. He can't shoot free throws, but he scores 75% as many points with a better TS% and fewer turnovers.

You could argue that Drummond is the better player right *now*, but at the very least Monroe is not head and shoulders better.

[clover]

There's also the problem of Monroe being a bit weak to guard big, strong centers and a bit slow to keep up with 4's out on the perimeter.

Drummond's a pure center.

[Moranis]

While I prefer to remain competitive, if the Celts could dump either Lee or Bass with Rondo and get either Drummond or Monroe along with a couple expirings (Stuck/Charlie V.) then I say do it.

Monroe is already a beast and Drummond is going to become one. If you could then go out and get another decent PG, hell you might even be a good team, this year!

Don't expect DA too make any trades until the trade deadline looms. With all the contracts he's acquired he will maximize their potential throughout the season, load up on strictly expiring contracts and draft picks. The core i see remaining is Rondo, Bradley, Green, Sully and Olynyk

And that looks like a pretty good starting 5 in a couple of years.

pretty good doesn't win championships and both Rondo and Green will be pushing 30 in a couple of years, which makes the window very small.  That is why you move Rondo now.

[jay]

You could do Rondo for Knight, Monroe, Kravtsov.  You can expand it and throw in Courtney Lee and take back Stuckey, which shaves a couple of years of contract you owe.

They would have Rondo, Caldwell-Pope, Singler, Smith, Drummond. If you could get their unprotected #1 pick, there is a chance they could be bad and it would be a good pick.  A rookie shooting guard in Pope, Drummond is still developing on offense.  If Smith takes a million hero shots, they could be a mediocre team. 

Knight, Bradley, Green, Sullinger, Monroe along with Olynyk gives the Cletics 6 B or B+ level prospects.  Monroe may be an A- player and Olynyk could develop into one.  The main thing is getting 2 chances at getting the ping pong balls to drop right. 

[kozlodoev]

You could do Rondo for Knight, Monroe, Kravtsov.  You can expand it and throw in Courtney Lee and take back Stuckey, which shaves a couple of years of contract you owe.

They would have Rondo, Caldwell-Pope, Singler, Smith, Drummond. If you could get their unprotected #1 pick, there is a chance they could be bad and it would be a good pick.  A rookie shooting guard in Pope, Drummond is still developing on offense.  If Smith takes a million hero shots, they could be a mediocre team. 

Knight, Bradley, Green, Sullinger, Monroe along with Olynyk gives the Cletics 6 B or B+ level prospects.  Monroe may be an A- player and Olynyk could develop into one.  The main thing is getting 2 chances at getting the ping pong balls to drop right.

I prefer Drummond and Stuckey for Rondo.

[Yogi]

I know people around here love Drummond, but in my opinion Monroe is so much better that it's not even close. 

Drummond is a big kid.  He's really nice, very athletic and he'll get a lot of rebounds, blocks and steals.  He's very young, so people can imagine him developing in all kinds of ways, so his value is very high right now.  If he continues to show no development in the offensive end he will just become a liability. 

Monroe is such a smart player.  He is great offensively in the post.  He is a tremendous passer.  He gets steals and blocks.  He can rebound.  He can develop an offensive game like Tim Duncan.  He is nowhere near the physical specimen Drummond is, but I think he will be by far the better player over the course of their careers.

Monroe's a very nice player - a 15/10 guy who can pass. But, he doesn't block shots (0.7 per game) and isn't an efficient shooter (career 51% FG). That nitpicking at a good young big man, but I don't think there's a GM in the league who would take him over Drummond.

At age 19, Drummond already blocks 3 times as many shots and grabs 25% more rebounds. He can't shoot free throws, but he scores 75% as many points with a better TS% and fewer turnovers.

You could argue that Drummond is the better player right *now*, but at the very least Monroe is not head and shoulders better.

Not at all.  Drummond scores only on put backs and dunks.  Monroe is a polished scorer and passer.  Again, Drummond will give you more rebounds and blocks.  I won't deny that.  But Monroe gives you scoring, passing, leadership and versatility.  Monroe also has the type of game that would be effective past 35.  Drummond's game revolves heavily on his athleticsim.

Drummond is very young, but how much more can he improve?  Is he going to develop a jumper or post moves?  Is he going to develop court vision?  It is possible, but I don't see it.

[rondohondo]

I know people around here love Drummond, but in my opinion Monroe is so much better that it's not even close. 

Drummond is a big kid.  He's really nice, very athletic and he'll get a lot of rebounds, blocks and steals.  He's very young, so people can imagine him developing in all kinds of ways, so his value is very high right now.  If he continues to show no development in the offensive end he will just become a liability. 

Monroe is such a smart player.  He is great offensively in the post.  He is a tremendous passer.  He gets steals and blocks.  He can rebound.  He can develop an offensive game like Tim Duncan.  He is nowhere near the physical specimen Drummond is, but I think he will be by far the better player over the course of their careers.

Monroe's a very nice player - a 15/10 guy who can pass. But, he doesn't block shots (0.7 per game) and isn't an efficient shooter (career 51% FG). That nitpicking at a good young big man, but I don't think there's a GM in the league who would take him over Drummond.

At age 19, Drummond already blocks 3 times as many shots and grabs 25% more rebounds. He can't shoot free throws, but he scores 75% as many points with a better TS% and fewer turnovers.

You could argue that Drummond is the better player right *now*, but at the very least Monroe is not head and shoulders better.

Not at all.  Drummond scores only on put backs and dunks.  Monroe is a polished scorer and passer.  Again, Drummond will give you more rebounds and blocks.  I won't deny that.  But Monroe gives you scoring, passing, leadership and versatility.  Monroe also has the type of game that would be effective past 35.  Drummond's game revolves heavily on his athleticsim.

Drummond is very young, but how much more can he improve?  Is he going to develop a jumper or post moves?  Is he going to develop court vision?  It is possible, but I don't see it.

A 3 man rotation of Sully,KO,Drummond would be awesome and complement each other so much . Monroe is really similar to Sully , so don't see the point in taking him back, but the combo of defense, passing, low post play, rebounding, shooting with that front court would be fun to watch ....

[aingeforthree]

Drummond and Melo have similar offensive games with the slight edge to Drummond based on his athleticism around the rim.  Melo is dreaming to become the type of defender, shot blocker, & rebounder Drummond is at this point in his career.

[byennie]

Not at all.  Drummond scores only on put backs and dunks.  Monroe is a polished scorer and passer.  Again, Drummond will give you more rebounds and blocks.  I won't deny that.  But Monroe gives you scoring, passing, leadership and versatility.  Monroe also has the type of game that would be effective past 35.  Drummond's game revolves heavily on his athleticsim.

Drummond is very young, but how much more can he improve?  Is he going to develop a jumper or post moves?  Is he going to develop court vision?  It is possible, but I don't see it.

I'll give you that Monroe's game might eventually age better, but I think thats rather premature when talking about a 19 year-old player. As for polish, what does it matter? I'd much rather have a guy dunking his way to 61% shooting than shooting 49% on his way to only a few more points. And that's rookie Drummond versus 3rd year Monroe. 15 points on 50% shooting is decent, but not exactly Duncan-esque.

Passing, yeah, I agree - but it also took Monroe 2 years of college and 3 in the pros to get there.

Getting back to the original point, I guess you can argue that present day Monroe is more versatile and a better passer, but it seems like tunnel vision to me to say that he's far and away the better player.

Besides, Drummond had 12 pts / 16 rebs / 5 stls / 6 blocks in 25 minutes on Sunday and we all know that summer league stats guarantee success =)

[Yogi]

I'll give you that Monroe's game might eventually age better, but I think thats rather premature when talking about a 19 year-old player. As for polish, what does it matter? I'd much rather have a guy dunking his way to 61% shooting than shooting 49% on his way to only a few more points. And that's rookie Drummond versus 3rd year Monroe. 15 points on 50% shooting is decent, but not exactly Duncan-esque.

Passing, yeah, I agree - but it also took Monroe 2 years of college and 3 in the pros to get there.

Getting back to the original point, I guess you can argue that present day Monroe is more versatile and a better passer, but it seems like tunnel vision to me to say that he's far and away the better player.

Besides, Drummond had 12 pts / 16 rebs / 5 stls / 6 blocks in 25 minutes on Sunday and we all know that summer league stats guarantee success =)

I think Drummond is a nice prospect.  I like the kid.  But his offensive stats will get worse with higher usage.  Right now he's getting those dunks because Monroe is the one drawing attention and getting him the ball.  You can throw the ball to Monroe and he will make things happen.  I don't think you can do the same with Drummond. 

I think Drummond is an elite (possibly all-star caliber) role player.  I think Monroe can be a first option.  They complement each other decently, unfortunately neither has range.

[byennie]

FWIW, Detroit is signing another (small) forward who will expect to play. Doesn't necessarily force anyone out, but continues to get crowded:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9463294/detroit-pistons-add-italian-league-mvp-luigi-datome-reports

[SHAQATTACK]

If Rondo is traded to be with his buddy Smith,   not even LBJ could save the C's from lotto balls .

we would be like Cavs of two years ago ......

good young prospects , Green  and 18 win season on the way. 

Do this , trade Rondo ,   tank city