Out of those three it's got to be Jordan Crawford.
It's really an easy choice for me, Crawford has a history of behaving badly on young struggling teams, which is the last thing we need this year. I think he could have some value to another team as another SG option who can score in bunches, but it'll have to be a veteran squad.
I don't understand why so many people are ready to abandon Fab Melo. At this point he has to have absolutely no trade value so we aren't getting anything back for him. Yes he has been awful thus far and hasn't progressed as much as I hoped/expected, but why dump a first round pick a year after drafting him if we aren't competing anyway? Seems like the perfect opportunity to give him some minutes without consequences to see if there is anything there.
As for Brooks I think he really deserves a shot after a fairly impressive rookie campaign. He has some major holes in his game, but if he rounds out his skill set he could be a great scoring option of the bench in the future.
I agree 100%
Here is my breakdown
Jordan CrawfordThe first guy I'd trade out of those three. He's a pure tweener - too small to defend bigger SG's, yet lacking true PG skills.
Crawford has averaged 17.2, 19.3 and 17.1 PP36 over his first three seasons, so clearly the man can put the ball in the basket. The problem is that he's shot 38.4%, 40%, 41.5% from the field over those three seasons. He also shot 26%, 29% and 33% from three. Horribly inefficient scorer. His only saving grade is that he shot 87%, 79% and 81% from the line so he is a good free throw shooter - though he only takes 3.5 free throw attempts per 36 minutes. A third of of all his FG attempts are threes.
In terms of potential...I don't think he's ever going to shoot much better than 40% from the field, he seems to have the worst attitude and work ethic of anybody on the team, he's as uncoachable as it gets, and he's likely to cause as much grief in the locker room as he does on the court. His jerky motions on the court make it looks like he is never in control, and every shot he makes looks as much fluke as it is talent. He has the ability to win you a game here and their with his scoring outbursts, but he's likely to lose you three (with horrible decision making) for every one he wins you. I just don't see a future for him on a young Boston team that has few veterans, especially one with Rondo as the leader.
Marshon BrooksMuch like Crawford, Brooks is purely a scorer. Unlike Crawford though, he actually looks pretty smooth and in-control when he's out there handling the ball and attacking the rim.
In his rookie season Brooks has averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per 36 minutes. In his second season he averaged 15.5 points, 4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per 36. That's very consistent production from one season to the next, so at least you have an idea of what to expect.
Compared to Crawford his scoring output is slightly lower, but far more efficient. He averaged 42.8% from the field in his rookie season and solid 46.3% in his second season. That is a big improvement over Crawford, who has never shot more than 41.5% in a season. Brooks also shot better from outside, shooting 31% and 27% from the perimeter. Not exactly great numbers, but better than the 26% and 29% that Crawford averaged his first two seasons. Only a fifth of Brook's attempts are three point shots - he seems to have a preference for driving to the basket rather then popping up threes, which I much prefer. That improved shot selection probably helps to explain why his percentages are better.
While he's known for character issues, Brooks doesn't seem like half the problem child Crawford is. He seems more coachable and not quite as arrogant. If he can develop his defense and/or his outside shot I think he could be a quality starter in this league, and given it's only his third season I think he has a pretty decent chance of doing that. I think he is worth holding on to as a prospect and I think he'd make a solid backup SG behind Bradley.
Fab MeloI wouldn't mind keeping Fab - even though he still has a long way to go, I think he really showed a huge improvement at Summer League this year. He looks much better conditioned - more agile, and he's running the floor nicely. He also doesn't look quite as lost on the court, though there is still a ways to go in that regard.
Defensively he recorded at least one block in every game he played and he altered many more just by putting his arms up and using his length. For example Andrew Nicholson was killing Olynyk down low, but when he tried to do the same to Fab he struggled to back him down and had difficulties shooting over his length.
Offensively he has shown off a pretty smooth jumper as well as a nice little hook shot that was pretty much money. While he sometimes looked lost on offense, he actually had one of the lower turnover rates on the Celtics summer league squad. It may not seem like a lot, but offensively he has made massive improvements compared to where he was last season, when passes were hitting him in the face and he was throwing up airballs 3 feet from the basket.
His Summerleague coaches had nothing but praise for him, saying that he was doing all the little things that didn't show on the box score, but had a huge positive impact on the game.
If Fab improves his awareness a little (which I think will come with NBA minutes) and improves his ability to finish around the basket then I think he'll be a very decent backup Center. If I were DA I'd put Fab and Iverson on the final roster and let them battle for the 2nd and 3rd string center spots. The way he's playing now I seriously think Fab is already an improvement over Jason Collins.
So if it were me I'd trade Crawford and Lee, then roll with a SG rotation of Bradley (defense) / Brooks (scoring) / Bogans (leadership, 3-and-D).
Topic: Who Do You Trade: Melo/Crawford/Brooks (Read 6353 times)