OKC Could Use Brandon Bass

[diconzo]

They received a 6.6M trade exception from the Kevin Martin deal and Bass' contract would fit exactly in that exception. Their frontcourt depth is;

PF) Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison
C) Perkins, Adams, Thabeet

A lot of rebounding, but not one of them has a reliable jumpshot, except for Collison. A big like Bass would fit right into their rotation.

Of course, the only reason to do this is to pick up another asset. OKC has two firsts in 2014, if they weren't reluctant to give up a near pick, a future first for Bass would be a good haul (2017 so we could have 2 firsts in each of the next 5 drafts  ), considering he has no business on a rebuilding team. We have a PF logjam and Bass could really contribute to a championship team.

[Fafnir]

Why?

Serge Ibaka plays 32 MPG roughly, they don't need to pay a 16 MPG (at most) backup that much money.

[diconzo]

Why?

Serge Ibaka plays 32 MPG roughly, they don't need to pay a 16 MPG (at most) backup that much money.

Ibaka & Bass have really different skill sets. Just because he comes behind him on the depth chart doesn't mean they wouldn't see the floor at the same time. Especially because Perkins has virtually no offensive game, and Ibaka is big enough & strong enough to defend the centers in today's NBA.

[Fafnir]

Why?

Serge Ibaka plays 32 MPG roughly, they don't need to pay a 16 MPG (at most) backup that much money.

Ibaka & Bass have really different skill sets.

Do they? What can Bass do that Ibaka can't? I mean I guess defend Melo/LeBron pretty well for a PF. But that's probably it.

I agree that Ibaka can play C some of the time and probably should play it more and more as he gets older.

[rondoallaturca]

Why would OKC do this when they already have a Bass (but with better energy and hustle) in Nick Collison?

[Chris]

I agree that Bass would be a nice fit in OKC.  I think he would provide a nice, veteran option, who brings a nice midrange game, and can bring energy off the bench (if he gets himself in shape).

The problem is, they would go into the luxury tax if they traded for him.  And I don't think they have much interest in doing that for a guy like Bass.  If they are going to go into the luxury tax, it will be for a better Kevin Martin replacement.

[CelticConcourse]

Why?

Serge Ibaka plays 32 MPG roughly, they don't need to pay a 16 MPG (at most) backup that much money.

Ibaka & Bass have really different skill sets.

Do they? What can Bass do that Ibaka can't? I mean I guess defend Melo/LeBron pretty well for a PF. But that's probably it.

I agree that Ibaka can play C some of the time and probably should play it more and more as he gets older.

Pretty well for a PF? He's arguably the best Lebron/Melo defender in the entire world, at any position. I would definitely argue it so.

[Boris Badenov]

The problem is, they would go into the luxury tax if they traded for him.  And I don't think they have much interest in doing that for a guy like Bass.  If they are going to go into the luxury tax, it will be for a better Kevin Martin replacement.

I wonder whether they would consider Lee?

Also Bass might be a good fit on IND too...

[Chris]

The problem is, they would go into the luxury tax if they traded for him.  And I don't think they have much interest in doing that for a guy like Bass.  If they are going to go into the luxury tax, it will be for a better Kevin Martin replacement.

I wonder whether they would consider Lee?

Also Bass might be a good fit on IND too...

Lee is basically a poor man's Sefolosha. 

Agree on Indy though, they could be an interesting fit for Bass.  Although it would really have to depend on what they do with Granger.

[SHAQATTACK]

homeless man 's Sefolosha

very very poor,   poverty stricken

[Celtics4ever]

I would give him up but anyone but Perkins.  Perry Jones and Jeremany Lamb for Bass.  We get younger and can cut someone either here already or D league it.   They get a steady backup big.

[CelticConcourse]

The problem is, they would go into the luxury tax if they traded for him.  And I don't think they have much interest in doing that for a guy like Bass.  If they are going to go into the luxury tax, it will be for a better Kevin Martin replacement.

I wonder whether they would consider Lee?

Also Bass might be a good fit on IND too...

Lee is basically a poor man's Sefolosha. 

Agree on Indy though, they could be an interesting fit for Bass.  Although it would really have to depend on what they do with Granger.

Not really poor. I'd actually argue they're about equal.

Lee: 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, .538TS%
Sef: 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, .531TS%

Maybe, even, Lee is better. We as a Celtics fanbase tend to underrate our own players very much. Bass and Lee are actually two rather valuable players for many teams.

[rondoallaturca]

I'm pretty surprised at the amount of undervaluing of Lee (or overvaluing of Sefolosha) is going on here. I mean, Thabo might be a superior defender, but Lee is no slouch on that end of the floor, either. Offensively though, Lee is far better and it's not even close. I'd rather have Lee than Sefolosha on my team, especially considering Lee only makes a shade over $1M more.

[Boris Badenov]

The problem is, they would go into the luxury tax if they traded for him.  And I don't think they have much interest in doing that for a guy like Bass.  If they are going to go into the luxury tax, it will be for a better Kevin Martin replacement.

I wonder whether they would consider Lee?

Also Bass might be a good fit on IND too...

Lee is basically a poor man's Sefolosha. 

Agree on Indy though, they could be an interesting fit for Bass.  Although it would really have to depend on what they do with Granger.

I wonder whether Bass and Lee for Granger might make sense. Indy needs depth almost everywhere, don't they? And I'm not sure whether Bass is the Melo/Lebron killer some make him out to be, but if any team could use such a person it'd be Indy.

Not sure what Indy considers Granger's trade value to be though.

[rondoallaturca]

I wonder whether Bass and Lee for Granger might make sense. Indy needs depth almost everywhere, don't they? And I'm not sure whether Bass is the Melo/Lebron killer some make him out to be, but if any team could use such a person it'd be Indy.

Not sure what Indy considers Granger's trade value to be though.

Indiana needs Granger's expiring contract to make room for Paul George's extension this summer. Their depth situation really isn't bad at all, anyway.