Speaking of the Bobcats, would you do this trade?

[ddb]

I think some sort of deal could be made.  But a few things to consider.

#1- Bobcats aren't giving away their 2014 pick so it would have to be a future pick

#2- I pass on Kemba Walker.  He stinks.  not a fan.  Let the Bobcats keep  him as a 3rd guard behind Rondo/Henderson.

#3- They would want Green instead of Wallace and I'm okay with that.  Green will help our current team win when in reality I think it's in our best interest long-term to NOT win this season.  Parker/Wiggins/Randle are the REAL DEAL and worth taking a shot at. 

Rondo/Lee/Green/Bass

for

MKG/Zeller/2015 pick/Sessions/Gordon/Adrein/Tolliver

this trade works $$ wise.  Makes sense for both teams.  I would do it in a heartbeat.

Sessions/Tolliver/Adrien/Gordon all expire. 

Boston gets worse and gets a Top 5 Pick.  A chance at one of the big 3 in the draft.  They get a massive amount of cap space.  they add 2 quality young players to the mix in MKG and Zeller.  Plus the 2015 unprotected pick gives Boston 3 1st rd picks next season.  This is exactly the type of asset collecting/tanking trade that can change the face of your franchise and get you back to the finals inside of 3-5 years. 

[wdleehi]

I think some sort of deal could be made.  But a few things to consider.

#1- Bobcats aren't giving away their 2014 pick so it would have to be a future pick

#2- I pass on Kemba Walker.  He stinks.  not a fan.  Let the Bobcats keep  him as a 3rd guard behind Rondo/Henderson.

#3- They would want Green instead of Wallace and I'm okay with that.  Green will help our current team win when in reality I think it's in our best interest long-term to NOT win this season.  Parker/Wiggins/Randle are the REAL DEAL and worth taking a shot at. 

Rondo/Lee/Green/Bass

for

MKG/Zeller/2015 pick/Sessions/Gordon/Adrein/Tolliver

this trade works $$ wise.  Makes sense for both teams.  I would do it in a heartbeat.

Sessions/Tolliver/Adrien/Gordon all expire. 

Boston gets worse and gets a Top 5 Pick.  A chance at one of the big 3 in the draft.  They get a massive amount of cap space.  they add 2 quality young players to the mix in MKG and Zeller.  Plus the 2015 unprotected pick gives Boston 3 1st rd picks next season.  This is exactly the type of asset collecting/tanking trade that can change the face of your franchise and get you back to the finals inside of 3-5 years.

That trade is terrible.  The Celtics give up there two best trading chips mainly for "a better chance at a top 5 pick" this season?

[slamtheking]

I think some sort of deal could be made.  But a few things to consider.

#1- Bobcats aren't giving away their 2014 pick so it would have to be a future pick

#2- I pass on Kemba Walker.  He stinks.  not a fan.  Let the Bobcats keep  him as a 3rd guard behind Rondo/Henderson.

#3- They would want Green instead of Wallace and I'm okay with that.  Green will help our current team win when in reality I think it's in our best interest long-term to NOT win this season.  Parker/Wiggins/Randle are the REAL DEAL and worth taking a shot at. 

Rondo/Lee/Green/Bass

for

MKG/Zeller/2015 pick/Sessions/Gordon/Adrein/Tolliver

this trade works $$ wise.  Makes sense for both teams.  I would do it in a heartbeat.

Sessions/Tolliver/Adrien/Gordon all expire. 

Boston gets worse and gets a Top 5 Pick.  A chance at one of the big 3 in the draft.  They get a massive amount of cap space.  they add 2 quality young players to the mix in MKG and Zeller.  Plus the 2015 unprotected pick gives Boston 3 1st rd picks next season.  This is exactly the type of asset collecting/tanking trade that can change the face of your franchise and get you back to the finals inside of 3-5 years.

That trade is terrible.  The Celtics give up there two best trading chips mainly for "a better chance at a top 5 pick" this season?

completely agree.  this is an absolutely terrible idea. 

[Who]

Not trading Rondo to get rid of bad contracts.

Rondo is too valuable for that. It would have been like trading Pierce to get rid of bad contracts. Those are guys you need to keep to build your team around or to trade for a younger player that you can build around in the future. Not for cap space.

Celtics cap situation is good enough already. No need to do this at the cost of someone as talented as Rondo.

[BballTim]

I would not do it.   I think Rondo is the best player in the trade.  I think Biyombo and Walker are mediocre starters at best.  Biyombo is borderline el busto for a number 7 pick.   4 PPG a 7 RPG.   I think MJ is a bad GM less we have of his players the better.   I like Zeller though.

I think this would play right into your tanking scheme because we would be a worse team.   But we 'd have less quality to attract free agents without Rondo and less to build around.  Guys want to play with Rondo, no one wants to play with Walker.

  Yes, the general rule for trades in the nba is that the team that gets the best player wins the trade. This year, however, there's no requirement that trade proposals actually make the team better as being a worse team means higher draft picks. It's nirvana for much of the blog.

Like the Dwight Howard deal? Or the Carmelo deal? Cliches aside, the team that wins a trade is the team than makes the smartest deal based on what they know about the players involved.

I don't see the Bobcats doing this deal. The basically give up 4 lottery picks and a ton of money to rent Rondo for a year +. And Rondo and Al Jeff are hardly an ideal fit.

  The Lakers screwed up the Howard deal but you have to really be drinking the youth kool-aid to think Orlando's better off than they were when they had Dwight. If you think the Knicks would rather miss the playoffs every year then be where they've been the last few years then you're kidding yourself.

Neither of these arguments makes any sense, Tim. What does it matter what Howard did in the past as a Magic? It's where they were with him at the time of the deal that matters.

If you believe the Magic weren't the outright, hands-down winner in the Howard trade, you're the first (and not paying much attention to how the other teams fared).

  Obviously it would be difficult to win this argument on a blog where I saw many a post this offseason assuring me that teams like the Cavs and Wizards were very solid teams. But the reason it matters what Howard did in the past with the Magic is that it shows what he's capable of. The Magic traded a player who had been 1st team all-nba 5 straight years, had taken the team to the finals and conference finals and was still 26 or 27 for a bunch of players and draft picks who, individually or collectively, aren't overly likely to bring the team to that level in the forseeable future. If that's your idea of winning a trade hands down then you're not very interested in winning.

[Tr1boy]

I was just thinking about the Bobcats after the game tonight.  They signed Big Al.  They seem like a team that actually wants to win games and be competitive.   

I just want to throw out this idea and see what people think of it.  I'm still of the opinion that Boston wants to bottom out this year, collect future assets, dump the overpaid vets and build around youth.

green = assets
blue = expiring contracts
red = bad contracts

Boston Trades:

Rajon Rondo - 12 million/2 years
Gerald Wallace - 10 million/3 years
Brandon Bass - 7 million/2 years
Courtney Lee - 5.2 million/3 years


Bobcats Trade:

Ben Gordon - 13 mil expiring
Ramon Sessions - 5 mil expiring
Cody Zeller (age: 21) - 4 mil/4 years
Bismack Biyombo (age: 21) - 3 mil/2 years
Kemba Walker (age: 23) - 2.6 mil/2 years
Future 1st rounder

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=k7nymk7

Why for Boston?: Yes, we'd be giving up Rondo.  But we'd also be dumping the garbage contracts of Wallace, Bass and Lee.  #1 - That would give us 30 million dollars in cap space in the offseason.  Not saying we'd sign them, but it's fair to mention that we'd have money to offer two max deals to a free agent class that involves players such as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.  Just sayin...   #2 - It would help us bottom out this season and get us even closer to adding a franchise player through the draft.  #3 - Zeller, Biyombo and Walker are fine young assets to add to our collection.  If they gave up a 1st rounder, that'd be amazing.    #4 - Dumping Wallace and Bass means more minutes for Oly/Fav/Sully/Zeller/Biyombo.  Really, if you think about it there is a TON to love about that trade. 

Why not for Boston?:  There's literally only one reason... and that's giving up Rajon Rondo.  But I'd rather take 30 million in cap space, a better shot at this epic draft and multiple assets. 



Why for Charlotte?:  Rondo, obviously. You put Rondo out there with Al Jefferson, Gerald Henderson and MKG, you have a nice little foundation for the return of the Charlotte Hornets.   Brandon Bass is a capable starting big whose mid-range shots would compliment Jefferson's inside game.  Lee is a solid and serviceable veteran.  Wallace is still capable of producing and contributing to a playoff team.    If the Bobcats did that, I think they'd probably finally be a playoff team.

Why not for Charlotte?: As appealing as Rondo is, do they really have the sand to give up on the #4 pick this year (Zellar) as well as Walker and Biyombo?  Will Rondo really make that big of an impact on the team?  Do they really want to lock into a bunch of mediocre vets at high salary?  Wallace is the worst contract of the bunch... that said, in 2 years he becomes a valuable expiring contract that they can flip. 


Thoughts?

The cats would do this trade, minus giving up one or both zeller and bismack. Stevens would love zeller though

If either zeller or bismack is included, you do the trade. Its a move for the future

[manl_lui]

I was just thinking about the Bobcats after the game tonight.  They signed Big Al.  They seem like a team that actually wants to win games and be competitive.   

I just want to throw out this idea and see what people think of it.  I'm still of the opinion that Boston wants to bottom out this year, collect future assets, dump the overpaid vets and build around youth.

green = assets
blue = expiring contracts
red = bad contracts

Boston Trades:

Rajon Rondo - 12 million/2 years
Gerald Wallace - 10 million/3 years
Brandon Bass - 7 million/2 years
Courtney Lee - 5.2 million/3 years


Bobcats Trade:

Ben Gordon - 13 mil expiring
Ramon Sessions - 5 mil expiring
Cody Zeller (age: 21) - 4 mil/4 years
Bismack Biyombo (age: 21) - 3 mil/2 years
Kemba Walker (age: 23) - 2.6 mil/2 years
Future 1st rounder

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=k7nymk7

Why for Boston?: Yes, we'd be giving up Rondo.  But we'd also be dumping the garbage contracts of Wallace, Bass and Lee.  #1 - That would give us 30 million dollars in cap space in the offseason.  Not saying we'd sign them, but it's fair to mention that we'd have money to offer two max deals to a free agent class that involves players such as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.  Just sayin...   #2 - It would help us bottom out this season and get us even closer to adding a franchise player through the draft.  #3 - Zeller, Biyombo and Walker are fine young assets to add to our collection.  If they gave up a 1st rounder, that'd be amazing.    #4 - Dumping Wallace and Bass means more minutes for Oly/Fav/Sully/Zeller/Biyombo.  Really, if you think about it there is a TON to love about that trade. 

Why not for Boston?:  There's literally only one reason... and that's giving up Rajon Rondo.  But I'd rather take 30 million in cap space, a better shot at this epic draft and multiple assets. 



Why for Charlotte?:  Rondo, obviously. You put Rondo out there with Al Jefferson, Gerald Henderson and MKG, you have a nice little foundation for the return of the Charlotte Hornets.   Brandon Bass is a capable starting big whose mid-range shots would compliment Jefferson's inside game.  Lee is a solid and serviceable veteran.  Wallace is still capable of producing and contributing to a playoff team.    If the Bobcats did that, I think they'd probably finally be a playoff team.

Why not for Charlotte?: As appealing as Rondo is, do they really have the sand to give up on the #4 pick this year (Zellar) as well as Walker and Biyombo?  Will Rondo really make that big of an impact on the team?  Do they really want to lock into a bunch of mediocre vets at high salary?  Wallace is the worst contract of the bunch... that said, in 2 years he becomes a valuable expiring contract that they can flip. 


Thoughts?

The cats would do this trade, minus giving up one or both zeller and bismack. Stevens would love zeller though

If either zeller or bismack is included, you do the trade. Its a move for the future

very very very very big risk. High risk, very high reward

For these type of deals - I always look at the worst case scenario and see if it is worth it at the end

1. We do not get a top 5 pick
2. We do not sign a top free agent

therefore, us trading Rondo was a bad move

If the worst case scenario is more likely to happen or has a higher percentage of happening, then I don't want to make this move.

[BleedGreen1989]

Not trading Rondo to get rid of bad contracts.

Rondo is too valuable for that. It would have been like trading Pierce to get rid of bad contracts. Those are guys you need to keep to build your team around or to trade for a younger player that you can build around in the future. Not for cap space.

Celtics cap situation is good enough already. No need to do this at the cost of someone as talented as Rondo.

Thank you Who.

I'm tempted to copy this and paste it every time somebody makes a trade using Rondo to dump contracts.

[LarBrd33]

If anyone is having trouble conceptualizing the long-view on this, let me help clear up your confusion.

Doing that hypothetical trade would leave us with:

PG - Crawford/Walker
SG - Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Sully/Oly
C - Zeller/Biyombo/Fav

2014:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st, Bobcats 1st
2015:  Celtics 1st, Clippers 1st
2016:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st
2017:  Either Celtics or Nets 1st
2018:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st


#1 - You'd likely bottom out this year.  There's about 7 guys in this draft who are likely franchise cornerstones.  Draftexpress.com has Jabari Parker going 4th.  For the sake of argument, let's say we drafted Jabari Parker.

#2 - Shocked at the dismissal of the Bobcats youngins.  IF they played on Boston right now, these same fans dismissing them would say they were future superstars.  Zeller and Biyombo are 21 years old.  That's baby age.  Biyombo was a #7 pick and is averaging 10 boards and 2 blocks per 36 minutes.  Zeller was just the #4 pick in the draft and has played a total of 8 games.... he could pan out to be a serious NBA player.  Walker is 23 and is a fine young asset who averaged 18, 6 and 2 last season.  That's possibly way too much return for Rajon ROndo and our bad contracts.

#3 - You'd have 30 million dollars in cap space.  That's enough to sign two max contracts.  I don't think we'd sign LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (both free agents), but it's theoretically possible.

#4 -  You'd still have Jeff Green's meaty contract + boatloads of young players and draft picks that you could offer for the very first available superstar.   We'd have more young assets than any team in the league... this is the Daryl Morey approach. 

#5 - Not sure on this one, but would we still have Paul Pierce's trade exception?

Bottom line:  Theoretically within a 8 months you could have:

Jabari Parker - franchise player
Max contract #1
Max contract #2
Superstar

... and plenty of remaining young players to fill in the gaps.  At least a couple of which will pan out to be starters or stars in their own right. 

Literally the only negative is losing Rondo.  I actually think the Bobcats are giving up too much, but I'm someone who admittedly sees Rondo as a Top 10 PG in a league loaded with PGs... He's not a superstar.  It's a small sacrifice for a rebuilding franchise.

[LarBrd33]

Not trading Rondo to get rid of bad contracts.

Rondo is too valuable for that. It would have been like trading Pierce to get rid of bad contracts. Those are guys you need to keep to build your team around or to trade for a younger player that you can build around in the future. Not for cap space.

Celtics cap situation is good enough already. No need to do this at the cost of someone as talented as Rondo.

Thank you Who.

I'm tempted to copy this and paste it every time somebody makes a trade using Rondo to dump contracts.

HOnestly, I don't even think Rondo is that valuable.  If he was a valuable asset, I would have substituted MKG for Walker.  He's a top 10 PG in a league loaded with quality PGs and very few teams that would actually give up anything substantial for him.  Some folks like Bill SImmons think we'd simply use Rondo to dump our bad contracts and get nothing in return but cap space.   The idea that we'd get a 1st rounder and 3 young assets for Rondo is almost laughable, but I'm throwing it out there, because #1 - Jordan is a horrible GM,  #2 - The Bobcats obviously want to win now, and #3 - They are about to rebrand as the Hornets in a desperate plea to start selling tickets... I think they'd sell themselves on the idea of Rondo as the face of the franchise.   

[BballTim]

If anyone is having trouble conceptualizing the long-view on this, let me help clear up your confusion.

Doing that hypothetical trade would leave us with:

PG - Crawford/Walker
SG - Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Sully/Oly
C - Zeller/Biyombo/Fav

2014:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st, Bobcats 1st
2015:  Celtics 1st, Clippers 1st
2016:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st
2017:  Either Celtics or Nets 1st
2018:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st


#1 - You'd likely bottom out this year.  There's about 7 guys in this draft who are likely franchise cornerstones.  Draftexpress.com has Jabari Parker going 4th.  For the sake of argument, let's say we drafted Jabari Parker.

#2 - Shocked at the dismissal of the Bobcats youngins.  IF they played on Boston right now, these same fans dismissing them would say they were future superstars.  Zeller and Biyombo are 21 years old.  That's baby age.  Biyombo was a #7 pick and is averaging 10 boards and 2 blocks per 36 minutes.  Zeller was just the #4 pick in the draft and has played a total of 8 games.... he could pan out to be a serious NBA player.  Walker is 23 and is a fine young asset who averaged 18, 6 and 2 last season.  That's possibly way too much return for Rajon ROndo and our bad contracts.

#3 - You'd have 30 million dollars in cap space.  That's enough to sign two max contracts.  I don't think we'd sign LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (both free agents), but it's theoretically possible.

#4 -  You'd still have Jeff Green's meaty contract + boatloads of young players and draft picks that you could offer for the very first available superstar.   We'd have more young assets than any team in the league... this is the Daryl Morey approach. 

#5 - Not sure on this one, but would we still have Paul Pierce's trade exception?

Bottom line:  Theoretically within a 8 months you could have:

Jabari Parker - franchise player
Max contract #1
Max contract #2
Superstar

... and plenty of remaining young players to fill in the gaps.  At least a couple of which will pan out to be starters or stars in their own right. 

Literally the only negative is losing Rondo.  I actually think the Bobcats are giving up too much, but I'm someone who admittedly sees Rondo as a Top 10 PG in a league loaded with PGs... He's not a superstar.  It's a small sacrifice for a rebuilding franchise.

  The main negatives are not getting your favorite draft pick, finding out your "franchise cornerstone" is a fringe all-star and (amazingly) not ending up with LeBron or Melo *and* losing Rondo. It sounds like a great plan if you assume that highly unlikely things will happen, otherwise not so much.

[LarBrd33]

If anyone is having trouble conceptualizing the long-view on this, let me help clear up your confusion.

Doing that hypothetical trade would leave us with:

PG - Crawford/Walker
SG - Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Sully/Oly
C - Zeller/Biyombo/Fav

2014:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st, Bobcats 1st
2015:  Celtics 1st, Clippers 1st
2016:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st
2017:  Either Celtics or Nets 1st
2018:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st


#1 - You'd likely bottom out this year.  There's about 7 guys in this draft who are likely franchise cornerstones.  Draftexpress.com has Jabari Parker going 4th.  For the sake of argument, let's say we drafted Jabari Parker.

#2 - Shocked at the dismissal of the Bobcats youngins.  IF they played on Boston right now, these same fans dismissing them would say they were future superstars.  Zeller and Biyombo are 21 years old.  That's baby age.  Biyombo was a #7 pick and is averaging 10 boards and 2 blocks per 36 minutes.  Zeller was just the #4 pick in the draft and has played a total of 8 games.... he could pan out to be a serious NBA player.  Walker is 23 and is a fine young asset who averaged 18, 6 and 2 last season.  That's possibly way too much return for Rajon ROndo and our bad contracts.

#3 - You'd have 30 million dollars in cap space.  That's enough to sign two max contracts.  I don't think we'd sign LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (both free agents), but it's theoretically possible.

#4 -  You'd still have Jeff Green's meaty contract + boatloads of young players and draft picks that you could offer for the very first available superstar.   We'd have more young assets than any team in the league... this is the Daryl Morey approach. 

#5 - Not sure on this one, but would we still have Paul Pierce's trade exception?

Bottom line:  Theoretically within a 8 months you could have:

Jabari Parker - franchise player
Max contract #1
Max contract #2
Superstar

... and plenty of remaining young players to fill in the gaps.  At least a couple of which will pan out to be starters or stars in their own right. 

Literally the only negative is losing Rondo.  I actually think the Bobcats are giving up too much, but I'm someone who admittedly sees Rondo as a Top 10 PG in a league loaded with PGs... He's not a superstar.  It's a small sacrifice for a rebuilding franchise.

  The main negatives are not getting your favorite draft pick, finding out your "franchise cornerstone" is a fringe all-star and (amazingly) not ending up with LeBron or Melo *and* losing Rondo. It sounds like a great plan if you assume that highly unlikely things will happen, otherwise not so much.

Highly unlikely?  I really don't think I'm stretching here.

Say Rondo/Bass/Wallace/Lee help us win 38 games this year, we sneak into the playoffs and get the #16 pick (probably an average player).

Say removing those guys from the equation helps us bottom out with the #7 pick (probably a future all-star). 


Our current youngs + average prospect + Rondo

or...

Our current youngs + elite prospect + Max contract + Max contract + Biyombo + Zeller + Walker


Is that really highly unlikely?  You'd have 30 million in cap space.  You could add two max contracts. 


Granted, there's probably nobody in the free agent class who will sign with us and is worth the max contracts.  But you could sign some quality players and keep the cap space for taking on big salary in trades.  ENDLESS Flexibility.

[D.o.s.]

If anyone is having trouble conceptualizing the long-view on this, let me help clear up your confusion.

Doing that hypothetical trade would leave us with:

PG - Crawford/Walker
SG - Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Sully/Oly
C - Zeller/Biyombo/Fav

2014:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st, Bobcats 1st
2015:  Celtics 1st, Clippers 1st
2016:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st
2017:  Either Celtics or Nets 1st
2018:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st


#1 - You'd likely bottom out this year.  There's about 7 guys in this draft who are likely franchise cornerstones.  Draftexpress.com has Jabari Parker going 4th.  For the sake of argument, let's say we drafted Jabari Parker.

#2 - Shocked at the dismissal of the Bobcats youngins.  IF they played on Boston right now, these same fans dismissing them would say they were future superstars.  Zeller and Biyombo are 21 years old.  That's baby age.  Biyombo was a #7 pick and is averaging 10 boards and 2 blocks per 36 minutes.  Zeller was just the #4 pick in the draft and has played a total of 8 games.... he could pan out to be a serious NBA player.  Walker is 23 and is a fine young asset who averaged 18, 6 and 2 last season.  That's possibly way too much return for Rajon ROndo and our bad contracts.

#3 - You'd have 30 million dollars in cap space.  That's enough to sign two max contracts.  I don't think we'd sign LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (both free agents), but it's theoretically possible.

#4 -  You'd still have Jeff Green's meaty contract + boatloads of young players and draft picks that you could offer for the very first available superstar.   We'd have more young assets than any team in the league... this is the Daryl Morey approach. 

#5 - Not sure on this one, but would we still have Paul Pierce's trade exception?

Bottom line:  Theoretically within a 8 months you could have:

Jabari Parker - franchise player
Max contract #1
Max contract #2
Superstar

... and plenty of remaining young players to fill in the gaps.  At least a couple of which will pan out to be starters or stars in their own right. 

Literally the only negative is losing Rondo.  I actually think the Bobcats are giving up too much, but I'm someone who admittedly sees Rondo as a Top 10 PG in a league loaded with PGs... He's not a superstar.  It's a small sacrifice for a rebuilding franchise.

  The main negatives are not getting your favorite draft pick, finding out your "franchise cornerstone" is a fringe all-star and (amazingly) not ending up with LeBron or Melo *and* losing Rondo. It sounds like a great plan if you assume that highly unlikely things will happen, otherwise not so much.

Highly unlikely?  I really don't think I'm stretching here.

Say Rondo/Bass/Wallace/Lee help us win 38 games this year, we sneak into the playoffs and get the #16 pick (probably an average player).

Say removing those guys from the equation helps us bottom out with the #7 pick (probably a future all-star). 


Our current youngs + average prospect + Rondo

or...

Our current youngs + elite prospect + Max contract + Max contract + Biyombo + Zeller + Walker


Is that really highly unlikely?  You'd have 30 million in cap space.  You could add two max contracts.

You could add two max contracts, or you could swing and miss ala Dallas. I said it on the earlier page--I don't see LeBron or 'Melo leaving their respective teams, so I'm not sure which free agents are worth giving up Rondo to have the cap space to sign them.

What's the incentive to come play for Boston if the team can't offer you more money + years than the home team per the CBA?

Do we over-offer on RFA's and hope the other team doesn't match?

obviously, I started typing my post before your edit.

[LarBrd33]

If anyone is having trouble conceptualizing the long-view on this, let me help clear up your confusion.

Doing that hypothetical trade would leave us with:

PG - Crawford/Walker
SG - Bradley
SF - Jeff Green
PF - Sully/Oly
C - Zeller/Biyombo/Fav

2014:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st, Bobcats 1st
2015:  Celtics 1st, Clippers 1st
2016:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st
2017:  Either Celtics or Nets 1st
2018:  Celtics 1st, Nets 1st


#1 - You'd likely bottom out this year.  There's about 7 guys in this draft who are likely franchise cornerstones.  Draftexpress.com has Jabari Parker going 4th.  For the sake of argument, let's say we drafted Jabari Parker.

#2 - Shocked at the dismissal of the Bobcats youngins.  IF they played on Boston right now, these same fans dismissing them would say they were future superstars.  Zeller and Biyombo are 21 years old.  That's baby age.  Biyombo was a #7 pick and is averaging 10 boards and 2 blocks per 36 minutes.  Zeller was just the #4 pick in the draft and has played a total of 8 games.... he could pan out to be a serious NBA player.  Walker is 23 and is a fine young asset who averaged 18, 6 and 2 last season.  That's possibly way too much return for Rajon ROndo and our bad contracts.

#3 - You'd have 30 million dollars in cap space.  That's enough to sign two max contracts.  I don't think we'd sign LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony (both free agents), but it's theoretically possible.

#4 -  You'd still have Jeff Green's meaty contract + boatloads of young players and draft picks that you could offer for the very first available superstar.   We'd have more young assets than any team in the league... this is the Daryl Morey approach. 

#5 - Not sure on this one, but would we still have Paul Pierce's trade exception?

Bottom line:  Theoretically within a 8 months you could have:

Jabari Parker - franchise player
Max contract #1
Max contract #2
Superstar

... and plenty of remaining young players to fill in the gaps.  At least a couple of which will pan out to be starters or stars in their own right. 

Literally the only negative is losing Rondo.  I actually think the Bobcats are giving up too much, but I'm someone who admittedly sees Rondo as a Top 10 PG in a league loaded with PGs... He's not a superstar.  It's a small sacrifice for a rebuilding franchise.

  The main negatives are not getting your favorite draft pick, finding out your "franchise cornerstone" is a fringe all-star and (amazingly) not ending up with LeBron or Melo *and* losing Rondo. It sounds like a great plan if you assume that highly unlikely things will happen, otherwise not so much.

Highly unlikely?  I really don't think I'm stretching here.

Say Rondo/Bass/Wallace/Lee help us win 38 games this year, we sneak into the playoffs and get the #16 pick (probably an average player).

Say removing those guys from the equation helps us bottom out with the #7 pick (probably a future all-star). 


Our current youngs + average prospect + Rondo

or...

Our current youngs + elite prospect + Max contract + Max contract + Biyombo + Zeller + Walker


Is that really highly unlikely?  You'd have 30 million in cap space.  You could add two max contracts.

You could add two max contracts, or you could swing and miss ala Dallas. I said it on the earlier page--I don't see LeBron or 'Melo leaving their respective teams, so I'm not sure which free agents are worth giving up Rondo to have the cap space to sign them.

What's the incentive to come play for Boston if the team can't offer you more money + years than the home team per the CBA?

Do we over-offer on RFA's and hope the other team doesn't match?

Yeah I agree with that. It's unlikely anyone from this free agent class will be worth the max and actually sign with us.   But you could sign whoever you see fit... and use the cap space to take on big contracts.  Ton of flexibility for a master gm like ainge.  You could take on a couple bad contracts, for instance... and earn a couple more 1st rounders in the process.   IT's the Daryl Morey approach.  At some point you'd have a team overflooding with draft picks and young talent.  You'd be THE team to deal with when a superstar became available... someone like Rajon Rondo for instance.  Wait... oh... hmm... n/m

[D.o.s.]

Yeah I agree with that. It's unlikely anyone from this free agent class will be worth the max and actually sign with us.   But you could sign whoever you see fit... and use the cap space to take on big contracts.  Ton of flexibility for a master gm like ainge.

You're not wrong, but are you sure that's going to be a faster path to contention than holding on to Rondo and seeing how we fair with our other assets?

It took the Rockets a long time to contend post-Yao via the flexibility model.

Also;I see we post the same way--click post, think of a better way to explain the point, edit, etc.