Kings are putting together a package for Rondo

[BballTim]

Matter of opinion, but I would be "very' comfortable going into a series against any team in the league with the following lineup

Asik / Faverani / Iverson (Cheap)
Sully / Olynyk /
Green / Wallace
Bradley / Bogans / Brooks
Rondo / Crawford / Pressey

It would be nice to add one more Vet off guard behind Bradley, another vet min PF for the playoffs, etc.

But assuming Rondo is running at full steam come playoffs - I'd be very comfortable with it.

I think it's a very physically and mentally tough starting unit with Rondo, Bradley, Sullinger and Asik and i also think Rondo is going to have a field day with Olynyk once he's back.

  Next year would be better, with a healthier Rondo, a more mature Sully and Bradley, whatever Danny ends up with out of his draft picks and whatever trades he'd make with future draft picks.

[Snakehead]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.



--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

[sofutomygaha]

Matter of opinion, but I would be "very' comfortable going into a series against any team in the league with the following lineup

Asik / Faverani / Iverson (Cheap)
Sully / Olynyk /
Green / Wallace
Bradley / Bogans / Brooks
Rondo / Crawford / Pressey

It would be nice to add one more Vet off guard behind Bradley, another vet min PF for the playoffs, etc.

But assuming Rondo is running at full steam come playoffs - I'd be very comfortable with it.

I think it's a very physically and mentally tough starting unit with Rondo, Bradley, Sullinger and Asik and i also think Rondo is going to have a field day with Olynyk once he's back.

It ought to be a crushing defensive team, that's for sure. There are similarities to the Pacers, though I wouldn't take them too far because, by law, "X is a poor man's Y" statements are now over.

[RJ87]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.



--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

And we're done.

[sofutomygaha]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.

--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

And we're done.

Welllll... we're not done done. We all looked at this and knew the draft picks didn't make sense. That doesn't mean that something involving McLemore, Rondo, and our bad contracts isn't in the offing.

[Snakehead]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.

--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

And we're done.

Welllll... we're not done done. We all looked at this and knew the draft picks didn't make sense. That doesn't mean that something involving McLemore, Rondo, and our bad contracts isn't in the offing.

I don't think Ainge makes a Rondo trade just to unload a contract or two.  They would have to add more to that trade... so who else are they sending?  Doesn't add up to me.  Only way it'd make any sense is for more firsts.

And keep in mind Sac has some expensive players now.  They just took on Gay.

[sofutomygaha]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.

--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

And we're done.

Welllll... we're not done done. We all looked at this and knew the draft picks didn't make sense. That doesn't mean that something involving McLemore, Rondo, and our bad contracts isn't in the offing.

I don't think Ainge makes a Rondo trade just to unload a contract or two.  They would have to add more to that trade... so who else are they sending?  Doesn't add up to me.  Only way it'd make any sense is for more firsts.

And keep in mind Sac has some expensive players now.  They just took on Gay.

The trade machine agrees with you. I can't come up with anything that would be worth our while without the picks

[badshar]

Would be a great deal if Rondo was somehow not included.

[RJ87]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.

--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

And we're done.

Welllll... we're not done done. We all looked at this and knew the draft picks didn't make sense. That doesn't mean that something involving McLemore, Rondo, and our bad contracts isn't in the offing.

If we're trading Rondo for a prospect, we at least have to get some sort of draft compensation. Anything less is a non-starter.

[Chris]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.

--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

And we're done.

Welllll... we're not done done. We all looked at this and knew the draft picks didn't make sense. That doesn't mean that something involving McLemore, Rondo, and our bad contracts isn't in the offing.

I don't think Ainge makes a Rondo trade just to unload a contract or two.  They would have to add more to that trade... so who else are they sending?  Doesn't add up to me.  Only way it'd make any sense is for more firsts.

And keep in mind Sac has some expensive players now.  They just took on Gay.

Well, what they could do is agree to swap picks in the next two drafts they have picks available. 

But yeah, this deal is just made up IMO.

[Eddie20]

@ZachLowe_NBA

@celticsblog @Aykis16 Nothing to that, for now, especially since SAC for now can't trade a 1st-round pick till '19.



--- Lowe on the rumored trade.  We should really stop posting RealGM links in my opinion.

 I think everyone already knew the protection surrounding the pick.

Sacramento's 1st round pick to Cleveland protected for selections 1-12 in 2014, 1-10 in 2015, 1-10 in 2016 or 1-10 in 2017; if Sacramento has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Cleveland by 2017, then Sacramento will instead convey its 2017 2nd round pick to Cleveland protected for selections 56-60 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Sacramento's obligation to Cleveland will be extinguished)

However, this doesn't mean that a potential deal would be dead. It simply means that the language needs to be changed. For example, swapping picks with Sacramento in 2 of the next 3 years, which obviously is predicated on if the pick goes to Cleveland or not, and a 1st rd pick in 2019 is still a great offer.

[ScoobyDoo]

To: sofutomygaha

Wow, what a great post - TP.

I clipped your post so as not to fill up the page, but I wanted to catch your attention. I think you are on to something, ScoobyDoo, but there is a counter-argument to be made. It is built on the premise that Cousins and Gay are classic examples of high-volume team killers who look so good and so toolsy that, even in this age of analysis, GMs still can't resist.

Basically, if you believe as so many quantitative analysts do that Gay is purely a volume scorer and that Cousins is both a bad decision maker and an even worse defender, then you could only conclude that the upside for the Celtics on this trade is enormous.

If you judge Rudy Gay and Demarcus Cousins to be nothing more than Nick Young and Andray Blatche in disguise, as the numberZ folks seem to, then the team that the Kings are trying to build is modeled after the circa 2011-12 Washington Wizards, right down to Rondo in the role of John Wall.

If you buy that, then the Rondo-led Kings would be destined to stay in the cellar and to send Boston two lottery picks.

Our warchest would make the 2012 Rockets' look like a piggy bank, and by all accounts draft picks are growing in value these days.

To be honest, while I understand the quantitative analysis metrics, I'm not up on it, but I 100% get your point.

And why I liked your post so much is because is one half of what I consider distilling a trade down to it's key components for both sides.

That is, to me:

For Sacramento:
Does Rondo's addition transform both Gay's and Cousins' games to another level?

For Boston:
Is Ben McLemore a bust or a future all star?

Everything else in that equation is distraction to me. That is not say the draft picks or other players involved couldn't be valuable, but they are not what I would be making the decision on.     

Ben Mclemore is only 21 - if he turns out to be a Ray Allen type with 2-3 years of development, this trade is a no brainer to me.

[tstorey_97]

My guess has always been that Ainge has a priority on a defensive minded center. This player is whom he would sacrifice Rondo for, whether it is straight up or a 3 teamer.

The issue with this SAC rumor is the boat load of small guys coming back. Drummond rumors make sense as he is the type of player Ainge wants (I know Detroit will never trade him..ok?).

If I see a rumor with a center? I'm in.

On Asik, I don't think Ainge likes him that much as his game doesn't offer enough offense.

Ainge gets to "build a roster." If player A is weak in one area he must balance his weakness.

In the big three era, Rondo had three of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Perkins didn't need to score, Rondo didn't need to be a great 3 point or foul shooter. It is a group dynamic and this trade only fulfills Ainge's needs if he is flipping for a center.

I suggest that this is the post Dec 15th opening salvo of a host of Rondo deals. Buckle up.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

BballTim:

Next year would be better, with a healthier Rondo, a more mature Sully and Bradley, whatever Danny ends up with out of his draft picks and whatever trades he'd make with future draft picks.

100% in agreement with this statement - and that's fine. We'd get a good draft pick this year, add to our talent pool and come out swinging in 2014-2015.

I still think we'd be quite difficult come playoff time this year though - assuming Rondo's in full swing. Not enough to get there, but tough...

[ScoobyDoo]

Sofu:

It ought to be a crushing defensive team, that's for sure. There are similarities to the Pacers, though I wouldn't take them too far because, by law, "X is a poor man's Y" statements are now over.

Not following the "X" / "Y" comments - please elaborate.