What is Sullinger's realistic trade value?

[Spilling Green Dye]

In no way am I advocating trading Sullinger, both b/c he's a good player to re-build with and I enjoy watching him.  However, in this re-building process it is interesting to see what value our picks & players have around the league.

When evaluating players on other teams to possibly trade for, I've never been enthusiastic about players who put up very good numbers on bad teams.  Kevin Love is the perfect example to me, as well as Carmelo.  While I'd certainly rather have Love than not have him, I don't think he's a top 10 player to give a max contract to.  Ideally on a championship caliber team Love wouldn't put up anywhere near the stats he has. In addition, I've never particularly liked great offensive players who are sub-par defensively (i.e. Love, Carmelo...)

Which leads us to Jared Sullinger, who in his 2nd year now is averaging 13.4 pts, 8.1 rebs, and 77% from the FT line.  He appears recovered from the back surgery, and has improved as the season has gone along.  However, his eFG% is .463, 3-point% is 27.4%, he's not known as a particularly great defender, and it could be argued that much of his improved stats are a result of additional playing time w/o Garnett, etc.

If you were an opposing team looking to trade with the Celtics then how much value would you place on Sullinger?  If Sullinger did get traded, what should we as fans expect back in return?  Personally, as we re-build, I think he has more value to us than other teams.  But if a team were willing to give us a great deal of cap flexibility and/or a top 12 pick in this years draft, then I'd seriously consider trading him.

[clover]

In no way am I advocating trading Sullinger, both b/c he's a good player to re-build with and I enjoy watching him.  However, in this re-building process it is interesting to see what value our picks & players have around the league.

When evaluating players on other teams to possibly trade for, I've never been enthusiastic about players who put up very good numbers on bad teams.  Kevin Love is the perfect example to me, as well as Carmelo.  While I'd certainly rather have Love than not have him, I don't think he's a top 10 player to give a max contract to.  Ideally on a championship caliber team Love wouldn't put up anywhere near the stats he has. In addition, I've never particularly liked great offensive players who are sub-par defensively (i.e. Love, Carmelo...)

Which leads us to Jared Sullinger, who in his 2nd year now is averaging 13.4 pts, 8.1 rebs, and 77% from the FT line.  He appears recovered from the back surgery, and has improved as the season has gone along.  However, his eFG% is .463, 3-point% is 27.4%, he's not known as a particularly great defender, and it could be argued that much of his improved stats are a result of additional playing time w/o Garnett, etc.

If you were an opposing team looking to trade with the Celtics then how much value would you place on Sullinger?  If Sullinger did get traded, what should we as fans expect back in return?  Personally, as we re-build, I think he has more value to us than other teams.  But if a team were willing to give us a great deal of cap flexibility and/or a top 12 pick in this years draft, then I'd seriously consider trading him.

You don't want to trade Sully just to dump Wallace's contract (i.e., get cap flexibility) or to get a top-12 pick--he's already better than half of those players will ever be.

He either stays or gets bundled with picks to land something like a top-10 player in the league.

But yeah, he and Rondo have to be the team's top assets at this point. I'm guessing he stays.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

DA is not trading a building block of this team. Sorry it ain't happening.

[Celtics4ever]

DA is not trading a building block of this team. Sorry it ain't happening.

I think Ainge would trade anyone if he thought it would make us better.   That includes Sully and Rondo.  I bet he would move Sully for Love in a heartbeat.

[PhoSita]

At the moment, not as high as his value to the team.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Apparently 1 or 2 people didn't read the first sentence in my  original post.  I'm not advocating to trade Sullinger.  But when a player does well on a bad team, how much does the league really value that player? 

[PhoSita]

Apparently 1 or 2 people didn't read the first sentence in my  original post.  I'm not advocating to trade Sullinger.  But when a player does well on a bad team, how much does the league really value that player?

Not as much as the team that has him.  Hence my response.

[JBcat]

I just want to say a couple things.  I think both Sully's defense and passing ability are underrated.  He is shooting very subpar from 3 but give it time, plus he's had those hand issues.

More importantly he has played out of position almost all season long as a center!  Put a legit starting center next to him to allow him to play PF, and I want to see what he does with that.

[celtic -_- pride]

Apparently 1 or 2 people didn't read the first sentence in my  original post.  I'm not advocating to trade Sullinger.  But when a player does well on a bad team, how much does the league really value that player?

The thing about Sullinger is that a lot of his points don't
Come off of plays. He knows the game, he knows himself, and executes
Very well. I think sully is one of those players that if you put him on any roster he can get a double double and be a solid contributor. He's a very valuable piece to a contender or any team. Sully is becoming a player where he's not going to lose you many games with his play and keep you in/ win more than often. Big sully fan here

[Celtics4ever]

I think his value would be best for a team that stands to loose something but gets a nice player in return.   He is not a perenial all star in the making.  he is not an elite player but a good one.


I think he is a a Carlos Boozer type.   Solid, can fill a niche and play PF and C but not an alpha dog who can lead a team on his shoulders.   Your in a real trouble if he is your first option but he is a nice guy to have as your third.   His D is what it is, he can push guys around but can't protect the rim.

The thing about Sullinger is that a lot of his points don't
Come off of plays. He knows the game, he knows himself, and execute

Rebounders have a way to do that.

[Neurotic Guy]

Is his value greater or less than al
Jefferson's at the time of the kg trade?  Big Al was 22 and coming off a 16/11 season -- his third year. Sully is 21 in his second year -- 14/8 and climbing.  Injury perceptions may have some influence but generally the two are similar in value at this point in their respective careers -- Al slightly higher.

[paidthecost2betheboss]

2013-2014    1,365,720    -    -   1,365,720
2014-2015    1,424,520    -    -   1,424,520
2015-2016    2,269,260    -    -   2,269,260
2016-2017    3,270,003   

That's Sully's Contract right now.
D.A. just stated his desire to build a team.
The # on the right is Sully's cap hit.

If the Wolves were lucky they could get a player of Sully's skill set and extremely cap friendly contract to absorb the loss of Love and have the space to get a "star".
Why exactly would Danny do this?

What would K Loves cap hit be? hypothetically? How does that fit on a team in need of some consideration by their PG this Summer as it relates to a contract.

If you bet D.A. would take that in a "Heartbeat" I'd take that bet. The T Wolves would win. They'd get something great instead of nothing and at a great cost/performance ratio with time to negotiate the next deal if they see fit. We'd have to pay big and pay fast.

Nope.

[sofutomygaha]

Hi SPD-

  It looks like no one so far as actually taken your question at face value, and I think it's an interesting one. I'll give it a shot.

  Sullinger is in year two of a rookie contract. His health concerns are not gone, but things are looking better. They won't really go away until he has played a couple healthy seasons and significantly improved his body. His level of play right now suggests solid starter with the potential to be a fringe all-star if everything goes right.

  It does depend who you are trading with, of course. Bad teams would rather have picks. Good teams would rather have players. Capped teams don't want contracts. Etc

  This is guesswork, but I'd that's worth a top-5 protected 1st rounder or an above average mid-career starter who is cost controlled for a few years. Here's a completely imaginary tier of assets that I'd put Sullinger in with:

(1) a draft pick in the 6-10 range

or

(2) a very good sub-all-star veteran who is fairly paid or slightly overpaid and not a 7-foot center (Paul Millsap, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Zach Randolph)

or

(3) a very good rookie deal player who probably does not look to have all-star in his future, and is not a 7-foot center. Basically a player like him (Kemba Walker, Kahwi Leonard, Harrison Barnes, Terrence Ross)

  Don't ask me if I think the owners of these assets would do one-for-one swaps, because it's also a matter of style, cap situation, and outlook

[sofutomygaha]

Is his value greater or less than al
Jefferson's at the time of the kg trade?  Big Al was 22 and coming off a 16/11 season -- his third year. Sully is 21 in his second year -- 14/8 and climbing.  Injury perceptions may have some influence but generally the two are similar in value at this point in their respective careers -- Al slightly higher.

In my opinion, Jefferson's value was definitely higher. He was scoring more and there were no knocks to make on his size or athleticism