Look into my Celtics Crystal Ball

[RRNoLookPass]

Another ridiculously one-sided, Celtic trade proposal thread.  The rockets aren't trading Asik for Bass.  Repeat after me:  Bass has near zero tade value.

While I agree that Bass is not enough for Asik it is hyperbole to say he has no trade value.

Here is what Steve Bulpett said after canvassing general managers around the league regarding Bass:

"He?s heading into the last season of his deal, making very reasonable money ($6.9 million) for someone of his ability. Frankly, we?re surprised a contender didn?t make a stronger run at him at February?s trade deadline.

The fact he put his nose to the grindstone and played hard in such a crazy season has endeared him to both the Celts and opponents, who took notice."

So apparently a season reporter and the people he interviewed don't want to repeat after you, because you are wrong.

hahaha TP for you sir. Thanks for beating me to that response...it seemed quite necessary.

[Celtic]

I suggested this scenario knowing full well how far fetched it was. In all probability the most unlikely aspect of this situation would be Durant requesting a trade. However, I completely believe that the first two trades are very possible. If Minnesota really wants picks over veterans, the Celtics have the most to offer, unless Cleveland decides to trade there number one pick to build around Kyrie and Love.

In the end Golden State will probably realize they'd be giving up to much by trading Lee, Thompson and potentially Barnes. That would be two key pieces of their starting five and their number one bench player going away.

Chicago, realistically, doesn't have that much to offer.

The Celtics have a high pick, the soon to expire salaries and the rising young player in Sullinger. Will Sullinger one day be an Allstar? Who knows, probably not, but he's a good enough player to make the trade more palatable to T-wolves fans. Plus Minny would be dealing Love out of the conference.

As for Asik, let's just say he is vastly overvalued on these forums. He is a solid player, but not a star. The Rockets were minutes away from trading him this past season for Bass and Lee, that is a trade worth revisiting. The Dwight-Asik lineup does not work. Bass fits into the Rockets system pretty well and offers them much needed defense. With Harden playing matador D, you need all the help defense you can get. Of course Asik is better than Bass, that's why a pick will have to be part of the deal. The Celtics have too many power forwards and the Rockets have too many centers, it makes sense for both teams. Asik has been elevated to star status here, he simply isn't that player, he's a valuable piece to a contending team, just like Bass has been for years now.

On to Durant, think of that name as more of a placeholder. Maybe it's not him, but if you are running with a lineup of Rondo, Green, Love and Asik, what legit swingman wouldn't want to grab that three spot? After next season, Lebron and Carmelo could be free agents. Put together a sign and trade and you've got a team.

In a year, the Spurs will be older and Duncan could be retired, meaning they begin the restructuring period. The Heat may break apart. The Pacers will probably all be in group therapy. Will the Thunder be legit contenders? How much better will the Clippers or Warriors have gotten? The league could be wide open. Just like Lebron jumped ship in 2010 to go to a ready made contender, if the Celtics can pull something like this off, they could very quickly come right back.

Make the deal for Love, then maybe it's not Asik but a different defensive center. That puts you in position to put a scorer at the 2 or 3 and start competing asap. Ask yourself, is that really that hard to imagine?

[Lucky17]

Chicago, realistically, doesn't have that much to offer.

The Celtics have a high pick, the soon to expire salaries and the rising young player in Sullinger.

I don't get how you can say the Bulls don't have much to offer, when they can put on the table the equivalent of a high pick in this year's draft (Mirotic), expiring salary (Boozer), and a rising young player (Butler). And, the Bulls also have two additional mid-round 1sts in this coming draft to boot.

[Kane3387]

Chicago, realistically, doesn't have that much to offer.

The Celtics have a high pick, the soon to expire salaries and the rising young player in Sullinger.

I don't get how you can say the Bulls don't have much to offer, when they can put on the table the equivalent of a high pick in this year's draft (Mirotic), expiring salary (Boozer), and a rising young player (Butler). And, the Bulls also have two additional mid-round 1sts in this coming draft to boot.

Mirotic would likely stay in Europe vs playing in minny. I mean he's clearly not that eager to play in Chicago. A pretty prestigious nba organization. If he'd rather play in Europe over Chicago he'd likely play in Europe over minny.

Minny fans might revolt if mirotic is the big asset in a deal. They waited two years for Rubio and he's a bust. Meanwhile they've seen curry become a star. If they have to wait for mirotic and get back only scraps for love that can play next year... Don't see that flying.

[Kane3387]

Now that the lottery has shown us it's darkest side and crushed our hopes of drafting the next NBA superstar, it's time to look to the trade winds for solace. Fear not fellow Celtics fans, in just two seasons this team will once again climb basketball's ultimate summit and contend for a championship yet again.

Just bc we have the sixth pick doesn't mean we have no shot at a superstar. Damian lillard was picked sixth.

Randle Smart Gordon and Vonleh all have the tools and potential to be stars. Just like lillard had sbd has. It's not their fault they're not as hyped as the top three. Just like it wasn't Lillards fault he wasn't as hyped as MKG and Thomas Robinson.

Randle, perhaps.

The other three - not happening, especially not the hothead Marcus Smart.

If we end up with one of those three as the marquee move of the summer, the off-season will be an unmitigated disaster.

One opinion.

Smart possibly would've gone number one last year and definitely two. His physical gifts are compared to Russell Westbrook. He's been a highly touted player for two years. I could see him going to the lakers and being a stud if they play a fast system. I'll take a hothead over a passive conservative player anytime.

Vonleh might take time but so did bosh. Watching tape of Vonleh you see the bosh comparison rather easily. His length and hands will translate firvtebounding in the pros. The kid has a shot too. He's 18.

Gordon reminds me a lot of Andre kirilinko and Shawn Marion. The kid has a good handle for his size. He can push the ball in transition. Young kirilinko in Utah and Marion in Phoenix were both all stars. He will add strength and in an uptempo system he could easily be a stat stuffer.

[Lucky17]

Chicago, realistically, doesn't have that much to offer.

The Celtics have a high pick, the soon to expire salaries and the rising young player in Sullinger.

I don't get how you can say the Bulls don't have much to offer, when they can put on the table the equivalent of a high pick in this year's draft (Mirotic), expiring salary (Boozer), and a rising young player (Butler). And, the Bulls also have two additional mid-round 1sts in this coming draft to boot.

Mirotic would likely stay in Europe vs playing in minny. I mean he's clearly not that eager to play in Chicago. A pretty prestigious nba organization. If he'd rather play in Europe over Chicago he'd likely play in Europe over minny.

Minny fans might revolt if mirotic is the big asset in a deal. They waited two years for Rubio and he's a bust. Meanwhile they've seen curry become a star. If they have to wait for mirotic and get back only scraps for love that can play next year... Don't see that flying.

Mirotic has been playing in Spain because he's getting the money.

If an NBA team steps up and offers him $8 mil a year and starters minutes, he's probably going to make the jump.

http://www.blogabull.com/2014/2/11/5401280/nikola-mirotic-chicago-bulls-nba-free-agency-2014

[knuckleballer]

Now that the lottery has shown us it's darkest side and crushed our hopes of drafting the next NBA superstar, it's time to look to the trade winds for solace. Fear not fellow Celtics fans, in just two seasons this team will once again climb basketball's ultimate summit and contend for a championship yet again.

Just bc we have the sixth pick doesn't mean we have no shot at a superstar. Damian lillard was picked sixth.

Randle Smart Gordon and Vonleh all have the tools and potential to be stars. Just like lillard had sbd has. It's not their fault they're not as hyped as the top three. Just like it wasn't Lillards fault he wasn't as hyped as MKG and Thomas Robinson.

Randle, perhaps.

The other three - not happening, especially not the hothead Marcus Smart.

If we end up with one of those three as the marquee move of the summer, the off-season will be an unmitigated disaster.

One opinion.

Smart possibly would've gone number one last year and definitely two. His physical gifts are compared to Russell Westbrook. He's been a highly touted prisoner for two years. I could see him going to the lakers and being a stud if they play a fast system. I'll take a hothead over a passive conservative player anytime.

Vonleh might take time but so did bosh. Watching tape of Vonleh you see the bosh comparison rather easily. His length and hands will translate firvtebounding in the pros. The kid has a shot too. He's 18.

Gordon reminds me a lot of Andre kirilinko and Shawn Marion. The kid has a good handle for his size. He can push the ball in transition. Young kirilinko in Utah and Marion in Phoenix were both all stars. He will add strength and in an uptempo system he could easily be a stat stuffer.

Smart has been a highly touted prisoner?  I think autocorrect played a trick on you.   

[Lucky17]

FWIW, Kevin Pelton took my question in chat about Mirotic.

JB (PDX)
Hi, Kevin. Where would you rank Mirotic if he'd been in this year's draft class? Somewhere 4-9? Wondering whether Chicago could make an offer that trumps Boston's presumptive package of Sullinger/#6/salary relief/sweetener.

Kevin Pelton  (5:25 PM)
His WARP projection would rank tied for 3rd with Joel Embiid. So definitely somewhere in the top 5. However, he's not quite that valuable as a trade asset because he's no longer tied to the rookie contract.

That last part speaks to the issue Kane brought up: you have to pay him enough to entice him to leave the Spanish League, where he's making decent coin.

[droopdog7]

Another ridiculously one-sided, Celtic trade proposal thread.  The rockets aren't trading Asik for Bass.  Repeat after me:  Bass has near zero tade value.

While I agree that Bass is not enough for Asik it is hyperbole to say he has no trade value.

Here is what Steve Bulpett said after canvassing general managers around the league regarding Bass:

"He?s heading into the last season of his deal, making very reasonable money ($6.9 million) for someone of his ability. Frankly, we?re surprised a contender didn?t make a stronger run at him at February?s trade deadline.

The fact he put his nose to the grindstone and played hard in such a crazy season has endeared him to both the Celts and opponents, who took notice."

So apparently a season reporter and the people he interviewed don't want to repeat after you, because you are wrong.

hahaha TP for you sir. Thanks for beating me to that response...it seemed quite necessary.

Um, okay.

So the evidence against me is some guy who claims that Bass is worth more yet openly wonders why another team didn't make a stronger push for him?  Has it dawned on anyone that perhaps the writer is wrong? 

So frankly, until Bass is traded for something (anything) of value, then my position holds.  And I will take it another step.  My bet is that ainge would  gladly have dumped bass for cap relief the same as he did with Lee.  Yet, he is still here.

[Kane3387]

Now that the lottery has shown us it's darkest side and crushed our hopes of drafting the next NBA superstar, it's time to look to the trade winds for solace. Fear not fellow Celtics fans, in just two seasons this team will once again climb basketball's ultimate summit and contend for a championship yet again.

Just bc we have the sixth pick doesn't mean we have no shot at a superstar. Damian lillard was picked sixth.

Randle Smart Gordon and Vonleh all have the tools and potential to be stars. Just like lillard had sbd has. It's not their fault they're not as hyped as the top three. Just like it wasn't Lillards fault he wasn't as hyped as MKG and Thomas Robinson.

Randle, perhaps.

The other three - not happening, especially not the hothead Marcus Smart.

If we end up with one of those three as the marquee move of the summer, the off-season will be an unmitigated disaster.

One opinion.

Smart possibly would've gone number one last year and definitely two. His physical gifts are compared to Russell Westbrook. He's been a highly touted prisoner player for two years. I could see him going to the lakers and being a stud if they play a fast system. I'll take a hothead over a passive conservative player anytime.

Vonleh might take time but so did bosh. Watching tape of Vonleh you see the bosh comparison rather easily. His length and hands will translate firvtebounding in the pros. The kid has a shot too. He's 18.

Gordon reminds me a lot of Andre kirilinko and Shawn Marion. The kid has a good handle for his size. He can push the ball in transition. Young kirilinko in Utah and Marion in Phoenix were both all stars. He will add strength and in an uptempo system he could easily be a stat stuffer.

Smart has been a highly touted prisoner?  I think autocorrect played a trick on you.   

lol yes it did