Drafting Smart is like getting two players

[ssspence]

Barring us hearing that Rondo won't consider resigning in Boston I don't see how it'll become like the Love situation. More likely Boston will try to get him and another FA.

Ainge will of course shop Rondo, he shops everyone.

If this roster isn't considerably stonger between now and the trade deadline, why would Rondo commit to staying here? And it Rondo is non-committal about staying here, why would the Celtics keep him past then?

And if Ainge knows that his options to find that vet star are somewhere between highly unlikely and played out -- this morning he said they hadn't 'given up' on it yet, which I'd say doesn't have a particularly encouraging ring to it -- wouldn't he look to get out in front of that declining spiral of deadline lowballing (as the Jazz did with Deron Williams)?

[BballTim]

Ahhhh the neverending chicken-and-egg Rondo trade debate. Read this recently and thought it was telling:

Lee (Scottsdale) :Why are the Celtics always trying to trade Rondo? Hes a very good young PG and I dont see how getting a younger PG who isnt as good and wont be for years helps their rebuilding process

Chad Ford: That's what every other GM in the league asks and why it's been hard to trade him. Everyone is curious why Boston is always so anxious to move him.

I get two things from this:

1) The Cs picked Smart because they rate him highly, and they're not afraid to move on from Rondo. I don't personally buy for a second that Ainge & Stevens believe they're going to pair Smart and Rondo together successfully long term.

2) They've trashed Rondo's trade value over the years by discussing trading him so much, which means its basically impossible to get real value for him... which means they probably won't trade him... again.

It'll be interesting to see whether Ainge can eek out a good deal for Rondo over the next couple of months. Because I think The Cs and Rondo are on a collision course for a (less public) Kevin Love type situation. If the Cs keep Smart, and can't add a real star player before the season, isn't Rondo going to start asking questions? I would if I were him. He's too competitive (and stubborn vis-a-vis Smart) to stick around through a full rebuild.

And every other GM is going to know they can likely low-ball the Cs on Rondo because they're running out of leverage.

  There have been plenty of reports of other teams trying to get Rondo from the Celts. Do you think all the GMs that call Danny about Rondo and can't get him to take their offers are wondering why Danny's unable to trade Rondo no matter how hard he's tried?

[BballTim]

Barring us hearing that Rondo won't consider resigning in Boston I don't see how it'll become like the Love situation. More likely Boston will try to get him and another FA.

Ainge will of course shop Rondo, he shops everyone.

If this roster isn't considerably stonger between now and the trade deadline, why would Rondo commit to staying here? And it Rondo is non-committal about staying here, why would the Celtics keep him past then?

And if Ainge knows that his options to find that vet star are somewhere between highly unlikely and played out -- this morning he said they hadn't 'given up' on it yet, which I'd say doesn't have a particularly encouraging ring to it -- wouldn't he look to get out in front of that declining spiral of deadline lowballing (as the Jazz did with Deron Williams)?

  On one hand you're saying Rondo has very little trade value and on the other hand you're saying they should try and trade him ASAP. If one's true the other's pretty foolish.

[Fafnir]

Barring us hearing that Rondo won't consider resigning in Boston I don't see how it'll become like the Love situation. More likely Boston will try to get him and another FA.

Ainge will of course shop Rondo, he shops everyone.

If this roster isn't considerably stonger between now and the trade deadline, why would Rondo commit to staying here? And it Rondo is non-committal about staying here, why would the Celtics keep him past then?

Because having bird rights to Rondo gives the C's a chance to setup signing him + another high level FA with the cap flexibility they're setting up for 2015.

Now Ainge has to look at trading Rondo, but a half season rental isn't likely to land a haul.

[LooseCannon]

I don't see any reason why Pressey will be gone. Cheap, good back-up pass-first PG. Young, good back-up pass-first PG. I expect he'll be here longer than Rondo.

He's on an unguaranteed contract, which makes him fodder to be shipped out in a possible trade. 

Pressey doesn't seem to have potential other than as a backup and it is inexpensive to get rid of him, so he is a very likely casualty of any roster moves the Celtics might make in the off-season if the Celtics need to clear a roster spot.

I also expect Ainge to kick the tires on an undrafted point guard and look for an upgrade at the third-string spot.

[mctyson]

Drafting Smart is like getting two players.

Smart and the guy we [sign and trade Avery Bradley for]

Fixed

[ssspence]

Barring us hearing that Rondo won't consider resigning in Boston I don't see how it'll become like the Love situation. More likely Boston will try to get him and another FA.

Ainge will of course shop Rondo, he shops everyone.

If this roster isn't considerably stonger between now and the trade deadline, why would Rondo commit to staying here? And it Rondo is non-committal about staying here, why would the Celtics keep him past then?

Because having bird rights to Rondo gives the C's a chance to setup signing him + another high level FA with the cap flexibility they're setting up for 2015.

Now Ainge has to look at trading Rondo, but a half season rental isn't likely to land a haul.

True. Also true i -- he could walk for nothing.

How about a whole season rental? Or an immediate contract extension with a new team willing to give him the max? all of this stuff is on the table in the Cs front office.

[ssspence]

I don't see any reason why Pressey will be gone. Cheap, good back-up pass-first PG. Young, good back-up pass-first PG. I expect he'll be here longer than Rondo.

He's on an unguaranteed contract, which makes him fodder to be shipped out in a possible trade. 

Pressey doesn't seem to have potential other than as a backup and it is inexpensive to get rid of him, so he is a very likely casualty of any roster moves the Celtics might make in the off-season if the Celtics need to clear a roster spot.

I also expect Ainge to kick the tires on an undrafted point guard and look for an upgrade at the third-string spot.

Doesn't really make sense. Cs have plenty of ****** players on similar deals. Pressey is good value on his deal. If traded -- he'd be traded for his value, not for his ability to immediately be cut.

I think you're underestimating how much the Cs like Pressey.

[Fafnir]

How about a whole season rental? Or an immediate contract extension with a new team willing to give him the max? all of this stuff is on the table in the Cs front office.

Extensions aren't worth it for players looking at big paydays under the new CBA. That's why Love is opting out no matter where he is.

[Fafnir]

I don't see any reason why Pressey will be gone. Cheap, good back-up pass-first PG. Young, good back-up pass-first PG. I expect he'll be here longer than Rondo.

He's on an unguaranteed contract, which makes him fodder to be shipped out in a possible trade. 

Pressey doesn't seem to have potential other than as a backup and it is inexpensive to get rid of him, so he is a very likely casualty of any roster moves the Celtics might make in the off-season if the Celtics need to clear a roster spot.

I also expect Ainge to kick the tires on an undrafted point guard and look for an upgrade at the third-string spot.

Doesn't really make sense. Cs have plenty of ****** players on similar deals. Pressey is good value on his deal. If traded -- he'd be traded for his value, not for his ability to immediately be cut.

I think you're underestimating how much the Cs like Pressey.

Phil Pressey is a d-league level player, he has zero value beyond his contract filler.

Small PGs who shoot 30% don't have value.

[kozlodoev]

Phil Pressey is a d-league level player, he has zero value beyond his contract filler.

Small PGs who shoot 30% don't have value.

This. Pressey's perceived "value" is an indicator of how horrible our team was last season. He won't crack the roster on any NBA team that cares to win a game unless he shows major improvement.

[ssspence]

I don't see any reason why Pressey will be gone. Cheap, good back-up pass-first PG. Young, good back-up pass-first PG. I expect he'll be here longer than Rondo.

He's on an unguaranteed contract, which makes him fodder to be shipped out in a possible trade. 

Pressey doesn't seem to have potential other than as a backup and it is inexpensive to get rid of him, so he is a very likely casualty of any roster moves the Celtics might make in the off-season if the Celtics need to clear a roster spot.

I also expect Ainge to kick the tires on an undrafted point guard and look for an upgrade at the third-string spot.

Doesn't really make sense. Cs have plenty of ****** players on similar deals. Pressey is good value on his deal. If traded -- he'd be traded for his value, not for his ability to immediately be cut.

I think you're underestimating how much the Cs like Pressey.

Phil Pressey is a d-league level player, he has zero value beyond his contract filler.

Small PGs who shoot 30% don't have value.

You think he has less value to the Cs than Chris Babb? Regardless, my point is he has more value to the Cs than zero. Of all their useless players on non-guaranteed deals, i suspect he's the most valuable in their eyes.

[Sketch5]

Drafting Smart is like getting two players.

Smart and the guy we [sign and trade Avery Bradley for]

Fixed

This!

Use him to get Love and keep Smart since Flip doesn't like draft picks and rather have established players...We'll leave out the part of him not ever playing a full season in the talks! LOL

[LooseCannon]

I don't see any reason why Pressey will be gone. Cheap, good back-up pass-first PG. Young, good back-up pass-first PG. I expect he'll be here longer than Rondo.

He's on an unguaranteed contract, which makes him fodder to be shipped out in a possible trade. 

Pressey doesn't seem to have potential other than as a backup and it is inexpensive to get rid of him, so he is a very likely casualty of any roster moves the Celtics might make in the off-season if the Celtics need to clear a roster spot.

I also expect Ainge to kick the tires on an undrafted point guard and look for an upgrade at the third-string spot.

Doesn't really make sense. Cs have plenty of ****** players on similar deals. Pressey is good value on his deal. If traded -- he'd be traded for his value, not for his ability to immediately be cut.

I think you're underestimating how much the Cs like Pressey.

Phil Pressey is nowhere close to a deal-breaker talent.  He's not so good that Ainge shouldn't be looking at undrafted free agents for a possible upgrade.

I'm pretty sure Ainge would have jumped at the opportunity if someone was willing to trade a late second-round pick for Pressey, so I think Pressey is less valuable than that.

[BballTim]

I don't see any reason why Pressey will be gone. Cheap, good back-up pass-first PG. Young, good back-up pass-first PG. I expect he'll be here longer than Rondo.

He's on an unguaranteed contract, which makes him fodder to be shipped out in a possible trade. 

Pressey doesn't seem to have potential other than as a backup and it is inexpensive to get rid of him, so he is a very likely casualty of any roster moves the Celtics might make in the off-season if the Celtics need to clear a roster spot.

I also expect Ainge to kick the tires on an undrafted point guard and look for an upgrade at the third-string spot.

Doesn't really make sense. Cs have plenty of ****** players on similar deals. Pressey is good value on his deal. If traded -- he'd be traded for his value, not for his ability to immediately be cut.

I think you're underestimating how much the Cs like Pressey.

  If we don't make a trade he'll never see the court at all, unless you think he'll beat out Smart for the backup pg minutes. He's unlikely to ever be a regular rotation player on a decent team.