Boston getting Tyler Zeller and 1st rounder from Cavs and Thorton from Nets

[wdleehi]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA
Boston gets: Marcus Thornton-Tyler Zeller, Cavs 2016 protected pick. Top 10 in '16, '17 or '18. Unprotected in '19.

Jesus.  The NBA is the worst.   Sitting here cheering over draft picks that might not be used for five years and expiring contracts.  Nothing to do with a good basketball player or getting a good team.   It's frustrating to like basketball.

Cheering the team using it's assets to get better assets.  Finding ways to improve.

[ram]

Zeller-a great match for Rondo

Zeller combines his outstanding running ability with a nice set of hands and a good motor for a player his size, both of which help him as a finisher sprinting the floor. He's able to beat most any big men down the court and catch the ball running full speed, where he's then shown the ability to quickly gather himself and elevate for a dunk, resulting in him converting on an excellent 79% of his field goal attempts in transition this season.


His intrigue from NBA standpoint starts with his physical profile, as he's a solid run and jump athlete for a 7-footer, showing great speed running the court, as well as the ability to finish above the rim.

[Cman]

I'm usually a lot more positive and don't overreact but Danny's got me scratching my head this summer.

accumulating assets. The TPE was about to expire in 2 days.
It was Zeller, Thornton, future 1st round pick for the TPE, or, likely, nothing (though you never know, maybe some other deal would have popped up in the next day or so).

[Jon]

This is definitely a good move by Ainge.  I wouldn't get overly excited.  As others have pointed out, Thornton is a Jordan Crawford type, Zeller's ceiling is likely as a decent backup center, and the first rounder is likely going to be late.  None of that's a game-changer.  Still, considering we essentially gave up nothing to acquire some assets, I'm definitely on board.

I wouldn't worry about having too many guards.  Johnson, Babb, and Pressey all could be cut and it certainly wouldn't be the end of the world if Smart and even more so Young got eased into the rotation.

And with only three big men worth playing (Sully, Olynyk, and Zeller) and only two SF worth anything (Green and Wallace), I wouldn't be surprised to see us trot out some small ball lineups with three guards and/or Green/Wallace at the 4. 

[Snakehead]

How does Danny keep fleecing the nets?

Cleveland's first rounder, not NJ's. edit: Brooklyns.

I don't see why the Nets do this to help out the Cavs, though.

They want Jack.

Oh, yeah, I know that. I just can't figure out why. 

(full disclosure: I'm aware they lost Shaun Livingston Seagull to the Warriors).

I still think he could be pretty good for them but I really haven't understood anything the Nets do overall to put a team together these last few years so I'm not going to really defend them or anything.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Cleveland might still have enough assets to go after Kevin Love himself, particularly if they get LeBron.

[Waew]

I think the "protected" 2nd rounder was needed as a tangible trade asset to make this work? I had questions all along if something had to be tied to the TPE in order for it to consistute a "legit" trade (money, pick).

[D.o.s.]

Cleveland might still have enough assets to go after Kevin Love himself, particularly if they get LeBron.

What can they send out while still fielding a competitive team, though?

I get that LeBron going back to Cleveland is firmly a Lifetime Movie Special, but it doesn't make basketball sense if they won't be even a little bit better than last year's Heat.

[RJ87]

so we get a serviceable "back up" C(arguable) and we're all jumping for joy? that pick seems all but useless unless it ends up being part of a trade.

as it looks now we're going to be starting 5 guards(and looking to add more) apparently...and we still have bass, green & Wallace.

I'm usually a lot more positive and don't overreact but Danny's got me scratching my head this summer.

We had 3 days to use the TPE before it expired (which a lot of them end up doing). Danny basically rented it to get a cheap upgrade at center and a 1st. That's a solid trade for us.

[Phantom255x]

Celtics receive SG Marcus Thornton to backup Bradley and Young, C Tyler Zeller to go along with Olynyk, Faverani and Iverson (maybe Humphries), and a future protected first rounder from the Cavs.

I give it an A, we get valuable guard depth and a guy who can score efficiently off the bench, a young center who shows lots of promise and can score, and another draft pick. Now we have 7-8 first round picks in the next 4 years, not bad Ainge

[Waew]

This is definitely a good move by Ainge.  I wouldn't get overly excited.  As others have pointed out, Thornton is a Jordan Crawford type, Zeller's ceiling is likely as a decent backup center, and the first rounder is likely going to be late.  None of that's a game-changer.  Still, considering we essentially gave up nothing to acquire some assets, I'm definitely on board.

I wouldn't worry about having too many guards.  Johnson, Babb, and Pressey all could be cut and it certainly wouldn't be the end of the world if Smart and even more so Young got eased into the rotation.

And with only three big men worth playing (Sully, Olynyk, and Zeller) and only two SF worth anything (Green and Wallace), I wouldn't be surprised to see us trot out some small ball lineups with three guards and/or Green/Wallace at the 4.

we got Jordan Crawford and a backup center, and a protected 1st in exchange for a top 59 protected 2nd rounder. This is a fleece.

[danglertx]

that pick seems all but useless unless it ends up being part of a trade.

Picks are never worthless.   Top 10 protected means it is probably a late round pick next year.  If nothing else we use it and ours to move up, trade it for a draft pick in a later year, use it to stash a foreign player, or heaven forbid, actually draft a guy Danny thinks might be a good player.  That doesn't even count sending it to Minny as part of a Love trade or someone else.

How is that pick in any way worthless?

[D.o.s.]

I think the "protected" 2nd rounder was needed as a tangible trade asset to make this work? I had questions all along if something had to be tied to the TPE in order for it to consistute a "legit" trade (money, pick).

Nah, you can use the TPE all on its own. I'm busy, but the Coon FAQ has a great description on what you can and can't do with one.

[D.o.s.]

Gotta give it an A, even if the trade itself is fairly underwhelming.

[WeMadeIt17]

Really great move from Danny here. Allows us to have more assets for a trade or worst come to worst we have 33 million in expiring contacts next season. Great move.