Realistic trade for Center

[Joe Green]

With Zeller struggling and Vitor nursing his ailing knee (with Vodka...) we seem to all be aware how painfully the Cs need a C....

In fact, I would say we may be a decent center away from being a respectable team in the East. Unfortunately, teams are not lining up to hand over their defensive anchor centers ([dang], we should have gotten Asik...)

I therefore suggest a straight up trade with the Bucks - Bass for Zaza Pachulia.

While Zaza is not our center of the future, he is a real Center, stands  6"11 240, is a veteran and still only 30. He is a very decent rebounder (around 9 rebounds per 36) with a knack for offensive boards and an underrated passer at 2.5 assists per 36.

The bucks are stacked with Sanders, Henson and Gianis all at 6"11 with huge wingspans and youth and have no need for Zaza's 2 year contract. Bass would save them money and actually fills a need covering 3&4 position defensively. Since they are in full youth mode, they may even throw in a 2nd rounder for the financial relief of this trade.

Your thoughts?

[AngryAndIrritable]

Makes sense for both sides. His FG% should be higher given his ability to snaffle the offensive rebound though. Don't think he's ever broken .500

[Celtics4ever]

He is also a dirty player and I would pass on him.

[Joe Green]

He is also a dirty player and I would pass on him.

KG was considered by many a "Dirty Player". One man's dirty is another's intense.

His FG% should be higher given his ability to snaffle the offensive rebound though. Don't think he's ever broken .500

I too am not thrilled with his sub .500 shooting percentage - but we do not need him as a scorer. He is a smart player, will help ball movement, rebound and although not a shot blocker - a decent defender (when playing in a reasonably competent defensive scheme).

He is not looking to star in this league - but I am not sure we have anyone you could say is a better center on our roster.

[Eddie20]

The Jazz make for an interesting trade parter, as they have Favors, Kanter, and Gobbert. Kanter and Favors struggle on the floor together. While Gobbert has been impressive so far. Last night he had 11 pts and 20 reb in 22 minutes.

Sullinger for Kanter or Gobert makes for an interesting swap. Sullinger can provide better floor spacing for Favors and is childhood friends with Trey Burke. Kanter or Gobbert provide us with better size inside and removes a bit of the logjam we have the 4 with Olynyk, Bass, and Green set to receive minutes there.

[bucknersrevenge]

The Jazz make for an interesting trade parter, as they have Favors, Kanter, and Gobbert. Kanter and Favors struggle on the floor together. While Gobbert has been impressive so far. Last night he had 11 pts and 20 reb in 22 minutes.

Sullinger for Kanter or Gobert makes for an interesting swap. Sullinger can provide better floor spacing for Favors and is childhood friends with Trey Burke. Kanter or Gobbert provide us with better size inside and removes a bit of the logjam we have the 4 with Olynyk, Bass, and Green set to receive minutes there.

I would absolutely loathe to trade Sully at this point. But I would absolutely trade KO and a first of some kind for Gobert. Jazz were pretty enamored with Olynyks shooting display during his workout too so he'd fit. But even that I don't think would be enough. Plus, I suspect the Jazz would be more inclined to move Kanter rather than Gobert since Kanter's contract is up sooner. Kanter would be an upgrade from Zeller. How much remains to be seen though.

[boscel33]

The Jazz make for an interesting trade parter, as they have Favors, Kanter, and Gobbert. Kanter and Favors struggle on the floor together. While Gobbert has been impressive so far. Last night he had 11 pts and 20 reb in 22 minutes.

Sullinger for Kanter or Gobert makes for an interesting swap. Sullinger can provide better floor spacing for Favors and is childhood friends with Trey Burke. Kanter or Gobbert provide us with better size inside and removes a bit of the logjam we have the 4 with Olynyk, Bass, and Green set to receive minutes there.

I didn't want to give Sully up in the package for Love, I don't want to give him up for this.

[slamtheking]

He is also a dirty player and I would pass on him.

KG was considered by many a "Dirty Player". One man's dirty is another's intense.

His FG% should be higher given his ability to snaffle the offensive rebound though. Don't think he's ever broken .500

I too am not thrilled with his sub .500 shooting percentage - but we do not need him as a scorer. He is a smart player, will help ball movement, rebound and although not a shot blocker - a decent defender (when playing in a reasonably competent defensive scheme).

He is not looking to star in this league - but I am not sure we have anyone you could say is a better center on our roster.

definitely a fair and reasonable trade offer.  TP for the rarity. 

I get this as a resource-shuffling move but taking on an extra year of money when we're hoping to have more $ for free agents next year is a negative.  would need to either shed some more money from our side or get better draft considerations back.

I think if the deal were expanded to ship out Wallace somehow and take back a less-desirable player (but expiring deal) from Milwaukee, I think there'd be more incentive.  I don't see Milwaukee sending more of an inducement than a second rounder.  Also, not sure if they'd pull the trigger without seeing if they're an improved team this year-->I could see them making the deal at the deadline if they're not drastically underperforming like last year and have a shot at a playoff spot.

Zaza isn't going to move the needle much for us but could be the difference in a couple of close games.  not sure if it's worth it if we're looking at the lottery again this year.

[nickagneta]

Sully is just too much talent to give up for Kanter, who just isn't the defensive oriented center I think the Celtics would need. I'ld give up a future first rounder and salary filler for Kanter but not Sully.

[Nerf DPOY]

I gotta say that I don't hate the idea of a Bass/Pachulia swap at all, and it seems to make sense for both sides. I will ask though, does this fall into the pattern of the moves Ainge has made in the last year+?

 It just seems to me that every single move he's made has been with the intent of getting a future 1st or 2nd, with no real regard for the '14-'15 team on the court. It's not that I necessarily believe he wants the team to lose, it's just that I'm not sure if Ainge would make any move that might compromise our situation beyond this season, even if that compromise is as small as Zaza's '15-'16 salary.

[BudweiserCeltic]

As an aside, I love threads that start with "Realistic".

[saltlover]

I gotta say that I don't hate the idea of a Bass/Pachulia swap at all, and it seems to make sense for both sides. I will ask though, does this fall into the pattern of the moves Ainge has made in the last year+?

 It just seems to me that every single move he's made has been with the intent of getting a future 1st or 2nd, with no real regard for the '14-'15 team on the court. It's not that I necessarily believe he wants the team to lose, it's just that I'm not sure if Ainge would make any move that might compromise our situation beyond this season, even if that compromise is as small as Zaza's '15-'16 salary.

I don't think the Thornton/Zeller acquisition was solely about the pick.  Thornton is a scorer, who for most of his career, with the exception of his time with Sacramento last year, has been an efficient-to-very-efficient scorer, especially for the volume of shots he takes.  The Celtics were the fourth least efficient offense in the league last year.  He's not a cornerstone, but Thornton is a definite improvement over the players who occupied that role last year (Crawford and then Bayless).  Presumably we got Thornton because we were willing to require less in draft compensation than teams like Philadelphia, and one reason that may be the case is because Thornton actually had value to the Celtics on a 1-year deal.

Additionally, future picks can still be traded for players to help this year's team.  Ainge certainly has one eye on the future, as he ought to, but to say that his moves have had "no real regard" to this year's team is a little far-sighted.  Thornton is a definite upgrade to a major weakness of last year's team.  He alone won't win a championship, or maybe even get the Celtics to the playoffs, but he's an improvement all the same.

[Celtics4ever]

Kanter is going nowhere.  He averages 12 PPG and 7 RPG,   You can play three bigs in the NBA as you need a group of players who play when your starters are tired called "bench".

As an aside, I love threads that start with "Realistic".

Me, too, +1.   Usually an indicator that they are not.

KG was considered by many a "Dirty Player". One man's dirty is another's intense.

KG was a good player, Zaza is thug and of the like of Marc Ivaroni.   Some guys are dirty because of their lack of skill set.   KG did not have this problem, Zaza does.

The only Zsa I want to see is Gabor from the 50-60's.

[Eddie20]

Kanter is going nowhere.  He averages 12 PPG and 7 RPG,   You can play three bigs in the NBA as you need a group of players who play when your starters are tired called "bench".

As an aside, I love threads that start with "Realistic".

Me, too, +1.   Usually an indicator that they are not.

KG was considered by many a "Dirty Player". One man's dirty is another's intense.

KG was a good player, Zaza is thug and of the like of Marc Ivaroni.   Some guys are dirty because of their lack of skill set.   KG did not have this problem, Zaza does.

The only Zsa I want to see is Gabor from the 50-60's.

It's the "fit". Kanter and Favors have not meshed together. Sullinger would start at the 4 and provide better spacing. How is replacing Kanter with Sullinger hurting their "bench"?

[Eddie20]

As an aside, I love threads that start with "Realistic".

Because Pachulia for Bass is considered unrealistic?