Woj: Celtics nearing agreement to trade Green to Memphis

[guava_wrench]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Sell Salmons instead of Pondexter is a a lot cheaper. At the end of the season, all that remains is the pick.

NO must really miss Pondexter.

[Evantime34]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Odd. Why does Pondexter to NOP need to be wrapped into this deal? Seems like there are some details missing here.

Maybe we are sending Nelson to NOP

[guava_wrench]

So in essence, Ainge gave up Perk the year we were looking like the best team in the East for Green and then traded Green for 80 year old Tayshaun Prince.

Nope, he traded Green for a 1st round pick and an expiring contract.

True, but gpap has somewhat of a point, I think.  At the time of the Perk trade, it was justified as a bridge to the future, as there was concern that Perk would leave in free agency.  Green was supposed to be a building block.

Now, the net proceeds of the Perk trade look like Fab Melo and a future #1.  I think it's fair to ask whether diminishing our chances at a championship were worth that return.

If you believe that Perk was the difference between championship and not, then in retrospect the answer is an obvious "no".
But, haven't we already been down this back and forth path many, many, many times before?

Oh, for sure.  At the same time, I think it bolsters the argument that teams should maximize their chances at a championship when they're true contenders, rather than worrying too much about the future.

We are a single case. We shouldn't make general rules based on our single case. Especially when we don't have access to an alternate reality for comparison.

I think in this case, we can say that Green didn't bring enough value to make us feel satisfied with changes. On the other hand, if we had not made moves, we could just as well be here complaining about our mess of a team due to Danny sitting on his laurels.

[rondoallaturca]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Odd. Why does Pondexter to NOP need to be wrapped into this deal? Seems like there are some details missing here.

I'm not sure at the specific finances, but would keeping Pondexter in a JG trade put Memphis over the luxury tax?

I also wouldn't be surprised if they just want to clear some minutes for Jordan Adams. The organization is very high on him, and Memphis fans have been impressed with what they've seen so far.

[guava_wrench]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Odd. Why does Pondexter to NOP need to be wrapped into this deal? Seems like there are some details missing here.

Probably because we didn't want the 3 more years on his contract.

[PAOBoston]

Does the trade even work with NO involved? I think there is something missing to balance the salaries. No? Or am I wrong?

[Lucky17]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Odd. Why does Pondexter to NOP need to be wrapped into this deal? Seems like there are some details missing here.

Probably because we didn't want the 3 more years on his contract.

Pondexter was never mentioned in any scenario between MEM and BOS. BOS doesn't need NOP to take on Pondexter; NOP wants him.

My question is why NOP and MEM have to include a Pondexter deal as part of the Green trade. Why can't they just do business on their own.

The luxury tax idea might have something to do with it, although I am not sure. Perhaps Nelson is involved in some way too. [He can be traded, just not aggregated.]

[bostonsportsforlife]

please give us some sort of pick for taking salmons

[LooseCannon]

Is John Hollinger still in the FO there? When he was writing for ESPN he HATED Green as a player..lol.

He lost some power when Chris Wallace was brought back as GM.

[bballdog384]

If the Pelicans are getting Pondexter, then maybe the C's will get a pick from them.. would make sense to be able to get a little more than a 1st round pick and expiring for Green, no?

[freshinthehouse]

Holy Smokes, a Scintan sighting!  I rarely agreed with your takes, but you always explained your case well.  Glad to have your back!

[LooseCannon]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Odd. Why does Pondexter to NOP need to be wrapped into this deal? Seems like there are some details missing here.

Probably because we didn't want the 3 more years on his contract.

Pondexter was never mentioned in any scenario between MEM and BOS. BOS doesn't need NOP to take on Pondexter; NOP wants him.

My question is why NOP and MEM have to include a Pondexter deal as part of the Green trade. Why can't they just do business on their own.

The luxury tax idea might have something to do with it, although I am not sure. Perhaps Nelson is involved in some way too. [He can be traded, just not aggregated.]

Luxury tax is definitely why.  Memphis wants to ship out more salary.  Ainge is reluctant to acquire additional future salary beyond this season.  I wouldn't be surprised if they have a tentative agreement for a deal sending Pondexter to Boston, but the protection on the pick increases if they can find someone willing to trade an expiring contract for Pondexter.

[slamtheking]

It will soon be the end of an error.

What error? Ainge?

Green

And the re-emergence of Scintan.

Hater that he may be, seriously, Scintan is a great poster who I missed during the good times. Ainge and Stevens will have plenty of their supporters backing them up, but Scintan will help keep the majority of us honest until things take an upswing.

Agreed.  Love the Scintan.  Where's he been?

A whole bunch of factors (Oddly enough, not one of them had to do with the Celtics) led me to step away from the site. 

haven't seen you around here since before the KG deal when you were absolutely brutal on this team.  now I know the next apocalypse is upon us with your return. 

we had more talent back then.  I can't imagine the commentary and arguments that will be forthcoming with THIS roster

[Lucky17]

Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA  3m3 minutes ago
Yahoo Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans working framework of Green to Grizz, Pondexter to Pelicans, Prince/Salmons/pick to Celtics.

Odd. Why does Pondexter to NOP need to be wrapped into this deal? Seems like there are some details missing here.

Probably because we didn't want the 3 more years on his contract.

Pondexter was never mentioned in any scenario between MEM and BOS. BOS doesn't need NOP to take on Pondexter; NOP wants him.

My question is why NOP and MEM have to include a Pondexter deal as part of the Green trade. Why can't they just do business on their own.

The luxury tax idea might have something to do with it, although I am not sure. Perhaps Nelson is involved in some way too. [He can be traded, just not aggregated.]

Luxury tax is definitely why.  Memphis wants to ship out more salary.  Ainge is reluctant to acquire additional future salary beyond this season.  I wouldn't be surprised if they have a tentative agreement for a deal sending Pondexter to Boston, but the protection on the pick increases if they can find someone willing to trade an expiring contract for Pondexter.

If ESPN's Trade Machine is correct (big if), sending out Nick Calathes much smaller and much shorter contract should be sufficient to keep MEM from exceeding the luxury tax line.

Ainge shouldn't take back Pondexter without serious additional considerations.

[crownontherocks]

In framework of proposed three-team trade, New Orleans' Russ Smith moves to Memphis, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

Wojo