Clips want Prince; Ainge wants trade before buyout

[jpotter33]

We all knew they would have interest in Prince, but it appears that Danny is not looking to buyout Prince before finding a trade for him.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/17/report-clippers-interested-in-acquiring-tayshaun-prince-from-celtics/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

We own the Clips pick this year, so I'd rather not gift them Prince. Rivers won't help them at all, so I was okay with that trade. With their upcoming schedule, the teams below them, the way they've been playing lately, and the brutal Western Conference, there's a decent chance that they could possibly miss the playoffs if things go right for us. Hopefully Danny is smart enough to either trade Prince to any other team not named the Clippers or to put a really high price on him that Doc just won't match. If he gets a buyout, it seems almost certain he'd end up there knowing how desperate they are for wing help.

What other teams might have a need for Prince's services? Detroit? Toronto?

[Chris22]

Nice post.

Trade Prince to one of the other teams in the West.

[Ogaju]

Prince is from LA Dominguez High. If he is bought out he is a Clipper!!!

[Hemingway]

Its a tough call as to what to do. Keeping him wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. He has a lot of experience could help our young guys. I wonder if we can do a buy out with the condition he doesn't go to the Clips. Anyone know if that is legal? I'm sure we could do it anyway as I'm sure someone else could use Prince.

[Cheeks]

There is also another Western Conference team in need of a small forward off the bench; that being the Portland Trailblazers. They are in competition with the Clippers for a playoff spot and could also send us an asset for Prince such as Meyers Leonard and we could supplement the remaining salary difference as a buyout. That way we're helping the Clippers competition (to hopefully give us a higher draft pick) and we're getting a (young) Center with future potential upside! Just sayin'... Not sure why this isn't a hot topic? Anyone wanna share their opinion or other options please???

[GreenWarrior]

I didn't read the article and have no desire to. but I thought I remembered hearing that Prince requested upon arrival to Boston to be bought out. not sure if that's true or not.

but this is awesome if there is going to be a handful of teams battling to acquire prince...it's like a bonus. as I had him being bought out and never considered him even being a candidate to be traded.

I do think we should concern ourselves more with what our pick is going to be though and not worry about what these other teams picks will be. only pick we can influence is our own, we should just assume the acquired picks are going to be late round picks.

[Hemingway]

As it stands now, a deal is agreed upon for Rivers but we need to clear a spot. I doubt Danny buys anyone out until the last minute as he might be able to get something for them. The clippers probably don't want to wait a month to get Rivers so it makes sense that they would look into also taking Prince.

[umpacu]

It's a good move by Danny not releasing Prince until the last second, because you never know what a desperate team could do, but I don't have many hopes in getting something valuable in return.

[Who]

I hope Prince doesn't go the Clippers. Do not like that team.

[saltlover]

As it stands now, a deal is agreed upon for Rivers but we need to clear a spot. I doubt Danny buys anyone out until the last minute as he might be able to get something for them. The clippers probably don't want to wait a month to get Rivers so it makes sense that they would look into also taking Prince.

Fairly sure Rivers got traded a few days ago.  He's already played for Clips.

[Q_FBE]

As it stands now, a deal is agreed upon for Rivers but we need to clear a spot. I doubt Danny buys anyone out until the last minute as he might be able to get something for them. The clippers probably don't want to wait a month to get Rivers so it makes sense that they would look into also taking Prince.

Fairly sure Rivers got traded a few days ago.  He's already played for Clips.

And quite poorly I might add. This situation is going to be monitored closely since I am in the neighborhood.

[jpotter33]

I didn't read the article and have no desire to. but I thought I remembered hearing that Prince requested upon arrival to Boston to be bought out. not sure if that's true or not.

but this is awesome if there is going to be a handful of teams battling to acquire prince...it's like a bonus. as I had him being bought out and never considered him even being a candidate to be traded.

I do think we should concern ourselves more with what our pick is going to be though and not worry about what these other teams picks will be. only pick we can influence is our own, we should just assume the acquired picks are going to be late round picks.

But it's not like Prince will move the needle for us at all. I just think we shouldn't trade him to the Clips unless they want to give back an asset in return, which they won't. Even a highly protected second round pick to another team would be better than just buying out Prince to go help a team whose draft pick we own this year.

[Mencius]

I hope Prince doesn't go the Clippers. Do not like that team.

Me too.  They're the team that I dislike the most.

If Ainge can't find a trading partner for Prince, I'd pretty much just as soon keep his expiring contract on our roster instead of helping another team, and especially not the Clippers.

It'll be hard to find a playoff team that has 7M in expiring contracts (and of course a second round pick) to trade for Prince.  The only reason I can think of to buy him out is to save a bit more money to get further below the tax line, to then be able to take on money for an extra pick using our TPE.  But if trades using our TPEs seem improbable to Ainge, and no trades are available for Prince, just hang on to him to make sure the Clips don't get him. 

[saltlover]

Raptors need to step up.  Landry Fields isn't giving them anything, and his salary matches with Prince's.   A 2nd in 2020 would be fine.

[JohnBoy65]

You guys really think Prince will change the clippers season that much? He's the savior of them making the playoffs? I don't, so go ahead get another draft pick from the clips!