Sherrod Blakely- C's to put a package deal for Aldridge and Matthews

[jambr380]

We would need to shed a lot of salary - not just Wallace, but also Bradley, possibly IT, as well.

Even then I am not sure we would be able to put enough money together for three max free agents - possibly if they were ones coming off their rookie contracts (Monroe, Middleton, Butler, etc) since they are more in the $16M range rather than $20M+.

[Monkhouse]

We would need to shed a lot of salary - not just Wallace, but also Bradley, possibly IT, as well.

Even then I am not sure we would be able to put enough money together for three max free agents - possibly if they were ones coming off their rookie contracts (Monroe, Middleton, Butler, etc) since they are more in the $16M range rather than $20M+.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but rookie players coming off rookie contracts can only get a max of $15.7, right?

If not, then holy crap, I seriously doubt we can get Middleton, Jordan, and LMA! LOL!

[Beat LA]

So let me get this straight - just like 2013, when he tried to trade KG for Deandre Jordan, Ainge is attempting to trade some of our current players to get a guy who should have been a Celtic 6 years ago? *facepalm* Why, it's, it's, brilliant (sarcasm)! Ugh.

Btw, I love Wesley Matthews, but he's already to going to be 30 next year in addition to suffering that injury which certainly won't help his career going forward, and Aldridge isn't coming here, and he'll be 30 in July, so no thanks.  I'd say that Danny should just continue to build our team through the draft as opposed to gathering 'chips' and trading them for another rent-a-team with a 2-3 year window, but he's not good at that, so forget it.  Where can I put my head through a wall, lol ?

[jambr380]

We would need to shed a lot of salary - not just Wallace, but also Bradley, possibly IT, as well.

Even then I am not sure we would be able to put enough money together for three max free agents - possibly if they were ones coming off their rookie contracts (Monroe, Middleton, Butler, etc) since they are more in the $16M range rather than $20M+.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but rookie players coming off rookie contracts can only get a max of $15.7, right?

If not, then holy crap, I seriously doubt we can get Middleton, Jordan, and LMA! LOL!

Yes, you can pretty much count out any chance of us landing guys like Jordan or LMA in a three-player max FA signing...but we conceivably could clear enough space to sign three players in the 0-6 year experience span.

[Monkhouse]

We would need to shed a lot of salary - not just Wallace, but also Bradley, possibly IT, as well.

Even then I am not sure we would be able to put enough money together for three max free agents - possibly if they were ones coming off their rookie contracts (Monroe, Middleton, Butler, etc) since they are more in the $16M range rather than $20M+.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but rookie players coming off rookie contracts can only get a max of $15.7, right?

If not, then holy crap, I seriously doubt we can get Middleton, Jordan, and LMA! LOL!

Yes, you can pretty much count out any chance of us landing guys like Jordan or LMA in a three-player max FA signing...but we conceivably could clear enough space to sign three players in the 0-6 year experience span.

I also wouldn't mind bringing in Omer Asik if we brought in LMA. Or even Hibbert. That would be a tough imposing and tall front court.

[Celtics4ever]

If given the choice of LMA or Crowder I would take LMA everytime.

[BDeCosta26]

Why would they leave Portland for Boston?  Especially Aldridge, who would have to take a pay cut?  Makes no sense.

He feels that he is at a crossroads in Portland, and he desires to go back home. I do think he some interest Boston, but it's not his top priority.

I'd say that's about right.

Portland is the safe bet, but that's changing fast. Rumor is he doesn't like Lillard's status as a "star" on that team (Just a rumor and one I doubt holds much truth), and much like the Raptors in the East it seems like where Portland's been the past couple years is as far as they can go. Outside of Lillard, Matthews and Lopez (UFA this year), who do you really like on that team? Do they have routes to take for improvement? Not a lot. Seems about 60-40 he leaves at this point. Especially if he can take Matthews with him.

Of course, Portland, Dallas and SA probably have a better shot at him. But people around here seem to really underestimate our potential in drawing free agents. If you were a high-level free agent, Boston has a lot going for it.

- Extremely well regarded, bright young coach with a proven ability to extract the best out of his players
- One of the most stable FO's in the league and a GM well known for making shrewd, smart moves.
- Maximum contract cap space to use.
- A rabid, smart fan base and one of the best home-courts in the league.
- Young, talented roster that made the playoffs this season and clearly enjoyed playing together
- Treasure Chest of assets available to continue improving the talent around you
- 17 Championships

The Celtics as currently assembled are a good, young team on the rise with plenty of assets with which to improve and have cap space dollars to spend. If you were a free agent, there's good reason to consider Boston. I'm not saying we're destined to sign a big free agent, but as the summer goes along and more rumors tie certain guys to having an interest in us, we shouldn't be surprised.

[Celtics4ever]

The Celtics as currently assembled are a good, young team on the rise with plenty of assets with which to improve and have cap space dollars to spend. If you were a free agent, there's good reason to consider Boston.

  I am a fan of the Celtics and even I do not think things are this rosy, I bet Free Agents do not either.

[MBunge]

I can see Ainge putting together this kind of deal, if all he's giving away is cap space and a pick to unload Wallace.  And I can see LMA and Matthews being interested.  But there's no way Boston is going to be better than a third or fourth option for LMA and without him, Boston would have little interest in Matthews.

Mike

[greece66]

It clearly is unlikely, but we have discussed considerably less likely things on this forum before.

However, in the unlikely event that Aldridge talked with the C's and informed them he would sign here if we gave Matthews the ~16MM max deal he wants then I would do it in a heart beat.  I don't really see a better outcome to this summer than adding two players who immediately become our two best players, without giving up a single asset besides cap space.

Argumentum ad passiones and red herring. I rest my case.

[Monkhouse]

It clearly is unlikely, but we have discussed considerably less likely things on this forum before.

However, in the unlikely event that Aldridge talked with the C's and informed them he would sign here if we gave Matthews the ~16MM max deal he wants then I would do it in a heart beat.  I don't really see a better outcome to this summer than adding two players who immediately become our two best players, without giving up a single asset besides cap space.

Argumentum ad passiones and red herring. I rest my case.

Lawyer-ed.

On to the next one

Either way, Ainge will sell LMA on the thought of joining Boston, and keep his fingers crossed.

And who knows? Anything is possible.

[BDeCosta26]

The Celtics as currently assembled are a good, young team on the rise with plenty of assets with which to improve and have cap space dollars to spend. If you were a free agent, there's good reason to consider Boston.

  I am a fan of the Celtics and even I do not think things are this rosy, I bet Free Agents do not either.

So am I. That's a pretty reasonable assessment. We're by no means a great team, I never said that. We're a pretty good team full of young guys who play hard and have room to keep improving. This team played at a 56 win pace after they came together.

Of course were not a 56 win team over the course of a full season. Lots of things played into that awesome stretch run. But we're certainly not a bad team. Right now, Philadelphia is a bad team, the Lakers are a bad team. The Celtics are not a bad team. They're a team lacking star-caliber talent, but we have a lot of pretty good players that excel at their strengths and a fantastic coach who's earning praise league wide, players and personnel alike.

I never said we were a top FA destination this season, but it seems that whenever Free Agency comes up, a lot of CBers scoff at the notion anyone would even consider us. That's just not true. We have a lot going for us, and all I'm saying is people shouldn't act so surprised if a few of the bigger names seriously consider an offer from us. Especially Love, Monroe or even Aldridge if what Blakely says is true.

Boston is a young, improving team that made the playoffs with their current roster and they have Max-Level cap space. Those two things in themselves make them a team worth a look at. Seriously, how could anyone look at the landscape today and say "If I was a top-tier FA, I'd rather sign in LA. I mean, they have a 39 year old Kobe who just about everyone hates and can hardly play anymore, a p--- poor FO headed by Jimmy Buss and nearly zero assets with which to build a team around me." Most basketball players don't care as much about taxes, the weather or "glamour markets" as they do about basketball related matters.

Sometimes the pessimism around here is unreal. I get trying to temper your expectations, but we should also be real about the good things we have as much as the things we don't.  Not saying you C4E, just a general statement.

[freshinthehouse]

Why would they leave Portland for Boston?  Especially Aldridge, who would have to take a pay cut?  Makes no sense.

He feels that he is at a crossroads in Portland, and he desires to go back home. I do think he some interest Boston, but it's not his top priority.

Oh, I could def see him leave, but not for Boston.  San Antonio makes sense.  it's his home, they have a good core of talent, and there is no state tax.  That's a lot more than Boston can offer.

[GratefulCs]

Why would they leave Portland for Boston?  Especially Aldridge, who would have to take a pay cut?  Makes no sense.

He feels that he is at a crossroads in Portland, and he desires to go back home. I do think he some interest Boston, but it's not his top priority.

Oh, I could def see him leave, but not for Boston.  San Antonio makes sense.  it's his home, they have a good core of talent, and there is no state tax.  That's a lot more than Boston can offer.

boston makes sense when you consider it would be easier to go deep in the playoffs



PLUS if he just signs here, we'll be able to make all sorts of trades to fill out the roster with all the picks we have


Celts would be stacked if he signed here

[BDeCosta26]

So let me get this straight - just like 2013, when he tried to trade KG for Deandre Jordan, Ainge is attempting to trade some of our current players to get a guy who should have been a Celtic 6 years ago? *facepalm* Why, it's, it's, brilliant (sarcasm)! Ugh.

Btw, I love Wesley Matthews, but he's already to going to be 30 next year in addition to suffering that injury which certainly won't help his career going forward, and Aldridge isn't coming here, and he'll be 30 in July, so no thanks.  I'd say that Danny should just continue to build our team through the draft as opposed to gathering 'chips' and trading them for another rent-a-team with a 2-3 year window, but he's not good at that, so forget it.  Where can I put my head through a wall, lol ?

Captain Hindsight strikes again!

For real man, you can't point to every single player Ainge passed on who did something in the league and say "UGH! Ainge is horrible! How could he possibly miss DeAndre Jordan/Jimmy Butler etc. in the 2nd round!". Every GM in the league passed on those guys. Your holding him to some kind of impossible, made up standard where he's supposed to hit on every pick we have.

You look at it the wrong way. If you don't have a top 10-15 pick, the chances are MUCH greater that your pick washes out of the league in a few years than it is he becomes a real NBA caliber rotation player. Much like a baseball player at bat, there are ways to hit a higher percentage of those kinda of picks than your contemporaries but it will always be much more likely you fail than you getting a hit. Ainge has proven himself a very capable drafter. Probably top 10 in the league at it. And he's certainly a top 5 GM overall.

Do you not remember what it was like before Ainge? There's only a couple teams in league that wouldn't trade their GM for Ainge, and even the few that wouldn't would seriously consider it. What's the point of getting hung up on every player we didn't pick that turned into someone?